A complete guide to the number plate change

Like most people are you confused by how to work out your cars age etc with the new number plates? Here at 4plates we thought we would do a complete guide to how the system works in the new decade.

How does the new current number plate system work?

Example reg: LA10 TFZ

1. The first two letters represents where the vehicle was registered, otherwise known as the ‘local memory tag’ Example LA & LY is for London.

2. The third & fourth letteres represents when the vehicle was registered, otherwise known as the ‘age identifier’. They are changed every six months in March & Septemeber. By far the eisiest way to remeber how the ‘age identifier’ works is to think of March as the year & Septemeber as the year & then add 50.

For example:

• ’11′ in March 2011 and ‘61′ in September 2011
• ’12′ in March 2012 and ‘62′ in September 2012
• ’13′ in March 2013 and ‘63′ in September 2013

3. Finally the last three letters are randomly chosen then allocated to the dealership when the cars registered.

How did the old number plate system work?

Example reg: L 910 TFZ

1. The first letter is the ‘age identifier’ representing the year the car was registered in. Now this used to change every year in August, but after 1999 it was changed to every six months instead.

2. The second, third and fourth numbers are chosen randomly.

3. Finally two of the final three letters represents where the vehicle was registered, wile the other is a random again.

From 1963 to 1983, the letter identifying the year of the vehicle was found at the end of the plate.

The original ‘once-a-year’ plate change system in August was in place until 1999. Dealerships then started to see a huge sale increase in August of each year from customers that wanted to be seen in the newest cars, which resulted in much lower sales for the rest of the year.

This was changed to our current number plate system in 2011 wich is in place today. The DVLA say that the system will be reviewed and updated again in 2050.

Here’s how you can work your cars age out upto current day:

• 1963 A
• 1964 B
• 1965 C
• 1966 D
• 1967 E/F
• 1968 F/G
• 1969 G/H
• 1970 H/J
• 1971 J/K
• 1972 K/L
• 1973 L/M
• 1974 M/N
• 1975 N/P
• 1976 P/R
• 1977 R/S
• 1978 S/T
• 1979 T/V
• 1980 V/W
• 1981 W/X
• 1982 X/Y
• 1983 Y/A
• 1984 A/B
• 1985 B/C
• 1986 C/D
• 1987 D/E
• 1988 E/F
• 1989 F/G
• 1990 G/H
• 1991 H/J
• 1992 J/K
• 1993 K/L
• 1994 L/M
• 1995 M/N
• 1996 N/P
• 1997 P/R
• 1998 R/S
• 1999 S/T/V
• 2000 V/W/X
• 2001 X/Y/51
• 2002 02/52
• 2003 03/53
• 2004 04/54
• 2005 05/55
• 2006 06/56
• 2007 07/57
• 2008 08/58
• 2009 09/59
• 2010 10/60
• 2011 11/61
• 2012 12/62
• 2013 13/63
• 2014 14/64
• 2015 15/65

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Increase in Number Plate Thefts in the UK!

The massive increase in petrol prices has had a major impact in the amount of number plate thefts across the UK & drive off thefts from petrol stations, according to police.

Police in Leicester city say “there has been a bigger than usual increase in the recent months”

Stolen plates have have been fitted to theives’ cars and used to drive off when filling up at the local petrol station, otherwise known as “biking” So cars can not be reconised when police goto check the staions CCTV.

Police recommend that motorists replace the screws or fixings holding the plates in place with ‘clutch-head’ screws. The one-way screws make it impossible to remove number plates without them breaking. Police are planning operations to catch thieves and raise the awareness of the crime.

Details of the stolen plates are passed to an automatic number plate recognition team. The cameras they use can read number plates on moving cars in a split second and check them with the national databases.

A spokesman for the national Petrol Retailers Association has said: “There are 400 filling stations going out of business in the UK every month in the UK.

“The margins on petrol sales are as low as a penny a litre and some places are selling at a loss.

“That’s why petrol stations are selling other things. But the theft of petrol can be the final straw for some.”

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You too can have a personalised number plate

You do not need to have a highly paid job to afford a personalised number plate. With a range of dealers online and on the high street, competition is fierce. Don’t forget to check out the DVLA’s auction, you might just find what you are looking for there. The beauty of online personalised dealers is that they handle all of the paperwork to modify your vehicle’s documents. Simply purchase, sit back and let your chosen number plate dealer notify you when you can legally mount your personalised choice.

Making your car stand out from the crowd has never been easier with an impressive selection of choices available. Dedicated technology is used to uncover cherished numbers that may never have been previously considered. Whether humorous, poignant or downright flashy, there is a combination for everyone that can mean something special. Number plates can not only become a great means of identification, they can also act as a very wise investment, particularly if it is popular or memorable.

There are a few minor requirements needed to complete your personalised purchase. V750 and V5 registration documents must be signed and sealed along with a valid copy of your MOT certificate to be sent to the assigned dealer. The process of buying personalised signs cannot be any simpler.

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Don’t fall foul of the new insurance law

A new law came into force on 20 June, it will now be an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured. The new regulations, called Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), will compare the registered keepers database held by the DVLA with the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and contact uninsured drivers so that they obtain insurance or declare their vehicles off road with Sorn. Those who refuse to get insurance will face a penalty of £100.

