| motorcycle.co.uk |
UK Registration Letters |
We have lists of:
What year is it ? abc 123 S is a 1979 S-Reg.
Where was it registered ? 3 lists:
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Q registrations
ABC 123 Q
are generally Kit Cars, or other vehicles where the original age is undetermined.
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There may be arrors in this 'official' list. From a correspondent who used to work in the Gloucester office: "VJ and CJ are Herefordshire and FO is Powys. ...numbers issued from the now-defunct Gloucester office. If you live in these areas and want that particular area mark, its worth asking the Worcester office nicely"
From another correspondent "... in Hertfordshire the original letters were AR JH NK RO which are given [in this list] as Chelmsford, Reading and (2) Luton. Luton was in Bedfordshire and accordingly would have used BM MJ NM TM "
This list may well date from the reorganisation of 1974, when Local Vehicle Registration Agencies were set up. At that time, there was some shuffling of previous Counties and County Boroughs letter allocations into amalgamated new boundaries. So this list may be particularly relevant for vehicles registered between 1974 - 1999.
| AA Bournemouth AB Worcester AC Coventry AD Gloucester AE Bristol AF Truro AG Hull AH Norwich AI Meath AJ Middlesbrough AK Sheffield AL Nottingham AM Swindon AN Reading AO Carlisle AP Brighton AR Chelmsford AS Inverness AT Hull AU Nottingham AV Peterborough AW Shrewsbury AX Cardiff AY Leicester AZ Belfast |
BA Manchester
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CA Chester CB Manchester CC Bangor CD Brighton CE Peterborough CF Reading CG Bournemouth CH Nottingham CI Laois CJ Gloucester CK Preston CL Norwich CM Liverpool CN Newcastle upon Tyne CO Exeter CP Huddersfield CR Portsmouth CS Glasgow CT Lincoln CU Newcastle upon Tyne CV Truro CW Preston CX Huddersfield CY Swansea CZ Belfast |
DA Birmingham DB Manchester DC Middlesbrough DD Gloucester DE Haverfordwest DF Gloucester DG Gloucester DH Dudley DI Roscommon DJ Liverpool DK Manchester DL Portsmouth DM Chester DN Leeds DO Lincoln DP Reading DR Exeter DS Glasgow DT Sheffield DU Coventry DV Exeter DW Cardiff DX Ipswich DY Brighton DZ Antrim |
EA Dudley EB Peterborough EC Preston ED Liverpool EE Lincoln EF Middlesbrough EG Peterborough EH Stoke-on-Trent EI Sligo EJ Haverfordwest EK Liverpool EL Bournemouth EM Liverpool EN Manchester EO Preston EP Swansea ER Peterborough ES Dundee ET Sheffield EU Bristol EV Chelmsford EW Peterborough EX Norwich EY Bangor EZ Belfast |
| FA Stoke-on-Trent FB Bristol FC Oxford FD Dudley FE Lincoln FF Bangor FG Brighton FH Gloucester FI Tipperary (N. Riding) FJ Exeter FK Dudley FL Peterborough FM Chester FN Maidstone FO Gloucester FP Leicester FR Preston FS Edinburgh FT Newcastle upon Tyne FU Lincoln FV Preston FW Lincoln FX Bournemouth FY Liverpool FZ Belfast |
GA Glasgow
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HA Dudley HB Cardiff HC Brighton HD Huddersfield HE Sheffield HF Liverpool HG Preston HH Carlisle HI Tipperary (S. Riding) HJ Chelmsford HK Chelmsford HL Sheffield HM London (Central) HN Middlesbrough HO Bournemouth HP Coventry HR Swindon HS Glasgow HT Bristol HU Bristol HV London (Central) HW Bristol HX London (Central) HY Bristol HZ Tyrone |
IA Antrim IB Armagh IC Carlow ID Cavan IE Clare IF Cork IH Donegal IJ Down IK Dublin IL Fermanagh IM Galway IN Kerry IO Kildare IP Kilkenny IR Offaly IS Mayo IT Leitrim IU Limerick IV Limerick IW Londonderry IX Longford IY Louth IZ Mayo |
JA Manchester JB Reading JC Bangor JD London (Central) JE Peterborough JF Leicester JG Maidstone JH Reading JI Tyrone JJ Maidstone JK Brighton JL Lincoln JM Reading JN Chelmsford JO Oxford JP Liverpool JR Newcastle upon Tyne JS Inverness JT Bournemouth JU Leicester JV Lincoln JW Birmingham JX Huddersfield JY Exeter JZ Down |
