Different Number Plate Types
Dateless Number Plates
Search Dateless Number Plates
Dateless vehicle registrations stand out as a top of the range personalised number plate. Dateless plates may also be used to hide the age of your vehicle.
If you have a particular registration in mind, use this dateless registration style search to specify exactly what you want.
- play_arrowDecide which set up of letters and numbers you need.
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- HINT: Take a look below to learn a little more information.
New Reg are specialists in Cherished and Dateless vehicle registrations. We have thousands of stock and third-party cherished registrations on our website for you to buy. Take a look at the table below to see the format and examples of Dateless and Cherished number plates.
What Are Dateless Number Plates?
Dateless number plates are probably the most sought-after type of personalised car registrations. In part, this is because the format does not give away the age of the vehicle. This means they can be used on any kind of car or van, no matter how old or new it is. This differs from current style, or 'new style', plates, as these cannot be used if they would make the vehicle appear newer than it is - although they can be used where the opposite is true and they would make the vehicle seem older.
Dateless registration plates can therefore be the best investment for those considering a personalised plate purchase. No matter what kind of vehicle you might own in the future, and whatever the age, you can place a dateless plate like this on it. This desirability makes dateless car registration plates an attractive option.
Dateless plates predate the age-identifier system that was introduced with suffix registrations in 1963. The very earliest UK registrations, issued from 1903, used one or two letters denoting the region of issue followed by a sequence of numbers from 1 to 9999. In 1932, the format changed to three letters — ranging from AAA to YYY — followed by up to three numbers. Both formats remain fully transferable today. For a full timeline of every UK registration format, see our car registration years guide.
As the plates begin with letters, initials are a popular choice, and short names are very sought after indeed. As a general rule, the more common the name, the more people will want that plate. This means that plates representing names that many people share are among the highest demand - think along the lines of JON, SUE, TOM, ANN or BEN, for example.
Dateless plates featuring a very short sequence of letters and numbers are also highly sought after. A plate that comprises just one letter followed by one number will generally fetch the highest prices, while longer sequences tend to be a little more affordable - although once again popularity comes into play.
Plates that end in two numbers are also attractive to buyers, as they can denote the person's year of birth or perhaps their age. As ages will obviously change each year, they are often avoided, but if the plate is intended as a gift to mark a special occasion - such as a milestone birthday like 18, 21 or 50, then this can serve as a constant reminder of that cherished gift. A wedding anniversary will also fall on the same date each year, which makes a plate showing the day of the wedding a great gift idea.
A dateless number plate may also prove to be a shrewd investment. The perennial popularity of such sequences means they are highly likely to increase in value during ownership. Fashion can play a large part here, however. Take, for instance, the names mentioned above. There are currently lots of drivers called Jon, Sue, Tom, Ann or Ben, but will there be in the future? Tom and Ben remain ever-popular names for boys, but Sue or Susan and Ann or Anne are no longer common choices for baby girls. This can, and will, of course change again in the future. If you own an OLY plate you might be in luck, as Oliver and Olivia were the most popular baby names in Britain in 2018.
You will find it quick and easy to search for your preferred dateless number plate on our website.
What is a cherished number plate?
Cherished number plate is the traditional term for a dateless private registration — one that has been kept and transferred between vehicles over many decades. The term reflects the sentimental and monetary value attached to these earliest UK registrations. In summary, a dateless or cherished number plate contains a letter or sequence of letters followed by a number or combination of numbers, with no age identifier. It can be displayed on any vehicle of any age — which is a large part of why the dateless style of private number plates remains so popular with buyers across the UK. As a DVLA recognised reseller, New Reg provides access to thousands of dateless registrations from both our own stock and the wider market.
Regional Indicator | Unique Code
Dateless Number Plates — Common Questions
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What is a dateless number plate?A dateless number plate is a registration that contains no age identifier, meaning it cannot be used to determine the year a vehicle was first registered. They predate the suffix system introduced in 1963 and can be legally displayed on any vehicle regardless of its age.
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Can a dateless plate be put on any car?Yes. Because dateless plates carry no year identifier, DVLA rules allow them to be transferred onto any vehicle of any age — new or old. This is unlike current-style plates, which cannot be used if they would make the vehicle appear newer than it actually is.
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Are dateless number plates a good investment?Dateless plates are widely regarded as the strongest investment in the private plate market. Their limited supply, timeless format, and ability to fit any vehicle make them consistently desirable. Short combinations — particularly single letter and single number plates — have historically increased significantly in value.
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What formats do dateless number plates come in?From 1903, dateless plates used one or two letters followed by up to four numbers (e.g. A 1 or AB 1234). From 1932 the format changed to three letters followed by up to three numbers (e.g. JON 321). Both formats remain fully transferable today.
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How do I search for a dateless number plate?Use the search tool on this page to specify the combination of letters and numbers you want. You can search by initials, a short name, or a specific number sequence. New Reg holds thousands of dateless registrations including both our own stock and third-party cherished plates.
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What is a cherished number plate?Cherished number plate is the traditional term for a dateless private registration — one that has been kept and transferred between vehicles over many decades. The term reflects the sentimental and monetary value attached to these early registrations.
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Which letters are excluded from dateless number plates?The letters I, O, Q, U and Z were excluded from dateless plate sequences as they could be confused with other characters — specifically 1, 0, 0, V and 2. The same exclusions apply to prefix and suffix plates.
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Can I hide my car's age with a dateless plate?Yes — this is one of the most popular reasons buyers choose dateless plates. Because the registration carries no year information, it is impossible to determine the vehicle's age from the plate alone. This is perfectly legal under DVLA rules.
