UK Number Plates | What the ‘26’ & ‘76’ Plates Mean for You

The middle digits on UK plates indicate the vehicle’s registration period:

• ‘26’ plates are issued between 1 March – 31 August 2026, showing the car was registered in the first half of the year.
• ‘76’ plates are issued between 1 September 2026 – 28 February 2027, representing registrations in the second half of the year. This system helps buyers, sellers, and insurers quickly identify a car’s age.

Number plate changes affect:

• Resale value: Cars with the latest plates often sell for more because buyers see them as “newer.”
• Promotions and deals: Dealers frequently run offers around the March (26) and September (76) plate launches.
• Insurance: Some insurers base premiums on vehicle age, so a newer plate can slightly reduce costs.

No, plates must match the vehicle’s registration period. Displaying a newer plate on an older car is illegal and can invalidate insurance.

• You can buy personalised or “cherished” plates, but they must be assigned properly to your vehicle through the DVLA.

The '26' plates will be available for all new vehicles registered from 1st March 2026 onwards. This biannual update in March and September allows for a clear indication of a vehicle's age and ensures a systematic registration process. Following the '75' plates, the '26' plates will be introduced on 1st March 2026, covering registrations until 31st August 2026

Yes, you can purchase a '26' registration plate for an existing vehicle; however, UK regulations prohibit making a vehicle appear newer than it is. Therefore, you can only assign a '26' plate to a vehicle first registered on or after 1st March 2026. If your current vehicle was registered before this date, you cannot legally display a '26' plate on it.

There are a few ways you can acquire a '26' registration plate, you can:

Purchase through dealerships: when buying a brand-new vehicle around or after 1st March 2026, dealerships will automatically assign a '26' plate to your vehicle.

Personalised plates: if you desire a customised '26' plate, you can purchase one through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or authorised private dealers. It's advisable to register your interest early, as popular combinations may sell quickly.

Retention certificates: if you don't have a qualifying vehicle yet but want to secure a specific '26' plate, you can buy the plate and hold it on a retention certificate. This allows you to assign the plate to a suitable vehicle at a later date.

It is important to note that the DVLA enforces regulations to prevent offensive or inappropriate registration combinations. Each year, certain combinations are banned to ensure they do not cause offence or embarrassment. For the '26' series, combinations that could be interpreted as offensive have been withheld.

Transferring a '26' plate involves:

• Application: complete the DVLA's application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number.
• Fees: pay the applicable fee for the transfer process.
• Documentation: provide necessary documents, including the V5C registration certificates for both vehicles involved.

The DVLA will process the application and, upon approval, assign the plate to the new vehicle. When you assign a personalised '26' plate to your vehicle, the original registration number is typically retained by the DVLA. If you wish to keep the original number (for example, to reassign it later), you must apply to retain it before transferring the new plate.