| KA Liverpool KB Liverpool KC Liverpool KD Liverpool KE Maidstone KF Liverpool KG Cardiff KH Hull KI Waterford KJ Maidstone KK Maidstone KL Maidstone KM Maidstone KN Maidstone KO Maidstone KP Maidstone KR Maidstone KS Edinburgh KT Maidstone KU Sheffield KV Coventry KW Sheffield KX Luton KY Sheffield KZ Antrim |
LA London NW LB London NW LC London NW LD London NW LE London NW LF London NW LG Chester LH London NW LI Westmeath LJ Bournemouth LK London NW LL London NW LM London NW LN London NW LO London NW LP London NW LR London NW LS Edinburgh LT London NW LU London NW LV Liverpool LW London NW LX London NW LY London NW LZ Armagh |
MA Chester MB Chester MC London NE MD London NE ME London NE MF London NE MG London NE MH London NE MI Wexford MJ Luton MK London NE ML London NE MM London NE MO Reading MP London NE MR Swindon MS Edinburgh MT London NE MU London NE MV London SE MW Swindon MX London SE MY London SE MZ Belfast |
NA Manchester
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OA Birmingham OB Birmingham OC Birmingham OD Exeter OE Birmingham OF Birmingham OG Birmingham OH Birmingham OI Belfast OJ Birmingham OK Birmingham OL Birmingham OM Birmingham ON Birmingham OO Chelmsford OP Birmingham OR Portsmouth OS Glasgow OT Portsmouth OU Bristol OV Birmingham OW Portsmouth OX Birmingham OY London NW OZ Belfast |
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PA Guildford |
RA Nottingham RB Nottingham RC Nottingham RD Reading RE Stoke-on-Trent RF Stoke-on-Trent RG Newcastle upon Tyne RH Hull RI Dublin RJ Manchester RK London NW RL Truro RM Carlisle RN Preston RO Luton RP Northampton RR Nottingham RS Aberdeen RT Ipswich RU Bournemouth RV Portsmouth RW Coventry RX Reading RY Leicester RZ Antrim |
SA Aberdeen
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TA Exeter TB Liverpool TC Bristol TD Manchester TE Manchester TF Reading TG Cardiff TH Swansea TI Limerick TJ Liverpool TK Exeter TL Lincoln TM Luton TN Newcastle upon Tyne TO Nottingham TP Portsmouth TR Portsmouth TS Dundee TT Exeter TU Chester TV Nottingham TW Chelmsford TX Cardiff TY Newcastle upon Tyne TZ Belfast |
UA Leeds UB Leeds UC London (Central) UD Oxford UE Dudley UF Brighton UG Leeds UH Cardiff UI Londonderry UJ Shrewsbury UK Birmingham UL London (Central) UM Leeds UN Exeter UO Exeter UP Newcastle upon Tyne UR Luton US Glasgow UT Leicester UU London (Central) UV London (Central) UW London (Central) UX Shrewsbury UY Worcester UZ Belfast |
| VA Peterborough VB Maidstone VC Coventry VE Peterborough VF Norwich VG Norwich VH Huddersfield VJ Gloucester VK Newcastle upon Tyne VL Lincoln VM Manchester VN Middlesbrough VO Nottingham VP Birmingham VR Manchester VS Luton VT Stoke-on-Trent VU Manchester VV Northampton VW Chelmsford VX Chelmsford VY Leeds VZ Tyrone |
WA Sheffield WB Sheffield WC Chelmsford WD Dudley WE Sheffield WF Sheffield WG Sheffield WH Manchester WI Waterford WJ Sheffield WK Coventry WL Oxford WM Liverpool WN Swansea WO Cardiff WP Worcester WR Leeds WS Bristol WT Leeds WU Leeds WV Brighton WW Leeds WX Leeds WY Leeds WZ Belfast |
YA Taunton YB Taunton YC Taunton YD Taunton YE London (Central) YF London (Central) YG Leeds YH London (Central) YI Dublin YJ Brighton YK London (Central) YL London (Central) YM London (Central) YN London (Central) YO London (Central) YP London (Central) YR London (Central) YS Glasgow YT London (Central) YU London (Central) YV London (Central) YW London (Central) YX London (Central) YY London (Central) YZ Londonderry |
This list is believed to be older than the 'By Town' above, and may be more relevant to vehicles registered before 1974.
