UK Number Plate Area Codes: Explained
26.07.2022

While most people know that a car’s number plate will tell you when the car was registered, this isn't the only thing it tells you. You can also find out where the car was registered if you know what to look for.
In this guide, we’ll explain how you can use a number plate to find out where a car was registered in the UK according to the DVLA using something called “number plate area codes”.
Understanding Number Plate Area Codes
Area codes on number plates are primarily used by the authorities to make tracking vehicles easier.
Before the current formatting, introduced in 2001, if you wanted more information on a specific plate you would have to contact the DVLA office directly. Now, thanks to the introduction of area codes on number plates, the process of finding where a car was registered is now much easier.
While this isn't true for every car as it depends on the year it was registered. The standard formatting is “AB51 ABC” according to the 2001 introduction.
Number Plate Memory Tags
Until 2013, the first two letters of the plate were used to show which DVLA office a car was registered at. Since these offices have now closed, memory tags are now used as a general area code to show where in the country the car’s dealership is located.
For example, if you were to buy a new car in Essex, the memory tag will almost always start with the letter E.
Full List of Car Registration Plate Areas
Below is a full list of area codes for all of the UK’s regions and the DVLA offices that issued them before 2013:
Regional Identifiers |
Region |
DVLA Office |
AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AJ, AK, AL, AM, AN |
Anglia |
Peterborough |
AO, AP, AR, AS, AT, AU |
Anglia |
Norwich |
AV, AW, AX, AY |
Anglia |
Ipswich |
BA, BB, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG, BH, BJ, BK, BL, BM, BN, BO, BP, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BY |
Birmingham |
Birmingham |
CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, CO |
Cymru |
Cardiff |
CP, CR, CS, CT, CU, CV |
Cymru |
Swansea |
CW, CX, CY |
Cymru |
Bangor |
DA, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DG, DH, DJ, DK |
Deeside to Shrewsbury |
Chester |
DL, DM, DN, DO, DP, DR, DS, DT, DU, DV, DW, DX, DY |
Deeside to Shrewsbury |
Shrewsbury |
EA, EB, EC, ED, EE, EF, EG, EH, EJ, EK, EL, EM, EN, EO, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EV, EW, EX, EY |
Essex |
Chelmsford |
FA, FB, FC, FD, FE, FF, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FL, FM, FN, FP |
Forest and Fens |
Nottingham |
FR, FS, FT, FV, FW, FX, FY |
Forest and Fens |
Lincoln |
GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, GF, GG, GH, GJ, GK, GL, GM, GN, GO |
Garden of England |
Maidstone |
GP, GR, GS, GT, GU, GV, GX, GY |
Garden of England |
Brighton |
HA, HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HH, HJ |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Bournemouth |
HK, HL, HM, HN, HO, HP, HR, HS, HT, HU, HV, HX, HY |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth |
HW |
Hampshire and Dorset |
Portsmouth (Used exclusively for the Isle of Wight) |
KA, KB, KC, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ, KK, KL |
- |
Luton |
KM, KN, KO, KP, KR, KS, KT, KU, KV, KW, KX, KY |
- |
Northampton |
LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH, LJ |
London |
Wimbledon |
LK, LL, LM, LN, LO, LP, LR, LS, LT |
London |
Stanmore |
LU, LV, LW, LX, LY |
London |
Sidcup |
MA, MB, MC, MD, ME, MF, MG, MH, MJ, MK, ML, MM, MN, MO, MP, MR, MS, MT, MU, MV, MW, MX, MY |
Manchester and Merseyside |
Manchester |
NA, NB, NC, ND, NE, NF, NG, NH, NJ, NK, NL, NM, NN, NO |
North |
Newcastle |
NP, NR, NS, NT, NU, NV, NW, NX, NY |
North |
Stockton |
OA, OB, OC, OD, OE, OF, OG, OH, OJ, OK, OL, OM, ON, OO, OP, OR, OS, OT, OU, OV, OW, OX, OY |
Oxford |
Oxford |
PA, PB, PC, PD, PE, PF, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PM, PN, PO, PP, PR, PS, PT |
Preston |
Preston |
PU, PV, PW, PX, PY |
Preston |
Carlisle |
RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RH, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RN, RO, RP, RR, RS, RT, RU, RV, RW, RX, RY |
Reading |
Reading |
SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJ |
Scotland |
Glasgow |
SK, SL, SM, SN, SO |
Scotland |
Edinburgh |
SP, SR, SS, ST |
Scotland |
Dundee |
SU, SV, SW |
Scotland |
Aberdeen |
SX, SY |
Scotland |
Inverness |
VA, VB, VC, VD, VE, VF, VG, VH, VJ, VK, VL, VM, VN, VO, VP, VR, VS, VT, VU, VV, VW, VX, VY |
Severn Valley |
Worcester |
WA, WB, WC, WD, WE, WF, WG, WH, WJ |
West of England |
Exeter |
WK, WL |
West of England |
Truro |
WM, WN, WO, WP, WR, WS, WT, WU, WV, WW, WX, WY |
West of England |
Bristol |
YA, YB, YC, YD, YE, YF, YG, YH, YJ, YK |
Yorkshire |
Leeds |
YL, YM, YN, YO, YP, YR, YS, YT, YU |
Yorkshire |
Sheffield |
YV, YW, YX, YY |
Yorkshire |
Beverley |
Understanding Older Number Plates Area Codes
Since the current number plate system was only introduced in 2001, it is still fairly common to see older “prefix” style number plates.
