British Registrations

Last update 27 March 2019

Contents

Introduction
The issuing system
New system
Select marks, registration matching and vehicle re-registrations
Area marks
Council issuance – 1903 to 1974
DVLA series – 1974 to 2001 (England, Wales & Scotland)
Index to marks
Dates of year letters
New system marks
Links

Introduction

British registrations have had quite a complex history. Registrations are far more than just random sequences of numbers and letters, but just what do all the bits mean?

This page explores the meaning of registration marks, examines the history of the system that came to an end in 2001, and provides a reference source for this system. A brief look at the new system is also included.

The issuing system

A new registration system was introduced from September 2001. This was a result of the system that had been in use previously “running out,” and I will return to describe the new system later.

The system used until August 2001 has its origins early in the 20th century. It was recognised that a means of identification for road vehicles was required, and so a national system of registration numbers was introduced. Registrations were issued by local councils, which from 1904 were allocated sets of one- or two- letter codes; although many of the codes survived until 2001, opening and closure of many offices and a big reorganisation in 1974 resulted in many changes to the original allocations. Registrations issued to vehicles consisted of one of the local council’s letter codes, followed by up to 4 digits specific to the vehicle, for example XW 9877.

As the volume of registrations increased, this system quickly became inadequate, and so a new system was introduced (though not universally) in 1932. This consisted of three letters followed by three digits (example KYY 672), Staffordshire being the first area to issue such marks. The second and third letters were the established area codes (although the single letter codes obviously could not be used in this system), while the first was a “counter” ascending through the letters. So in the example, K is the counter, YY is the area office (London) and 672 is a random combination. Registrations were issued as follows: each office would issue “A multiples” working through all its area codes, while for each letter combination the numbers 1-999 were issued in a block. When all its area codes had been used, that office would move onto “B multiples,” and so on.

No system can last for ever, and eventually this system was also exhausted. In 1953 some areas started issuing “reversed” registrations (Staffordshire again being first), putting the numbers first (e.g. 760 DYE). When a few areas exhausted those combinations in the early 1960s, they even went back to using just the area codes (including the single letter ones) with the letters at the end (e.g. 1000 H).

But soon a revolutionary new system of suffix letters was introduced. In this system each year had a letter, starting with A in 1963, B for 1964 and so on (e.g. JJD 367D: J = counter, JD = area (London), 367 = “random” combination, D = 1966). Thus offices could “recycle” marks at anything up to yearly intervals: once “Y multiples” were reached, offices would “revert” to “A multiples” – but by then using a different year letter. However, some councils still had spare marks on the old system, and only introduced the new system from 1964 with B suffixes, or in a few cases with C suffixes in 1965. Conversely, a few authorities such as Middlesex ran out during 1962 and introduced the new system a few months early. Again this system ran out and after Y suffixes registrations were again reversed (e.g. K319 YJA: K = 1992-3 (see below), 319 = “random” combination, Y = counter, JA = Manchester). The letters I, O, Q, U, Z have not been used either as suffixes or prefixes — I, O and Z because of their similarity to 1, 0 and 2, U to V, and Q being reserved for special purposes.

A feature which has been with us ever since is that there is always a rush to get the latest year letter. Cars are often regarded as a status symbol, and having the latest letter within days (or hours!) of first appearance shows you are rich!. Christmas was always a busy time for car buying anyway, and this extra pressure caused the car industry considerable problems. In those days car models used to change in August, the necessary changes to the machinery being carried out over the works holiday, so that, for example, the ’63 models would be in production from August ’63 until July ’64. The industry thought that registering new models with the old suffix letter depressed demand until the new suffix letter became available, so from 1967 the system was altered with new letters issued from 1st August. Those tooling methods have by now become obsolete, but the manufacturing industry was still faced with a peak in demand, albeit now during August. So from 1999 the system was altered again, with two new letters a year, this time in March and September.

