Number plates

What year is a W reg?

W prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (W123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 March 2000 and 31 August 2000.

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

Issued from1 March2000

Issued until31 August2000

Age today26 years

FormatW123 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 123W), the letter W came last and means 1 August 1980 to 31 July 1981. 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 March 2040.

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 2000

The models with the most MOT tests among cars first used in 2000. DVSA's data gives the year of first use, not the month, so this covers every plate issued in 2000, not only this one.

Models first used in 2000: 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 Golf	20,505	25 years	41.5% (n=3,616)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Volkswagen Transporter	19,146	25 years	43.7% (n=4,480)	All years Problems Recalls
Toyota Yaris	16,043	25 years	44.3% (n=2,827)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
BMW 3 Series	13,040	25 years	33.2% (n=2,437)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Nissan Micra	12,864	25 years	46.3% (n=2,193)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Ford Focus	12,198	25 years	46.1% (n=1,789)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Land Rover Defender	12,034	25 years	35.0% (n=2,904)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Volkswagen Polo	11,696	25 years	45.4% (n=2,022)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Mazda MX-5	11,622	25 years	36.2% (n=2,418)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Land Rover Discovery	10,123	25 years	34.6% (n=1,908)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
Vauxhall Astra	8,464	25 years	43.7% (n=1,314)	All years Problems Recalls ULEZ
BMW Z3	7,935	25 years	29.5% (n=1,859)	All years Problems 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