Number plates

What year is a P reg?

P prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (P123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 August 1996 and 31 July 1997.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.

Issued from1 August1996

Issued until31 July1997

Age today29 to 30 years

FormatP123 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 123P), the letter P came last and means 1 August 1975 to 31 July 1976. 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 of this age need an MOT every year. 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.

The first cars of this window reach 40 years on 1 August 2036.

MOT fail rates by make, model and age

Vehicle tax

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

Most tested models first used in 1997

The models with the most MOT tests among cars first used in 1997. DVSA's data gives the year of first use, not the month, so this covers every plate issued in 1997, not only this one.

Models first used in 1997: MOT tests 2022 to 2025, counting only the ages with at least 1,000 tests of that model, and the share that failed at the latest such age.
Model	MOT tests (n)	Age	Fail rate	More
Land Rover Defender	3,642	25 years	37.9% (n=3,642)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Volkswagen Transporter	3,409	25 years	45.3% (n=3,409)	Problems Recalls
BMW 3 Series	2,136	25 years	33.1% (n=2,136)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Mazda MX-5	2,101	25 years	34.1% (n=2,101)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
BMW Z3	1,957	25 years	36.8% (n=1,957)	Problems ULEZ
Land Rover Discovery	1,508	25 years	33.6% (n=1,508)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Jaguar XK	1,320	25 years	25.2% (n=1,320)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Volkswagen Golf	1,289	25 years	37.6% (n=1,289)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Honda Civic	1,199	25 years	43.4% (n=1,199)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Toyota Starlet	1,098	25 years	35.6% (n=1,098)	ULEZ
Mercedes-Benz C-Class	1,096	25 years	29.3% (n=1,096)	Problems Recalls ULEZ
Peugeot Boxer	1,077	25 years	42.2% (n=1,077)	Problems Recalls

A fail rate depends on age, mileage and upkeep, so compare models of the same age only.

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); DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal tests, 2022 to 2025; GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables (DVLA). MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.

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