Trivia Alert: Rumour has it that in some areas, the same sequence of numbers may have been issued to motorcycles and cars. Which is why for many years, you could not transfer a number from a bike to a car.
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A London
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B Lancashire
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C Yorkshire (W. Riding)
CA Denbighshire CB Blackburn CC Caernarvonshire CD Brighton CE Cambridgeshire CF West Suffolk CG Hampshire CH Derby Cl Laoighis CJ Herefordshire CK Preston CL Norwich CM Birkenhead CN Gateshead CO Plymouth CP Halifax CR Southampton CS Ayrshire CT Lincolnshire (Kesteven) CU S. Shields CV Cornwall CW Burnley CX Huddersfield CY Swansea CZ Belfast |
D Kent
DA Wolverhampton DB Stockport DC Middlesbrough DD Gloucestershire DE Pembrokeshire DF Gloucestershire DG Gloucestershire DH Walsall DI Roscommon DJ St. Helens DK Rochdale DL Isle of Wight DM Flintshire DN York DO Lincolnshire (Holland) DP Reading DR Plymouth DS Peeblesshire DT Doncaster DU Coventry DV Devon DW Newport (Mon.) DX Ipswich DY Hastings DZ Antrim |
E Staffordshire
EA W. Bromwich EB Isle of Ely EC Westmorland ED Warrington EE Grimsby EF W. Hartlepool EG Soke of Peterborough EH Stoke-on-Trent EI Sligo EJ Cardiganshire EK Wigan EL Bournemouth EM Bootle EN Bury EO Barrow-in-Furness EP Montgomeryshire ER Cambridgeshire ES Perthshire ET Rotherham EU Brecknockshire EV Essex EW Huntingdonshire EX Gt. Yarmouth EY Anglesey EZ Belfast |
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F Essex
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G Glasgow
GA Glasgow GB Glasgow GC London GD Glasgow GE Glasgow GF London GG Glasgow GH London GJ London GK London GL Bath GM Motherwell and Wishaw GN London GO London GP London GR Sunderland GS Perthshire GT London GU London GV Suffolk (West) GW London GX London GY London GZ Belfast |
H Middlesex
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IA Antrim
IB Armagh IC Carlow ID Cavan IE Clare IF Cork County IH Donegal II Down IK Dublin IL Fermanagh IM Galway IN Kerry IO Kildare IP Kilkenny IR Offaly IT Leitrim IU Limerick IW Londonderry IX Longford IY Louth IZ Mayo |
J Durham County JA Stockport JB Berkshire JC Caernarvonshire JD West Ham JE Isle of Ely JF Leicester JG Canterbury JH Hertfordshire JI Tyrone JJ London JK Eastbourne JL Lincolnshire (Holland) JM Westmorland JN Southend JO Oxford JP Wigan JR Northumberland JS Ross and Cromarty JT Dorset JU Leicestershire JV Grimsby JW Wolverhampton JX Halifax JY Plymouth JZ Down |
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K Liverpool
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L Glamorganshire
LA London LB London LC London LD London LE London LF London LG Cheshire LH London LI West Meath LJ Bournemouth LK London LL London LM London LN London LO London LP London LR London LS Selkirkshire LT London LU London LV Liverpool LW London LX London LY London LZ Armagh |
M Cheshire MA Cheshire MB Cheshire MC Middlesex MD Middlesex ME Middlesex MF Middlesex MG Middlesex MH Middlesex MI Wexford MJ Bedfordshire MK Middlesex ML Middlesex MM Middlesex MN Isle of Man MO Berkshire MP Middlesex MR Wiltshire MS Stirlingshire MT Middlesex MU Middlesex MV Middlesex MW Wiltshire MX Middlesex MY Middlesex MZ Belfast |
N Manchester
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O Birmingham OA Birmingham OB Birmingham OC Birmingham OD Devon OE Birmingham OF Birmingham OG Birmingham OH Birmingham OI Belfast OJ Birmingham OK Birmingham OL Birmingham OM Birmingham ON Birmingham OO Essex OP Birmingham OR Hampshire OS Wigtownshire OT Hampshire OU Hampshir OV Birmingham OW Southampton OX Birmingham OY Croydon OZ Belfast |
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P Surrey
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Q London R Derbyshire
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S Edinburgh