There has been a national advertising campaign to raise awareness of the new rules. However, critics of the new rules say that the new the penalties would do nothing to deter those who currently drive uninsured, untaxed and without an MOT. According to the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB), up to 40% of vehicles seized by the authorities for being uninsured are never reclaimed because it can be cheaper to buy another vehicle rather than buy an insurance policy.

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F1 has a rich and varied history

Formula 1 is probably the most famous car competition in the entire world. It has a rich history that started in the beginning of the 20th century. It is an international competition from the category of single seaters where 24 drivers and 12 teams compete for the big prize. Even if it all started from the European Grand Prix Motor Racing, the first official championship that gathered contestants from all over the world took place only in 1950. The United Kingdom was the host country and the race took place at Silverstone.

The first Formula 1 competition took place much later than the European Races from the 1920′s and 1930′s. This was because there was the need to create a set of rules for all the competitors. It was not only the participants that had to meet those rules, but also the cars. This set of rules, this formula, gave the name of the famous competition: Formula One. Only the best race car drivers and the best cars were allowed to take part in the most competitive race of the FIA.

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What to do if you get a flat tyre

It can happen to anyone, you are quite happily driving along the road and your car feels a bit funny, then you realize that you have a flat tyre. It is something that everyone should know how to change, especially in if you are don’t have car rescue where someone will come out and fix it for you or you are in a remote area where you can’t phone for help.

Before you do anything, you should make sure that your car is on a level surface and if not, you should try and drive your car up the road a short distance to the flat. The first thing you need to do is put your car in gear and make sure the handbrake is on. Your passengers should get out of the car and stand clear of the road. You will need to get the tools you need: a jack, tools to remove the nuts and of course, your spare wheel. Loosen the nuts on the wheel, then jack up the car. Make sure you follow the instructions on how to use the jack correctly. Once the car is jacked up, remove the nuts and remove the wheel then replace with the spare wheel. Secure all the nuts until they are tightly on, then lower the car, remove the jack and put everything in its storage place. Don’t forget to either have the puncture repaired or replace the tyre as soon as you can.

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Watch out for the speed cameras

Many UK roads have speed cameras and you would find it hard to find a road where there are no speed cameras. Many of the cameras are set so that they will allow you an approximate 10% margin but some of the cameras are now so accurate that they can detect you going just 1 mph over the speed limit. As there are so many different types of camera, so there as many different ways to be caught speeding. Some of the cameras will catch you from the front as you approach and some will catch you from behind. Many cameras will flash so you know when you’ve been caught, whilst others will have no visible flash and you will continue blissfully unaware.

If you are unsure whether you have been caught and you know you were over the speed limit but the camera did not flash, you will need to sweat it out for a couple of weeks to see if you receive a notice through the post. Of course you should be obeying the speed limit anyway and there is a reason a speed limit is imposed, so take it easy with the right foot and slow down, even just a little, it could save you a large fine or even your life.

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Transporting your pet

Never transport a cat in a car without a proper carrier because the cat could be injured if you have an accident. If you can’t put your dog in a carrier, you can buy a special harness to strap them in on the back seat using a seat belt. You should never allow any animal to put their head out of car windows because it is quite harmful to them due to dirt and debris which can get into their eyes and ears. Be aware that the wind can burst the dogs ear drums and cause them to go deaf because their sinuses and ears are not hooked up the same way ours are so they can’t decompress as quickly.

Transporting your pet to and from the vets is very important and using the correct carrier to transport your pet will ensure that they stay safe in between visits. It is also important that your pet is not free to wander around the vehicle when you are driving as this could cause a serious accident.

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New penalties for uninsured vehicles

New penalties for uninsured vehicles come into force today in the UK. Any vehicle, even if it is not used on the roads must be insured UNLESS you have a Sorn exemption for it. If the vehicle does not have a Sorn exemption and is not insured, it can be removed and sent for destruction. This is in an effort to reduce the number of uninsured vehicles on the roads, which in some areas is a real problem. It is mainly youngsters who are uninsured due to the cost which in many cases is more than their car is worth.

According to the Department for Transport, around 23,000 people are injured and 160 are killed every year by uninsured drivers. It is believed that around 1.4 million vehicles using Britain’s roads are uninsured. This is the main reason motor insurance is so expensive for the law abiding person and it is very unfair that they are picking up the tab for so many selfish individuals. The police along with the DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau will work together to identify those without insurance. As well as having their cars destroyed, perpetrators will be taken to court, find and acquire a criminal record.

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Keeping your windscreen clean

It doesn’t matter how careful you are, your car windscreen is going to get dirty. On the outside it could be dust, insects, mud or even ice. Do not worry though, all of it can be removed easily. In order to clean the car windscreen you will need three things; white vinegar, automotive glass cleaner and some cloths. First, spray the glass with the glass cleaner, hose it off then dry with one of your clean cloths. Next put a little of the white vinegar on a dry cloth and wipe it onto the windscreen. This will clean any residues and leave the glass sparkling clean.

Of course if you are driving your car and some dirt flies up onto the windscreen, it may not be possible to stop and clean it off. In this instance you should use your windscreen washer and wiper blades which should clear your view. This is why you should ensure that your windscreen washer reservoir is filled with the correct concentrate of windscreen washer fluid.

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