Open Menu

    When will the ’24 reg plates be available?

    The ’24 plate launches on March 1st 2024. Plates are released at the same time every year and take their name from the year they’re produced. A ‘24 plate represents the newest cars on the market. As of September 1st, the plates will change to a ‘74 registration. 

    When will the '24 reg plates be available?
    New reg plates drop twice a year, once in March, and once again in September, and when they do arrive on the market, they will usually affect the value of your car.

    ’24 reg plates explained:

    What year is the DVLA ’24 plate?

    Cars registered between the 1st March 2024 and 1st September 2024 will get a ‘24 plate. Vehicles registered after September will display a ’74 reg plate instead.

    What’s the release date for the DVLA ’24 plate?

    The DVLA will be launching the ’24 plate on 1st March 2024 as it does every year. The digits will correlate to the final two digits of the year of release. If you are looking at a September reg plate however, the digits will be increased by 50. So, for example, in 2024, the September plate will read ’74.

    How do the DVLA ’24 number plates work?

    All vehicles produced in the UK after 2001 are given a reg plate that follows the below format: 

    • 2 numbers that correlate to the registration year
    • 2 letters indicating the region of registration (one for the general area and one for the specific office)
    • 3 random letters

    In March, the registration year translates directly to the digits you see on the reg plate. So, cars with a reg plate assigned between March 1st and September 1st 2024, you will see ‘24’ on the plate. In September, the ‘year’ is increased by 50 and will therefore have a reg plate with the digit ‘74. 

    Below are examples of plates for a car registered in London (L) at Borehamwood (represented by letters K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, and T).

    Year of purchase        After MarchAfter September
    2002LK02 MTWLK52 MTW
    2003LK03 MTWLK53 MTW
    2015LK15 MTWLK65 MTW
    2024LK24 MTWLK74 MTW
    Regional identifiers don’t use I, Q, and Z. In fact, Z will only appear on a reg if it was selected as one of the three random letters at the end. 
    aston martin parked in London
    In March 2024, new cars will hit the market with ’24 reg plates.

    What are the rules around the DVLA ’24 reg plate?

    Car registration plate rules won’t change with the release of the ‘24 reg plate. Both the back and front of a vehicle need to show reg plates. Some other key rules include:

    • White plates on the front and yellow on the back (unless the vehicle is a pre-1973 vintage model)
    • Numbers and letters must be 79 millimetres tall
    • A gap is required between the numbers indicating the year/regional identifiers and the three random letters
    • All plates must use a specific font – called the ‘Charles Wright font’ – it has been illegal for any vehicle to be used on the public highway with reg plates that do not conform to this font since 2001

    Car owners are not allowed to change or purposefully obscure their reg numbers. Fines of up to £1,000 can be issued for doing so – and any car without clear reg plates will also fail an MOT.

    Other additions to new ’24 plates

    Factors such as what type of car you have and where you intend to drive it will affect what you can (or must) add to your registration plate. 

    All UK cars that will be driven abroad must have nationality identifiers on their plates. This is the addition of a Union flag and a badge saying ‘UK’ – previously ‘GB’. 

    Electric and zero-emission vehicles can use green tabs on plates either as the colour background to the nationality identification or simply as a block colour tab. Though, this is optional.

    When the new ‘24 plate cars hit the market, it is likely to negatively impact the value of older models.  

    How do ’24 plates influence car value?

    The new ‘24 plates signify the newest cars on the market. Although they don’t impact the particular car’s value directly, their presence has a knock-on effect in the market.

    Your car’s value is likely to drop when cars with new plates come on the market, because it has newer models to compete against. If the car model has also been enhanced recently, this could push your car into ‘runout’ status, with a potential lower relative value.

    If you’re thinking about selling your car, it’s advised you do so before the new ‘24 reg plate drops in March 2024.

    Where can I get DVLA ’24 plates?

    If you want to get a ‘24 reg plate from the DVLA, the process is quite simple. In fact, you don’t need to have a new car, or even any car, to get hold of one.

    You can buy a ’24 plate from the gov.uk website and hold it on what is called a retention certificate. This retention certificate allows you to use it on a vehicle in the future. This process is typically used for private number plates and it would be unusual to see a ‘24 plate that doesn’t correlate to the age of the vehicle.

    Looking to sell your car?

    If you want to sell your car quickly and easily before it loses value in March, Motorway offers a simple and completely free way to do it. We connect you with our network of over 5,000 verified dealers who compete to give you their best price in our online daily sales. In fact, 84% of customers get more money than the market price when they sell on Motorway.

    Sell with Motorway and our network of 5,000+ verified car dealers compete to give you their best price.

    All you have to do is enter your reg, name, email address, and your vehicle’s mileage on Motorway’s website or app and we’ll provide you with an instant estimated sale price based on live market data. 

    We then ask a few simple questions about your car and guide you through the process of creating a vehicle profile, including taking photos. All this can be done from your phone in a matter of minutes. 

    If you choose to enter your car into our online daily sale, it will be shown to Motorway’s nationwide network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers. Interested dealers will then compete to buy your car, offering you their best price.

    In as little as 24 hours you will receive your best offer. If you choose to go ahead with the sale, your car will be collected for free by the dealer and the money will be quickly and securely transferred to your bank account.

    Need more help?

    Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency.

    Sell your car the Motorway way

    Find your best offer from 7,500+ dealers