The big October 1974 re-organisation mentioned above resulted in the responsibility for issuing registrations moving from local government to specialist Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs) or Local Vehicle Licensing Offices (LVLOs). These were run by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), a centralised body for vehicle registration set up by the Government. Most of the area codes continued to represent the areas they had previously been used for, being issued by the nearest VRO instead of the local council. At the same time, all multiples were re-set to G-multiples (e.g. GBB-N for Newcastle) rather than continuing in sequence as normal. The opportunity was also taken to streamline the mark allocations. Several codes switched areas again in 1981, and since then several offices have closed with their area codes either withdrawn or transferred elsewhere.

Another change from 1997 onward was a relaxing of the strict issuing sequence. Previously, for example, my local Wimbledon office issued marks ..., N-FGT, N-GGC, N-GGF, N-GGH, ..., N-GGT, N-HGC, N-HGF, ..., N-NGT, N-OGC, N-OGF, N-OGH, N-OGJ, P-OGK, P-OGN, P-OGO, P-OGP, P-OGT, P-PGC, ..., P-XGK. But R registrations onward have been issued in a more-or-less random order. This was apparently to thwart attempts by individuals to make up their initials in the registration by predicting when the appropriate letters would appear, the DVLA having developed a lucrative sideline selling select registrations (see below).

New system

Again, this system eventually reached its end, its demise hastened by the move to two letter changes per year, so a completely new system has been devised. It is much better designed, but for those familiar with the old system with all its quirks it has meant quite a major change! The idea is that people are most likely to remember the first letters of a registration, so the most important information is put first.

This most important information is (apparently) the area — although one would think that the “random” part is actually the most useful for identifying a particular vehicle. Many changes over the years had rendered the original letter-to-area allocations, as amended, rather inefficient, and therefore the marks were completely re-allocated in more memorable blocks, also enabling areas to have the number of letter combinations in proportion to how many they actually needed. The first letter represents the geographic area (e.g. L = London, S = Scotland). Some are a bit contrived: Maidstone and Brighton, in the south east, are deemed to lie in the Garden of England, and hence use GA-GY! However, there was a suggestion that they might use the F block as they are the nearest areas to France! The complete list is at the end of this page.

The next piece of information is the date identifier: but, making a break with the past, this is now a number. Rather than simply ascending from 00 to 99, the numbers are correlated to the year, with numbers 02-50 running from March to August of the corresponding year, and 51-99 for the preceding September to February period. Thus we have 51 from September 2001, then 02 from March 2002, 52 from September 2002, 03 from March 2003 and so on, so that this system will run out in 2050. (It has been suggested that in 2050 this system also will be reversed, although circumstances may change before then anyway, and it would mean that the “most important” information would now be at the end!)

To complete the registration there is a “random” combination of three letters; there being more letters than numbers, this will give a greater total number of registrations per year. Indeed the letter Z is now allowed (only here, not in the locator IDs), though I and Q still do not feature, and “offensive” letter combinations are not being used. Also, a very large number of other "notable" combinations has been separated out for sale at inflated prices by the DVLA (see below), including all combinations where the last letter of the locator and the last letter of the random part are the same. It seems, nonetheless, that the “random” part is being issued in some sort of order (skipping over the aforementioned combinations), rather than being completely random. Thus a typical registration looks like LU04 HFX: L = London, U = Sidcup, 04 = 2004, HFX = random combination.

Select marks, registration matching and vehicle re-registrations

Most transport operators — lorries, buses, trains, etc. — use fleet numbering systems. These are designed for whatever need the company has for them, but usually batches of new vehicles are numbered consecutively. For many years it became a tradition amongst some operators, notably bus companies, but also some fire and ambulance brigades, to obtain matching registration numbers. This means that a bus numbered 542 has a registration V542 JBH (in this case). Although I am not sure of the exact purpose of this, it does make it slightly easier to identify a vehicle.

Until recently, licensing authorities have been very sympathetic to this. All operators had to do was book the blocks of registrations they required in advance, and the authority then reserved them for the operator. One slight difficulty during the 1970s and 1980s was when numbers 1-99 were reserved for motorcycles (where the shorter plates resulting were particularly advantageous), meaning operators had to add 100 or some similar trick.

