A license plate, licence plate, number plate or registration plate is a small metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle. The plate has a serial number (serial number: a serial number is a unique number applied to a product example, as opposed to a model...

In some countries, such as in the United Kingdom, a vehicle usually only has one set of plates (known as number plates) following its initial sale as the information displayed on the plates is static from then on throughout the vehicle's life.

In other countries, such as in the United States, plates (known as license plates) have are required to be changed periodically, the recent tendency has been to simply replace a small decal on the plate's surface.

Plates usually are either directly fixed to a vehicle, or may be located in a plate frame which is itself fixed to the vehicle . Sometimes the plate frames contain advertisements inserted by the vehicle service centre or the dealership from which the vehicle was purchased.

Vehicle owners can purchase customized and specialty frames to replace the original frames. Usually plates are designed to conform to certain standards of clarity with regards to being read by the human eye in day or at night, or by electronic equipment.

See License plate.

PLATE INFO


Dateless Plates
These plates consist of upto 3 letters and upto 3 numbers either of which can come first. They can only have a maximum of 6 digits and as such are the most desirable and valuable of all styles available.

Suffix Plates
These plates consist of 3 letters followed by up to 3 numbers and then ending in a year related letter.They were issued between 1st February 1963 = year letter A to 1st August 1983 = year letter Y

Prefix Plates
These plates are basically the opposite of suffix plates. They consist of a year letter followed by upto 3 numbers and then ending with 3 letters.They were issued between 1st August 1983 = year letter A to 1st September 2001 = year letter Y

Current Style Plates
These plates are the ones currently being issued. They consist of 2 letters, 2 year related numbers and then followed by 3 letters. These are the only style of plate which permits the letter Z within the last 3 digits (as shown). They are issued every 6 months. March = 04 (2004) September = 54 (2004)

Irish Plates
These plates are issued in Ireland and consist of 3 letters which can contain the both the letters I and Z followed by upto 4 numbers.

PHONETIC ALPHABET
A - Alpha
B - Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E - Echo
F - Foxtrot
G - Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L - Lima
M - Mike
N - November
O - Oscar
P - Papa
Q - Quebec
R - Romeo
S - Sierra
T - Tango
U - Uniform
V - Victor
W - Whisky
X - X-ray
Y - Yankee
Z - Zulu


PREFIX LETTERS
A Aug 1983 - July 1984 M Aug 1994 - July 1995
B Aug 1984 - July 1985 N Aug 1995 - July 1996
C Aug 1985 - July 1986 P Aug 1996 - July 1997
D Aug 1986 - July 1987 R Aug 1997 - July 1998
E Aug 1987 - July 1988 S Aug 1998 - Feb 1999
F Aug 1988 - July 1989 T Mar 1999 - Aug 1999
G Aug 1989 - July 1990 V Sep 1999 - Feb 2000
H Aug 1990 - July 1991 W March 2000 - Aug 2000
J Aug 1991 - July 1992 X Sep 2000 - Feb 2001
K Aug 1992 - July 1993 Y March 2001 - Aug 2001
L Aug 1993 - July 1994