These plates are formatted as “A123 ABC”. The first letter represents the year of the car's registration and the final two letters (BC) represent the area code.
Area Codes for Prefix and Suffix Number Plates
Prefix and suffix plates use the same area codes, the following alphabetically sorted list will help you quickly sort through them:
Area Code |
Registration Region |
A |
London |
AA |
Bournemouth |
AB |
Worcester |
AC |
Coventry |
AD |
Gloucester |
AE |
Bristol |
AF |
Truro |
AG |
Hull |
AH |
Norwich |
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 |
B |
Lancashire |
BA |
Manchester |
BB |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
BC |
Leicester |
BD |
Northampton |
BE |
Lincoln |
BF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
BG |
Liverpool |
BH |
Luton |
BJ |
Ipswich |
BK |
Portsmouth |
BL |
Reading |
BM |
Luton |
BN |
Manchester or Bolton |
BO |
Cardiff |
BP |
Portsmouth |
BR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
BS |
Aberdeen |
BT |
Leeds |
BU |
Manchester |
BV |
Preston |
BW |
Oxford |
BX |
Haverfordwest |
BY |
London (North-West) |
BZ |
County Down |
C |
West Yorkshire |
CA |
Chester |
CB |
Manchester |
CC |
Bangor |
CD |
Brighton |
CE |
Peterborough |
CF |
Reading |
CG |
Bournemouth |
CH |
Nottingham |
CJ |
Gloucester |
CK |
Preston |
CL |
Norwich |
CM |
Liverpool |
CN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
CO |
Exeter |
CP |
Huddersfield |
CR |
Southampton |
CS |
Glasgow |
CT |
Lincoln |
CU |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
CV |
Truro |
CW |
Preston |
CX |
Huddersfield |
CY |
Swansea |
CZ |
Belfast |
D |
Kent |
DA |
Birmingham |
DB |
Manchester |
DC |
Middlesbrough |
DD |
Gloucester |
DE |
Haverfordwest |
DF |
Gloucester |
DG |
Gloucester |
DH |
Dudley |
DJ |
Liverpool |
DK |
Rochdale, later 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 |
County Antrim |
E |
Staffordshire |
EA |
Dudley |
EB |
Peterborough |
EC |
Preston |
ED |
Liverpool |
EE |
Lincoln |
EF |
Middlesbrough |
EG |
Peterborough |
EH |
Stoke-on-Trent |
EJ |
Haverfordwest |
EK |
Liverpool |
EL |
Bournemouth |
EM |
Liverpool |
EN |
Bury, later Manchester |
EO |
Preston |
EP |
Swansea |
ER |
Peterborough |
ES |
Dundee |
ET |
Sheffield |
EU |
Bristol |
EV |
Chelmsford |
EW |
Peterborough |
EX |
Norwich |
EY |
Bangor |
EZ |
Belfast |
F |
Essex |
FA |
Stoke-on-Trent |
FB |
Bristol |
FC |
Oxford |
FD |
Dudley |
FE |
Lincoln |
FF |
Bangor |
FG |
Brighton |
FH |
Gloucester |
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 |
G |
Glasgow |
GA |
Glasgow |
GB |
Glasgow |
GC |
London (South-West) |
GD |
Glasgow |
GE |
Glasgow |
GF |
London (South-West) |
GG |
Glasgow |
GH |
London (South-West) |
GJ |
London (South-West) |
GK |
London (South-West) |
GL |
Truro |
GM |
Reading |
GN |
London (South-West) |
GO |
London (South-West) |
GP |
London (South-West) |
GR |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
GS |
Luton |
GT |
London (South-West) |
GU |
London (South-East) |
GV |
Ipswich |
GW |
London (South-East) |
GX |
London (South-East) |
GY |
London (South-East) |
GZ |
Belfast |
H |
London |
HA |
Dudley |
HB |
Cardiff |
HC |
Brighton |
HD |
Huddersfield |
HE |
Sheffield |
HF |
Liverpool |
HG |
Preston |
HH |
Carlisle |
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 |
J |
Durham |
JA |
Manchester |
JB |
Reading |
JC |
Bangor |
JD |
London (Central) |
JE |
Peterborough |
JF |
Leicester |
JG |
Maidstone |
JH |
Reading |
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 |
County Down |
K |
Liverpool |
KA |
Liverpool |
KB |
Liverpool |
KC |
Liverpool |
KD |
Liverpool |
KE |
Maidstone |
KF |
Liverpool |
KG |
Cardiff |
KH |
Hull |
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 |
County Antrim |
L |
Glamorganshire |
LA |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LB |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LC |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LD |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LE |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LF |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LG |
Chester |
LH |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
KJ |
Bournemouth |
LK |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LL |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LM |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LN |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LO |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LP |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LR |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LS |
Edinburgh |
LT |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LU |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LV |
Liverpool |
LW |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LX |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LY |
