Number plates

What year is an R reg?

R prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (R123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 August 1997 and 31 July 1998.

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

Issued from1 August1997

Issued until31 July1998

Age today28 to 29 years

FormatR123 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 123R), the letter R came last and means 1 August 1976 to 31 July 1977. 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 2037.

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 1998

The models with the most MOT tests among cars first used in 1998. DVSA's data gives the year of first use, not the month, so this covers every plate issued in 1998, not only this one. For the rest of this plate's window, see the most tested models first used in 1997: P prefix plates.

Models first used in 1998: 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
Volkswagen Transporter	8,139	25 years	44.6% (n=4,007)	All years Problems Recalls
Land Rover Defender	7,165	25 years	34.0% (n=3,550)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Mazda MX-5	5,846	25 years	33.5% (n=2,835)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
BMW Z3	5,567	25 years	33.6% (n=2,684)	All years Problems ULEZ
BMW 3 Series	5,166	25 years	31.9% (n=2,442)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Nissan Micra	3,777	25 years	46.6% (n=1,697)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Ford Fiesta	3,695	25 years	48.9% (n=1,605)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Volkswagen Golf	3,385	25 years	42.0% (n=1,528)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Land Rover Discovery	2,977	25 years	34.0% (n=1,347)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Honda Civic	2,827	25 years	40.4% (n=1,276)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Toyota Starlet	2,815	25 years	37.4% (n=1,317)	ULEZ
Jaguar XK	2,698	25 years	25.5% (n=1,282)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ

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