Car registrations are sequences of numbers and letters that are displayed on number plates at the front and at the back of British vehicles. When a car is used on the roads, it is required by law to display two number plates on which vehicle registrations are displayed. These days, it is unusual to ever see a car without a registration plate.

Car registration number plates have been used in Britain since 1904, when the 1903 Motor Car act came into force across the nation. Vehicles were fitted with plates displaying their registration number. This was done in order to allow vehicles to be traced in the aftermath of an accident or a breach of the law. For instance, if a car knocked down a pedestrian but continued to drive to get away from trouble, an onlooker could make a note of their registration number. This would allow the police to trace the offender later. Number plates must be present on the front and back of cars so others on the road have a clear view of the car’s registration number.

Number plates produced between the years of 1903 and 1932 consisted of one or two letters followed by a sequence of numbers, from one to 9999. The code a car received depended upon the local authority in which it was first driven. The number of individual codes that could be made up from these combinations of letters and numbers were limited, but by the 1901 census it was considered to be enough for the size of the population.

However, as the population grew, the number of available registration codes was beginning to diminish. In 1932, a new scheme was introduced to cater for the growing demand for new registration plates. Under this scheme, an additional letter was placed before the code. The number of figures at the end of the code was limited to three; hence the overall registration code had a length of six figures. Interestingly, certain three letter combinations were not authorized for use. ‘GOD’, ‘SOD’ and ‘BUM’, along with numerous other three letter ‘words’, were deemed offensive and therefore were not allowed. This idea is still in place today – certain letter combinations are not used throughout the United Kingdom in order to prevent offense being caused.

In the 1960s, the number of not-in-use registration combinations was once again beginning to run out. Another scheme was introduced, which intended to produce a national system that all vehicle registration would adhere to (this happened in 1965). After each six letter registration code, another letter was introduced. This signified the year in which the number plate was produced. For instance, registrations made in 1963 bore an ‘A’ at the beginning, those made in 1964 had a ‘B’ at the beginning, and so on. In 1983, when the letters had run out, letters were added to the front of the registration rather than the end. This numbering system lasted until 2001.

In 2001, the current registration system was introduced across Great Britain. Under this system, each registration consists of seven figures, which are made up of letters and numbers to identify the age and area of the car, as well as three randomised letters to make each plate unique. The scheme should have enough combinations available to last until 2051.

Author Bio: Timmie Wheeler is A media consultant at Platinum Plates who supply private number plates to both the trade and general public at discounted prices. They are CNDA & MIRAD members for your security. Do you have a Motoring based website ? unique motoring articles supplied free of charge.

Category: Automotive
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