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Number plate area codes
The definitive guide!
Do you ever look at a UK number plate and wonder where the car is from? Itโs like a secret code on your car! In the UK, the DVLA (thatโs the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) helps keep track of all cars. They use area codes on number plates to show where a car was first registered.
This guide will help you understand these codes. Theyโre not just random letters and numbers!
Understanding Number Plate Codes
DVLA area codes use one or two letters. These letters tell you the area in the UK. Then, there are numbers that make each number plate unique.
This system helps the DVLA know where cars come from and manage everything easily. Knowing about these codes means youโll understand a bit more about car number plates.
For example, if you see a number plate starting with โBโ, thatโs Birmingham. If it starts with โCโ, itโs Cardiff. Cool, right? Knowing these codes helps you see where cars on the road are registered. Itโs like a little bit of car history right there on the plate!
The DVLA sometimes changes these area codes. If you want to know the latest codes, the best place to look is the official DVLA website. They have all the up-to-date info about number plates and codes. Checking their website is a good idea if youโre getting a new car or just want to stay in the know.
While these codes are mainly for official stuff, some people like to use them for custom number plates. You can add a personal touch to your plate, but understanding the regular codes is still important.
Knowing about DVLA codes can also be useful when you think about car insurance or even selling your car later on. Sometimes, where a car is from can be interesting to know for these things. So, understanding the codes can be handy!
Staying up-to-date with DVLA area codes is useful for car owners and anyone interested in how things work. It helps you understand car registration a bit better. Itโs all about making sense of the roads and the cars we see every day!
A full list of car registration areas
Take a look at the codes for all of the UKโs regions and 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 |
A |
|
---|---|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
X |
Northumberland |
XI |
Belfast |
XZ |
County Armagh |
Y |
|
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 |
