Since September 2001, a new car number plate format has been in operation and is an increasingly common sight on the roads.
We've all become familiar with the old system of a letter at the start, or previously the end, of the registration plate telling us the age of the car. 'What reg is it?' is probably the first question anyone interested in buying a car asks about it, and for decades we've been comfortable that an 'M' reg car is newer than an 'L' reg.
But
a number plate isn't just a functional item telling us the age of a car. Having
a recent plate is undoubtedly also a status symbol.
The
new system is a radical change - not only to the appearance of the plates, but
also to the timing of when new plates are issued.
So what happens now?
How can you tell a car's age with the new format?
This KwikGuide aims to help you get the information you need from number plates. Just choose pages of our guide using the menu bar on the left, or click below to read on.