Number plates

What year is a V reg?

Q: What year is a V reg?

V prefix plates were issued to cars first registered between 1 September 1999 and 29 February 2000.

V prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (V123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 September 1999 and 29 February 2000.

Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.

Issued from1 September1999

Issued until29 February2000

Age today26 to 27 years

FormatV123 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 123V), the letter V came last and means 1 August 1979 to 31 July 1980. 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 September 2039.

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

DVSA's data gives the year of first use, not the month, so we show one model table per year, on the plate that covers most of it. See the most tested models first used in 1999: T prefix plates and the most tested models first used in 2000: W prefix plates.

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