If you’ve ever seen a number plate that just looks fancy—short, snappy, and without any clue what year the car was made—you’ve probably spotted a dateless registration. These are the OG plates of the UK road system. They’re sleek, mysterious, and older than the Beatles.
But what exactly is a dateless number plate, how can you spot one, and why do they matter?
Dateless registrations are UK number plates with no age identifier. They were issued before 1963, back when no one cared what year your car was born.
They come in formats like:
They start or end with a number. That’s the easiest way to spot one. If you see 9 T or ABC 1, chances are you’ve found a dateless gem. It's as easy as that.
DY 1 is widely believed to be the first UK registration ever issued — not A 1, as often claimed.
Let’s compare them with the other main styles of UK number plates:
| Type | Format | Example | Year Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dateless | 1–3 letters + 1–3 numbers (any order) | AB 123, 1 A | 1903-1963 |
| Suffix | 3 letters + 1–3 numbers + 1 letter | ABC 123D | 1963–1983 |
| Prefix | 1 letter + 1–3 numbers + 3 letters | D123 ABC | 1983–2001 |
| Current Style | 2 letters + 2 numbers + 3 letters | AB12 CDE | 2001–present |
At Reg History, we specialise in uncovering the story behind UK number plates—including dateless registrations.
Our tools let you:
So whether you’re chasing JON 5 or curious about 9 X, RegHistory has the answers.
So next time you see 8 GT or TOM 7, know that you’re looking at something special—and maybe a good investment, too.