Number plate jargon explained

A

Acrylic number plate

A vehicle registration number plate that is made from acrylic, a flexible and durable plastic material.

Age identifier

An alphabetical or numerical code on a number plate that identifies the year the registration number was issued or the vehicle was registered.

Area code

One, two or three letters that are used to represent the location where a registration number was initially registered. It is sometimes referred to as a district code in dateless, prefix or suffix number plates and a local memory tag in current style registration numbers.

Assign

To officially transfer a private registration onto a vehicle so it can be legally displayed.

B

Banned number plate

A number plate that resembles a contentious word and which has been withdrawn by the DVLA.

C

Cherished number plate

An interchangeable term that is often used to describe a private number plate.

Current style number plates

The style of number plates that was introduced in September 2001 and is designed to provide enough combinations to last at least 50 years. The current style features a numerical age code, unlike earlier formats that used prefix or suffix letters.

D

Dateless number plates

A registration number that does not contain an age/year identifier and can be transferred to any road-legal vehicle.

DfT, Department for Transport

The government department responsible for DVLA and other matters relating to the UK transport networks.

Donor

In the context of personal number plate transfers, the donor is an individual who holds entitlement to a number plate. They are the only person(s) who can authorise the transfer (by sale or other means) to another individual. In short, the donor is usually the seller of a number plate.

DoT, DOT, Department of Transport

Department of Transport was the name, from 1981 until 1997, of the government department now called the Department for Transport (see above).

DVLA, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

The government agency responsible for maintaining records of drivers, vehicles and their licence status. DVLA issues new vehicle registration numbers and is responsible for the administration and regulation of number plates.

E

Entitlement period

The period of time that you have to assign a registration held on a certificate of entitlement (V750) or retention document (V778) to a vehicle. This is usually 10 years from the date of issue.

F

First registration (V55/4)

The V55/4 is a form to apply for the tax and registration of a brand-new vehicle.

First registration (V55/5)

A V55/5 is a DVLA form used to apply for the registration of a used vehicle for the first time.

G

Grantee

In the context of personal number plate transfers, a company or individual with the rights to the registration number and is the only party authorised to sign a V750 or V778 document.

Green number plates

A type of acrylic number plate that displays a green flash to signify a vehicle’s zero-emissions credentials.

H

Historic vehicles

A vehicle that is 40 years old or more and is eligible for vehicle tax exemption.

I

Irish number plates

A registration that contains the characters of I and Z reserved for those issued in Northern Island. They do not contain an age identifier.

M

MOT Ministry of Transport Certificate

A test created by the Ministry of Transport to check the roadworthiness of a vehicle.

N

New Release

A periodic issue of new registration numbers by DVLA. New releases currently occur twice a year.

Nominee

A named person who is able to assign the registration to their vehicle in addition to the grantee/original purchaser.

Number plate format

The composition of the number plate and the system in which private registrations are released..

P

Prefix number plate

A car registration in which the year of issue is indicated by a prefix letter code, as in the format: Y123 XXX, where "Y" is the year identifier.

R

Retension

The transfer of a registration number from a vehicle to a retention certificate (V778). It allows the grantee to retain the rights to the number plate for up to 10 years..

Receiver, Rec

The receiver is the person to whom entitlement to display a personal registration is transferred.

Road Fund Licence

An archaic term for VED. Still in occasional colloquial use.

Road Tax

A common, unofficial, colloquial term for Vehicle Excise Duty (see above).

S

Suffix number plate

A car registration in which the year of issue is indicated by a suffix letter code, as in the format: XXX 123Y, where "Y" is the year identifier.

T

Transfer

A transfer is a movement of a registration number from a vehicle to another vehicle or from vehicle to certificate and vice versa.

V

Valuation

A valuation is a free, no-obligation estimate of how much you should receive from a sale of your number plate.

V750 (Entitlement Certificate)

A pink certificate of entitlement issued by the DVLA for a number plate that has not yet been assigned to a vehicle. The registration number may be 'stored' in certificate form until it is required for use on a vehicle.

V778 (Retention Document)

A green retention certificate issued by the DVLA for a registration number that has been removed from a vehicle. The registration number may be "stored" in this form until it is required for use on a vehicle.

V5C

This is also known as the vehicle logbook. It shows the essential details of the vehicle, registered keeper and legal owner of the vehicle.

V317

A form used to transfer a number plate between vehicles or retain it to a certificate.

V62

A form to apply for a vehicle log book (V5C). This document is required If you have bought a vehicle but have not received the V5C in your name due to the original V5C being lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.