Number plates
What year is a Y reg?
Y prefix plates, where the year letter comes first (Y123 ABC), were issued to cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 August 2001.
MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Tax rates for the year from 1 April 2026.
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 123Y), the letter Y came last and means 1 August 1982 to 31 July 1983. 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 2041.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) |
|---|---|---|
| 25 years | 36.3% | 313,355 |
Vehicle tax
- Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 are taxed by CO2 band, A to M: from £20 a year (band A, up to 100 g/km) to £790 a year (band M, over 255 g/km) (rates from 1 April 2026). The band is on the V5C.
- Cars over 225 g/km first registered before 23 March 2006 pay the band K rate, £445 a year.
Most tested models first used in 2001
The models with the most MOT tests among cars first used in 2001. DVSA's data gives the year of first use, not the month, so this covers every plate issued in 2001, not only this one.
| Model | MOT tests (n) | Age | Fail rate | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf | 36,105 | 24 years | 40.9% (n=6,513) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Toyota Yaris | 31,325 | 24 years | 43.5% (n=5,882) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Volkswagen Transporter | 26,142 | 24 years | 44.2% (n=6,142) | All yearsProblemsRecalls |
| Ford Focus | 25,840 | 24 years | 44.5% (n=4,080) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| BMW 3 Series | 23,381 | 24 years | 34.1% (n=4,548) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Honda Civic | 20,503 | 24 years | 43.6% (n=3,796) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Nissan Micra | 18,584 | 24 years | 45.5% (n=3,351) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Volkswagen Polo | 17,594 | 24 years | 44.5% (n=3,142) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Land Rover Discovery | 15,557 | 24 years | 34.3% (n=3,114) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 15,393 | 24 years | 47.0% (n=2,405) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Vauxhall Astra | 15,322 | 24 years | 42.1% (n=2,463) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
| Peugeot 206 | 14,126 | 24 years | 47.1% (n=2,238) | All yearsProblemsRecallsULEZ |
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.
- A1983
- B1984
- C1985
- D1986
- E1987
- F1988
- G1989
- H1990
- J1991
- K1992
- L1993
- M1994
- N1995
- P1996
- R1997
- S1998
- T1999
- V1999
- W2000
- X2000
- Y2001
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.
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