What year is my car's registration plate?

UK number plates use an age identifier in the middle section that tells you the registration period. Since 2001, plates have changed twice a year:

• March release — matches the year exactly (e.g. "73" = 2023)
• September release — the year plus 50 (e.g. "73" = 2023, so "23" in September becomes "73")

For example, a "69 plate" means the car was first registered between September 2019 and February 2020. This tells you the registration period, not necessarily the exact build date — a car can be manufactured slightly before its registration date.