It’s March! While that might not seem like a big deal in the everyday world—aside from spring being around the corner and the weather getting warmer—in the world of cars, it signifies the arrival of new car registration month. We’ve officially transitioned to the 25 plate!
From March 2025, every car registered will carry a 25-plate but If you’re planning to buy in the autumn, you’ll be pleased to know the 75-plate arrives in September. There’s never too long to wait for the next number plate update! Every six months, the age-identifying characters on UK number plates get refreshed.
This twice-yearly plate change often creates a buzz in the new car market—car buyers love the excitement of having the latest number plate. As a result, we usually see a noticeable spike in new car sales in the UK, with many buyers eager to showcase the newest registration parked in their driveways.
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How do UK number plates work?
With the 25 plate registration just around the corner, here’s a overview of how the UK number plate system works!
The 25 number plate will be released in March 2025 which means all car registered between 1st March 2025 and the last day of August 2025, will have the number 25.
The new 25 number plate will be introduced in March 2025, which means that all cars registered between 1st March 2025 and the end of August 2025 will feature the number 25.
This switch between March and September for number plates has been a tradition since 1999, and the two-letter code followed by the date number system has been in place since 2001. In the past, the system used single letters to indicate the year (for example, D-reg for 1986-87, with only one plate change in August).
Starting in March, the 25 plate will be reflected in the third and fourth characters on the plate, forming part of the three elements of a standard number plate. These consist of:
- Two letters representing the region where the car was registered (for instance, L for London and M for the Borehamwood area)
- Two numbers indicating the time frame of registration (in this case, 25 for March 2025 to September 2025)
- A combination of three randomly generated letters
Number plates issued from March to September will show two numbers representing the year, while plates issued from September onwards will add 50 to that year.
What are the rules number plates?
The UK is very strict on number plates so here is evereything you need to know.
For vehicles made after 1 January 1973, the front number plate needs to feature a white background, while the rear number plate should have a cheerful yellow background.
There are some important guidelines about the letters and numbers on the registration plate, and they are as follows:
- Characters should be 79mm and 50mm wide (with the exception of the number 1 or letter I).
- The thickness of each character stroke needs to be 14mm.
- Make sure there's an 11mm space between characters.
- The gap between the age identifier and the random letters should be 33mm.
- Margins at the top, bottom, and sides should measure 11mm.
- There should be a 19mm vertical space between the age identifier and the random numbers.
- Since 2001, the font used for number plates has been the Charles Wright font.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Reg Plates.
Why does my car have a number plate?
When do UK number plates change?
Do you need a front number plate in the UK?
Where can I get number plates made?
What information can you get from a UK number plate?
What is a private number plate?