The 27 plate goes on sale on 1 March 2027. New cars registered from March to August 2027 carry “27” in their number plate, replacing the 76 plates issued since September 2026. This guide explains how UK number plates work: what each part means, how to tell a car’s age from its plate, the rules on private plates, and the display laws that can cost you £1,000.
The 27 plate at a glance
- On sale: 1 March 2027, until 31 August 2027.
- Next: the 77 plate from 1 September 2027.
- Before it: the 76 plate, from September 2026 to February 2027.
- Why it matters: March is usually the busiest month of the year for new car sales, and a newer plate helps a car’s value when it’s resold.
How to read a UK number plate
Since September 2001, number plates in Great Britain have followed the same format, set out in the DVLA’s guide to registration numbers. Take AB27 CDE:
| Part | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Memory tag | AB | Where the car was first registered. The first letter is the region (A = Anglia, L = London, S = Scotland, Y = Yorkshire); the second is the local DVLA office. |
| Age identifier | 27 | When it was registered: here, between March and August 2027. |
| Random letters | CDE | Three random letters that make the registration unique. |
The letters I, Q and Z aren’t used in the memory tag.
How to tell a car’s age from its number plate
The two numbers change twice a year, on 1 March and 1 September:
- March to August: the last two digits of the year. A 26 plate is from March to August 2026; 27 from March to August 2027.
- September to February: the year plus 50. A 76 plate is from September 2026 to February 2027; 77 from September 2027.
| Plate | Registered |
|---|---|
| 25 | March to August 2025 |
| 75 | September 2025 to February 2026 |
| 26 | March to August 2026 |
| 76 | September 2026 to February 2027 |
| 27 | March to August 2027 |
| 77 | September 2027 to February 2028 |
A car with a private plate doesn’t show its age this way. Our number plate check shows any car’s year, make and model from its registration, whatever plate it carries.
Older number plates
Before 2001, the year was shown by a single letter: at the end of the registration from 1963 (a suffix plate, such as ABC 123A), then at the start from 1983 (a prefix plate, such as A123 BCD), with twice-yearly changes from 1999. Older “dateless” plates have no year identifier at all. Northern Ireland uses its own format, with three letters and up to four numbers and no age identifier.
Private number plates: the rules
- You can’t make a car look newer than it is. GOV.UK says you can’t use a private number that makes a vehicle look newer than it is: a 27 plate can’t go on a 2020 car, for example. You can put an older or dateless plate on a newer car.
- Putting a private number on a car is free online, from the V750 or V778 certificate. You’ll get a new V5C logbook, and must fit new plates and tell your insurer.
- Taking one off, or transferring it, costs £80. The car gets its original registration back.
- Our guides explain how to buy and assign a private plate and how to remove one.
When you’re buying a used car, a private plate can hide its age, and a plate change can be a sign that something needs checking. A full car history check shows a car’s plate changes, alongside whether it’s been stolen, written off or still has finance owing. See Silver and Gold check prices.
Number plate rules: what’s legal
GOV.UK’s display rules apply to every car. Breaking them can mean a fine of up to £1,000, and your car will fail its MOT:
- Plates must be reflective, with black characters on a white plate at the front and a yellow plate at the back, and no background pattern.
- Plates fitted since 1 September 2021 must meet the British Standard BS AU 145e, and show it, along with the supplier’s details.
- Characters must be in the standard font, a single shade of black, and correctly spaced. Raised (3D) characters are allowed.
- You can’t rearrange or alter characters, for example to spell a name.
- Plates must come from a registered number plate supplier, who will ask for proof of identity and entitlement, such as the V5C.
- Zero-emission cars can have a green flash on the left of the plate.
- You can show the Union flag, the Cross of St George, the Saltire or the Red Dragon of Wales on the left, with an identifier such as UK, GB, ENG, SCO or CYM.
Buying a car on the 27 plate change?
March is when the most new cars are registered: SMMT figures show 380,627 new cars in March 2026, its busiest month since 2019. That also means a wave of part-exchanged cars reaching the used market in the weeks after. Whatever plate a used car is on, run a free car check to confirm its details and a full car history check before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 27 plate come out?
On 1 March 2027. It’s used on new cars registered until 31 August 2027.
What plate comes after 27?
The 77 plate, from 1 September 2027.
What year is a 76 plate?
A 76 plate was registered between September 2026 and February 2027.
Can I put a 27 plate on an older car?
No. A private plate can’t make a car look newer than it is.
Are 3D number plates legal?
Raised (3D) characters are allowed, as long as the plate meets the British Standard and all the other display rules.
How do I find out how old a car is from its plate?
Read the two numbers using the table above, or enter the registration in our number plate check, which works for private plates too.
- DVLA: vehicle registration numbers and number plates (INF104)
- GOV.UK: displaying number plates
- GOV.UK: put a registration number on a vehicle
- SMMT: new car registrations, March 2026
- How to buy and assign a private number plate
Check any car’s age, make and model from its registration with our free number plate check.