London (North-West) (used for London County Council before 1965) |
LZ |
County Armagh |
M |
Cheshire |
MA |
Chester |
MB |
Chester |
MC |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MD |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
ME |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MF |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MG |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MH |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MJ |
Luton |
MK |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
ML |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MM |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MN |
used in the Isle of Man |
MO |
Reading |
MP |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MR |
Swindon |
MS |
Edinburgh |
MT |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MU |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MV |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MW |
Swindon |
MX |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MY |
London (North-East) (used for Middlesex before 1965) |
MZ |
Belfast |
|
|
N |
Manchester |
NA |
Manchester |
NB |
Manchester |
NC |
Manchester |
ND |
Manchester |
NE |
Manchester |
NF |
Manchester |
NG |
Norwich |
NH |
Northampton |
NJ |
Brighton |
NK |
Luton |
NL |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
NM |
Luton |
NN |
Nottingham |
NO |
Chelmsford |
NP |
Worcester |
NR |
Leicester |
NS |
Glasgow |
NT |
Shrewsbury |
NU |
Nottingham |
NV |
Northampton |
NW |
Leeds |
NX |
Dudley |
NY |
Cardiff |
NZ |
County Londonderry/Derry |
O |
Birmingham |
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 |
Southampton |
OX |
Birmingham |
OY |
London (North-West) |
OZ |
Belfast |
P |
Surrey |
PA |
Guildford |
PB |
Guildford |
PC |
Guildford |
PD |
Guildford |
PE |
Guildford |
PF |
Guildford |
PG |
Guildford |
PH |
Guildford |
PJ |
Guildford |
PK |
Guildford |
PL |
Guildford |
PM |
Guildford |
PN |
Brighton |
PO |
Portsmouth (GPO formerly used for General Post Office vehicles) |
PP |
Luton |
PR |
Bournemouth |
PS |
Aberdeen |
PT |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
PU |
Chelmsford |
PV |
Ipswich |
PW |
Norwich |
PX |
Portsmouth |
PY |
Middlesbrough |
PZ |
Belfast |
R |
Derbyshire |
RA |
Nottingham |
RB |
Nottingham |
RC |
Nottingham |
RD |
Reading |
RE |
Stoke-on-Trent |
RF |
Stoke-on-Trent |
RG |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
RH |
Hull |
RJ |
Manchester |
RK |
London (North-West) |
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 |
County Antrim |
S |
Edinburgh |
SA |
Aberdeen |
SB |
Glasgow |
SC |
Edinburgh |
SD |
Glasgow |
SE |
Aberdeen |
SF |
Edinburgh |
SG |
Edinburgh |
SH |
Edinburgh |
SJ |
Glasgow |
SK |
Inverness |
SL |
Dundee |
SM |
Carlisle |
SN |
Dundee |
SO |
Aberdeen |
SP |
Dundee |
SR |
Dundee |
SS |
Aberdeen |
ST |
Inverness |
SU |
Glasgow |
SW |
Carlisle |
SX |
Edinburgh |
T |
Devon |
TA |
Exeter |
TB |
Liverpool |
TC |
Bristol |
TD |
Manchester |
TE |
Manchester |
TF |
Reading |
TG |
Cardiff |
TH |
Swansea |
|
|
TJ |
Liverpool |
TK |
Exeter |
TL |
Lincoln |
TM |
Luton |
TN |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
TO |
Nottingham |
TP |
Portsmouth |
TR |
Southampton |
TS |
Dundee |
TT |
Exeter |
TU |
Chester |
TV |
Nottingham |
TW |
Chelmsford |
TX |
Cardiff |
TY |
Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
TZ |
Belfast |
U |
Leeds |
UA |
Leeds |
UB |
Leeds |
UC |
London (Central) |
UD |
Oxford |
UE |
Dudley |
UF |
Brighton |
UG |
Leeds |
UH |
Cardiff |
UI |
County Londonderry/Derry |
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 |
V |
Lanarkshire |
VA |
Peterborough |
VB |
Maidstone |
VC |
Coventry |
VD |
Lanarkshire/Luton |
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 |
County Tyrone |
W |
Sheffield |
WA |
Sheffield |
WB |
Sheffield |
WC |
Chelmsford |
WD |
Dudley |
WE |
Sheffield |
WF |
Sheffield |
WG |
Sheffield |
WH |
Manchester or Bolton |
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 |
X |
Northumberland |
XI |
Belfast |
XZ |
County Armagh |
Y |
Somerset |
YA |
Taunton |
YB |
Taunton |
YC |
Taunton |
YD |
Taunton |
YE |
London (Central) |
YF |
London (Central) |
YG |
Leeds |
YH |
London (Central) |
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 |
County Londonderry |
Find Your Number Plate Area Code with Absolute Reg!
No matter if you’ve got a plate that was registered with the newest system or one that was registered with the suffix system, it is always interesting to see where a number plate has come from.
If you’d like to see if a number plate area code is available, you can use our free registration search to find your perfect number plate. As part of our service, we also offer finance options and hassle-free registration transfers.