DVLA major number plate update coming into effect today

The DVLAis set to shake up the world of number plates today (October 7) with a major update. It's been confirmed that new prefix registrations will be unveiled this week, with a variety of new plates up for grabs. It comes as drivers were urged to do a '20p test' ahead of the cold weather.

Prefix plates, which were commonplace across the UK from 1983 to 2001 before being replaced by the current system 24 years ago, are making a comeback. The first letter denotes the vehicle's age in prefix plates, a slight deviation from the number-centric system in use today.

New prefix registrations are periodically rolled out, making Tuesday's launch particularly noteworthy for car enthusiasts seeking something unique. This week will see the release of prefix registrations featuring letters between A and H, coupled with the numbers 27, 28 or 29, reports the Express.

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The DVLA announced: "Thousands of new prefix registrations will be made available to buy direct from our website at 10am on Tuesday 7th October 2025." They explained: "Prices will start from £250, all prices include VAT and the £80 assignment fee."

It's widely recognised that prefix plates are among the most sought-after personalised registration formats. They're expected to be a hit with owners of vintage vehicles, classic cars, or those born during the era when prefix plates were initially in use.

The letter corresponds to a specific year, with a prefix plate starting with 'G' indicating the car was first registered in August 1989. The DVLA stated that its auctions offer "distinctive dateless, current and older style registrations" for motorists to enjoy.

Motorists eager about the latest release can browse through the new combinations on the DVLA website before sales commence. They said: "Search for a name or word, or select the letters and numbers that can be used in these registrations."

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According to the DVLA pricing structure, registrations containing the letter A are valued at £599, while those featuring C or H letters will be priced at £499. D-prefix number plates are slightly more expensive, costing around £699.

However, B-prefix plates are the priciest, coming in at around £799.