Number Plate Glossary
A complete reference of UK number plate terms and definitions — from dateless plates to retention certificates and everything in between.
A
Age Identifier
The part of a registration number that indicates the vehicle's age. On suffix plates it's the last letter, on prefix plates it's the first letter, and on current-style plates it's the two-digit number. Dateless plates have no age identifier.
Area Code
The letters in a registration that identify the DVLA local office where the vehicle was first registered. On suffix plates it's the first three letters, on prefix plates it's the last three, and on current-style plates it's the first two letters.
Assignment Fee
The £80 fee charged by the DVLA to assign a personalised registration from a retention certificate (V778) or certificate of entitlement (V750) to a vehicle.
C
Certificate of Entitlement (V750)
A document issued by the DVLA when you purchase a registration directly from them (e.g., at auction or online). It gives you the right to assign the registration to an eligible vehicle. Valid for 12 months and renewable.
Cherished Plate
A term for any personalised or privately held registration mark with special significance — whether due to age, pattern, or personal meaning. Most commonly associated with older dateless registrations, but applies to all formats.
CNDA
The Cherished Numbers Dealers Association — a trade body for personalised registration dealers in the UK. CNDA membership indicates a dealer meets certain standards of practice and professionalism.
Consignment Sale
A method of selling a number plate where a dealer lists and markets the plate on your behalf, taking a commission (typically 10–20%) when the plate sells. The seller retains ownership until sale completes.
Current Style
The UK number plate format used from September 2001 to present. Consists of two letters (area code), two numbers (age identifier), and three random letters — e.g., AB51 CDE. The most affordable and widely available format.
D
Dateless Plate
The oldest UK registration format, issued from 1903 to 1963. Contains no year identifier, meaning it can be assigned to any vehicle regardless of age. Considered the most prestigious format. Consists of letters and numbers with no fixed age code.
Direct Sale
Selling a number plate directly to a buyer (or having a dealer buy it from you outright) rather than through consignment or auction. Typically faster but may achieve a lower price than consignment.
DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency — the UK government body responsible for maintaining the register of drivers and vehicles. The DVLA manages all personalised registration transfers and issues retention certificates.
F
Format Rarity
The relative scarcity of a registration format. Dateless plates are the rarest (no new ones will ever be issued), followed by suffix, prefix, and current style. Rarer formats generally command higher prices.
G
Grantee
The person nominated to receive a personalised registration. On a V750 certificate of entitlement or V778 retention certificate, the grantee is the person authorised to assign the registration to a vehicle.
L
Leetspeak
The practice of using numbers and characters to represent letters on a number plate — for example, using 3 for E, 4 for A, 5 for S, or 8 for B. Many personalised plates rely on leetspeak to create readable words or names.
Logbook (V5C)
The Vehicle Registration Certificate, commonly called the logbook. This document records the registered keeper of a vehicle and its registration number. Required for all plate transfers.
M
Memory Tag
The three random letters at the end of a current-style registration (e.g., the 'CDE' in AB51 CDE). These letters are randomly assigned but often coincidentally spell initials, abbreviations, or parts of names.
MONIKR Score
MONIKR's proprietary rating for number plates, scored out of 100. Evaluates readability, pattern quality, memorability, and market desirability. Higher scores indicate more distinctive and valuable registrations.
N
Nominee
A person authorised to act on behalf of the registration holder in transfer or assignment applications. A nominee can be named on a V778 retention certificate to manage the plate.
Northern Ireland Plates
Registrations issued in Northern Ireland, beginning with I or Z (e.g., IAZ 1234). These are functionally dateless — they contain no year identifier and can be assigned to vehicles of any age across the UK.
P
Personalised Registration
Any vehicle registration number that has been specifically chosen by its owner (as opposed to randomly assigned by the DVLA). Also known as a private plate, cherished plate, or vanity plate.
Plate Dealer
A business that buys, sells, and brokers personalised number plates. Reputable dealers are typically members of the CNDA and handle DVLA paperwork on behalf of buyers and sellers.
Prefix Plate
UK registration format used from August 1983 to August 2001. The year letter appears at the start, followed by numbers and a three-letter area code — e.g., M123 ABC. Popular for personalisation as the trailing letters can spell names.
Private Registration
Another term for a personalised registration — a vehicle registration that has been specifically chosen or purchased, rather than randomly assigned. The terms 'private plate' and 'personalised plate' are used interchangeably.
R
Registered Keeper
The person listed on the V5C (logbook) as responsible for a vehicle. The registered keeper must be involved in any plate transfer — either as the donor (removing a plate) or recipient (receiving a plate).
Retention Certificate (V778)
A DVLA document that holds a personalised registration off-vehicle for up to 10 years. Costs £80 to obtain and £25 to renew. Allows you to keep a plate when selling a vehicle or hold a plate as an investment.
S
Score Band
The quality tier assigned to a plate based on its MONIKR Score. Bands include Exceptional (90–100), Premium (75–89), Strong (60–74), Good (40–59), and Standard (0–39). Each band has a distinct colour for easy identification.
Suffix Plate
UK registration format used from February 1963 to July 1983. The year letter appears at the end, after a three-letter area code and numbers — e.g., ABC 123Y. These vintage plates carry a retro charm popular with collectors.
T
Transfer Fee
The £80 fee charged by the DVLA to transfer a personalised registration between vehicles or from a retention certificate to a vehicle. This is a government fee and applies to every transfer regardless of the plate's value.
V
V5C
The Vehicle Registration Certificate, commonly known as the logbook. This document records the registered keeper and registration number of a vehicle. The V5C is required for all plate transfers and must be in the keeper's name.
V750
A Certificate of Entitlement issued by the DVLA when you purchase a registration directly from them. It gives you the right to assign the registration to a vehicle. Valid for 12 months, renewable for £25.
V778
A Retention Certificate issued when a personalised registration is removed from a vehicle and held by the DVLA. Valid for 10 years, renewable for £25. The V778 reference number is needed to assign the plate to a new vehicle.
Vanity Plate
A colloquial term (more common in North America) for a personalised number plate. In the UK, the terms 'personalised plate', 'private plate', or 'cherished plate' are more commonly used.