When Does the New Car Registration Come Out?

As the summer draws to a close, those involved in the automotive market around the country are preparing for an important date in their calendar: the launch of the new registration plates. Here’s everything you need to know about the new car registration.

When do new car registrations come out?

The registration plate changes in March and September. These periods often lead to an increase in the sale of new cars. Dealers will often be debuting a series of new offers and finance options which can make a new car more appealing, as well as that promise of more value retained over time due to the newer plate.

What year is a 74 plate car?

A 74 plate car is any vehicle that entered the market between September 2024 and February 2025. Therefore, any new car that goes on sale from September 1st should be registered with a 74 registration plate.

What other details are there on the number plate?

The number plate doesn’t just tell you the year that a car debuted on the market, it can also reveal other information about the car.

  • Local memory tag – The first two letters of a number plate indicate a general area in which a vehicle was first registered. For example, LA-LY means London and KA-KY covers Northampton. The final three letters are chosen randomly.
  • Green number plate – Some number plates have a green bar on the left-hand side, which indicates that the car is fully electric, or powered by hydrogen.
  • Private number plate – Some people can choose to have a customised UK number plate that doesn’t follow the usual XX74 XXX format. These are available from the DVLA for varying prices. These number plates must have not been used before and must not contain anything considered offensive by the DVLA. These registrations can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle.

At Apertus Group, we specialise in automotive procurement and will be offering 74 plate vehicles to clients from September 2024. Call 01604 212 828 or email info@apertusgroup.co.uk to learn more about the new registration plate and our services.