Number plates

What year is a B reg?

Q: What year is a B reg?

B prefix plates were issued to cars first registered between 1 August 1984 and 31 July 1985.

B prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (B123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 August 1984 and 31 July 1985.

Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.

Issued from1 August1984

Issued until31 July1985

Age today41 to 42 years

FormatB123 ABC

Reading a prefix plate

From August 1983 to August 2001 the year letter came first, then a serial number of one to three digits, then three letters. The last two letters showed the local office that issued the number. From March 1999 a new letter started every March and September instead of every August.

On the older suffix plates (ABC 123B), the letter B came last and means 1 January 1964 to 31 December 1964. Suffix year letters.

A private (cherished) number can be moved to a newer car, so a plate can make a car look older than it is but never newer. How to transfer a private number plate.

MOT

Cars this old are usually exempt from the MOT unless they have been substantially changed. Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago do not need an MOT unless they have been substantially changed, and the keeper must declare the exemption when taxing the vehicle. The 40-year MOT exemption in full.

Every car first registered in this window passed 40 years by 31 July 2025.

MOT fail rates by make, model and age

Vehicle tax

Cars built before 1 January 1986 can be taxed in the historic vehicle class, which costs nothing, though the car must still be taxed.
Cars first registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size: £230 a year up to 1,549cc and £375 a year above it (rates from 1 April 2026).

Work out the tax for one car · Historic vehicle tax in full

Other prefix letters

I, O, Q, U and Z were never used as year letters. Q is kept for vehicles whose age cannot be established.

All number plate ages · 51 plates, the first of the current format

Found one you might buy? Vet the specific car.

The plate tells you roughly when a car was first registered. The VetTheCar Buying Report brings together the MOT history, mileage readings and running costs of one car before you pay.

See a sample Buying Report Free car tools

Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVLA vehicle registration numbering rules (INF104); GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables (DVLA). Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVLA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources