Age Related Registration Marks
Starting with the transfer of registration activities to DVLA, Swansea in 1974; where the age of a vehicle could be determined, age related plates could be issued. These were allocated three bases for issues — the oldest vintage vehicles were first allowed issues from Bournemouth void numbers in the EL block. Vehicles from 1931-55 were allocated WFX marks, and the later vehicles from 1956-63 were allocated DEL in the reversed format. Later vehicles were re-registered into the normal suffix letter system in use at this time.
From August 1983 when registration commenced the year prefix series (A123 ABC, etc), and the introduction of “Q” plates, many more “age related plates” were issued. Unfortunately many have made there way to “cherished numbers” and adorn many PSV buses and coaches, which wasn’t the original intention.
It was decided to use unused numbers from Scottish councils which saw little registration activity, and accordingly DS 6574 upwards, followed by SL 6737 upwards, then BS 8000 upwards, and SV 4001 upwards have been used as two letter marks. BS and SV were used in parallel and following SV 9998 being reached, it is understood that lower numbers from BS 6060 are now being allocated.
Ex Scottish 3 letter marks, starting from ASV 101 were used for other types, followed by other ex Scottish issues and some Welsh ones, before reverting to Scottish again. Reversed ASV and BSV were issued, but this was then discontinued.
After reaching YAS 998, former un-issued Middlesbrough registration series UXG 101-998 was used, and this has been followed by former London marks reversed 101-998 UXA, through to UXE at present
| EL | Void numbers 1000-1500 used for pre-1930 vehicles | 1974 |
| DS | 6574 upwards | |
| SL | 9737 upwards | |
| BS | 8000 upwards | |
| SV | 4001 upwards | |
| WFX | Used for 1931-55 vehicles | 1974 - 8/83 |
| ASV-WSV | 101-998 | 8/83 - 8/86 |
| YSV | 101-998 | 8/83 - 8/86 |
| CSU-YSU | 101-998 | 7/86 - 1/90 |
| XSV | 101-998 issued after YSU | 1/90 |
| BSK-YSK | 101-998 | 3/90 - 3/92 |
| GVS-YVS | 101-998 | 3/92 - 4/93 |
| TYJ-YYJ | 101-998 | 4/93 - 10/93 |
| KFF-YFF | 101-998 | 10/93 - 12/94 |
| GFO-TFO | 101-998 | 12/94 - 4/96 |
| VFO-YFO | 101-998 | 12/94 - 4/96 |
| PSY-YSY | 101-998 | 5/96 - 2/97 |
| ASJ-YSJ | 101-998 | 2/97 - 12/98 |
| ASL-YSL | 101-998 | 1/99 - 12/00 |
| AAS-YAS | 101-998 | 1/01 - 12/03 |
| UXG | 101-998 | 1/04 |
Reversed | ||
| DEL | Used for 1956-63 vehicles | 1974 - 8/83 |
| ASV | 8/83 - 8/86 | |
| BSV | 8/83 - 8/86 | |
| UXA | 2/04 | |
| UXB | 2/04 | |
| UXC | 2/04 | |
| UXD | 2/04 | |
| UXE | 2/04 | |
Issues
Blocks are normally issued in units of around 100 to individual registration offices, and “hundreds” — 1.e. 100, 200 etc, and “trebles”, i.e. 111, 222, etc are not issued.
