What the ‘25’ and ‘75’ Plates Mean for You
Every year in the UK, we get two new number plate releases, one in March and another in September and these small changes have a bigger impact than you might expect. From helping you spot a car’s age at a glance to affecting its resale value and the deals available at dealerships, keeping track of number plate changes is a smart move, whether you're in the market for a new car or just like to stay in the know.
When Do the 2025 Number Plates Launch?
In 2025, the first batch of new registration plates arrived on the 1st March, where newly registered vehicles wear the 25 plate. This will continue to be in use until the end of August. Then, from 1st September, the 75 plate takes over and will apply to all new cars registered until the end of February 2026.
So, if you’ve bought a brand-new car in the spring or early summer, it will have come with a shiny new 25 plate, currently the freshest on the road right now. But if you are holding out until the autumn, you’ll be among the first to sport the even newer 75 plate. These plate switches often drive demand, with many buyers waiting until March or September to take delivery and enjoy that new plate, new car smell feeling.
Why Do Number Plates Matter So Much?
You might think it’s just a few digits on a car, but registration plates actually carry a lot of useful information and they can have a direct impact on your buying decision.
Firstly, they tell you when a car was registered. In the current plate format (which has been in place since 2001), the two digits in the middle of the plate reflect the year and time of year the car was first registered. For 2025, the 25 plate represents vehicles registered between March and August, and the 75 plate applies from September to February 2026. This means with a quick glance, you can work out how old a vehicle is, which is especially useful when browsing used car listings or trying to compare similar models.
Then there’s the impact on resale value, cars with newer registration plates tend to hold their value better, even a difference of a few weeks either side of the plate change can make a difference when it comes to part exchange or selling privately. For example, a car registered in late August 2025 will wear a 25 plate, while a car registered just a few days later in early September will display 75. To most buyers, the car with the newer plate will simply seem more current, even if they’re otherwise identical.
Finally, plate changes are a major moment for dealerships across the UK. Car sales often spike in both March and September, with buyers timing their purchases to get the newest plate possible. To stay competitive, manufacturers often introduce special offers, finance packages or trade in deals around these times. So, if you’re shopping for a new car, it’s worth keeping an eye out for these offers as the plate change approaches.