SA Aberdeenshire SB Argyll SC Edinburgh SD Ayrshire SE Banffshire SF Edinburgh SG Edinburgh SH Berwickshire SJ Bute SK Caithness SL Clackmannan SM Dumfriesshire SN Dunbartonshire SO Moray SP Fife SR Angus SS East Lothian ST Inverness-shire SU Kincardineshire SV Kinross-shire SW Kirkcudbrightshire SX West Lothian SY Midlothian SZ Down |
T Devon
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U Leeds
UA Leeds UB Leeds UC London UD Oxfordshire UE Warwickshire UG Leeds UF Brighton UH Cardiff U1 Londonderry UJ Salop UK Wolverhampton UL London UM Leeds UN Denbighshire UO Devon UP Durham County UR Hertfordshire US Glasgow UT Leicestershire UU London UV London UW London UX Salop UY Worcestershire UZ Belfast |
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V Lanarkshire
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W Sheffield
WA Sheffield WB Sheffield WC Essex WD Warwick WE Sheffield WF Yorkshire (E. Riding) WG Stirlingshire WH Bolton WI Waterford WJ Sheffield WK Coventry WL Oxford WM Southport WN Swansea WO Monmouthshire WP Worcestershire WR Yorkshire (W. Riding) WS Edinburgh WT Yorkshire (W. Riding) WU Yorkshire (W. Riding) WV Wiltshire WW Yorkshire (W. Riding) WX Yorkshire (W. Riding) WY Yorkshire (W. Riding) WZ Belfast |
X Northumberland
XA London XB London XC London XD London XE London XF London XG Middlesbrough XH London XI Belfast XJ Manchester XK London XL London XM London XN London XO London XP London XR London XS Paisley XT London XU London XV London XW London XX London XY London XZ Armagh |
Y Somerset
YA Somerset YB Somerset YC Somerset YD Somerset YE London YF London YG Yorkshire (W. Riding) YH London YI Dublin YJ Dundee YK London YL London YM London YN London YO London YP London YR London YS Glasgow YT London YU London YV London YW London YX London YY London |
Z Dublin ZA Dublin ZB Cork County ZC Dublin ZD Dublin ZE Dublin ZF Cork ZH Dublin ZI Dublin ZJ Dublin ZK Cork County ZI, Dublin ZM Galway ZN Meath ZO Dublin ZP Donegal ZR Wexford ZT Cork County ZU Dublin ZW Kildare ZX Kerry ZY Louth ZZ Dublin (vehicles temporarily imported) |
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Local |
DVLA office |
Local Identifier |
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| A | Peterborough | A B C D E F G H J K L M N | |
| Norwich | O P R S T U | ||
| Ipswich | V W X Y | ||
| B | Birmingham | A - Y | |
| C | Cardiff | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O | |
| Swansea | P R S T U V | ||
| Bangor | W X Y | ||
| D | Chester | A B C D E F G H J K | |
| Shrewsbury | L M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| E | Chelmsford | A - Y | |
| F | Nottingham | A B C D E F G H J K L M N P | |
| Lincoln | R S T V W X Y | ||
| G | Maidstone | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O | |
| Brighton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| H | Bournemouth | A B C D E F G H J | |
| Portsmouth | K L M N O P R S T U V X Y | ||
| HW - Isle of Wight | |||
| K | Luton | A B C D E F G H J K L | |
| Northampton | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| L | Wimbledon | A B C D E F G H J | |
| Stanmore | K L M N O P R S T | ||
| Sidcup | U V W X Y | ||
| M | Manchester | A - Y | |
| N | Newcastle | A B C D E G H J K L M N O | |
| Stockton | P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| O | Oxford | A - Y | |
| P | Preston | A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T | |
| Carlisle | U V W X Y | ||
| R | Reading | A - Y | |
| S | Glasgow | A B C D E F G H J | |
| Edinburgh | K L M N O | ||
| Dundee | P R S T | ||
| Aberdeen | U V W | ||
| Inverness | X Y | ||
| V | Worcester | A - Y | |
| W | Exeter | A B C D E F G H J | |
| Truro | K L | ||
| Bristol | M N O P R S T U V W X Y | ||
| Y | Leeds | A B C D E F G H J K | |
| Sheffield | L M N O P R S T U | ||
| Beverley | V W X Y |
List from: www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/reg_marks_memorytags.htm
In nice map form, see: www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regmarks/LMTags-identifier-map.htm