However, a more recent development hindered registration matching in a much bigger way, namely select registrations. For a while the numbers 1-20 from each series had been reserved, and from H registrations in 1990 and since then, a variety of other numbers have also been reserved. Notable are two-digit multiples of 10 and 11 and multiples of 100 and 111, but there were also some obscure ones such as 121, 147, 541. The exact selection was varied from year to year according to demand, and by the end of the old system the numbers 1-33 and virtually all combinations ending in 0 were being reserved. Reserved marks can only be obtained on payment of a substantial fee. Some operators bought the marks to give them neat blocks of registrations, others obtained nearest-possible-match registrations (e.g. 211 for 111), others simply left gaps in their numbering, and a few abandoned matching altogether.

It was possible to buy any combination of letters with a reserved number, so long as the year letter does not give the vehicle a lower age than it really has (and of course nobody else has got there first). The most popular lark with the H letter was buying registrations with number 1 and your initials — e.g. H1 RPM. This looks like Hi RPM! However, some people have been much cleverer and booked registrations that look like words, capitalising on the fact that the digits 0, 1, 5, 8 look rather like the letters O, I, S, B, and, if desperate, 3 will do for an E, 4 for an A, 6 for a G and 7 for a T. Various other tricks are possible, especially with the help of judiciously positioned black rivets! Some “offensive” letter combinations were (and are) withheld, e.g. GOD, SOD, SEX, ARS.

Some examples I like are S1LLY, ANX10S, A 1OAF (on a baker's van), E5SEX, N1PPY, G1RLS, PAU1A & SON1A, V1NYL (on a decorator's van), L1AR U (whu?), BES51E (NES51E?), ROS1E, N1GEL, K15S EM, K9 0NER & K9 0WNA (two dog owners, obviously in competition), KAT1E, N 12UDE (rude); V 8ABE; F10NA O; J6 5COT; M1XED, MR 51NGH, 5EXY, K3LLY, W1N ME, A C04CH H, CYN1C, M1XUP, D1TCH, 1 5ELL (on a Porsche on the A5), C4NOE (Ford Escort, complete with racks to take the boats), ME B1G, OK P1G, AR53NAL, OS51 BOY, T 10VE D, V4NDL, LOU15A, POW 700M (which with assistance from a plastic screw became POW ZOOM, Superman's own number). Others with a business connection include P 200O MT (the "Millennium Traveller"), X300TON (mobile crane!), A60 POO (drain cleaning truck), W 5OOT (chimney sweep), B1G MW (outside shop of same name), W1NGS (Wings Luxury Coaches), H4KNY (taxi), J10NER (dyslexic woodworker), P1NER (needlewoman), RAD18R (seen on a heating engineer’s van in West Bromwich), LO0 2 RAD (plumbers van), S1·10WER, V1 6RAB (roadworks grabber truck); PA51LEY (bus in Paisley); BUG 80Y (pest control); BU5 2 ELY (self-explanatory); L G0 2 WED (stretch limo); APR160T (Apricot Builders); N1PPY (Nippy Taxis in Scarborough); T1 5HEF (Thai Chef, I deduce). One reader writes: "A mobile snack van in Inverness some years ago had the registration D15EAS. As this could be misread as 'disease,' it seemed a somewhat unfortunate mark for a vehicle selling food!" Some may make more sense to their owners than they do to me: B10 GUY, K10SK H, AJ G8 1V, COR1 0K, N10 0PEN, GUG1 8Y, X20OO N, 5MAT, B10W BY, MAR10 1H & MAR10 1L, V10LLY, V1 1BOS, N1NOO, V1FTY, PA G188S, ASP1C, LEG 8 (Leggatt), GRE1G, PUN1E, N1:1BLE (Noble), S1·11TES, S8 X SB, YOI1100, TOP51Y, R15N NS, 98 1TAL; TON1T; D1 0NLY; B4BES; BD0 2 BOO, NOE1 1X, P1G JB, BU5 5OLD, G1V UK, L8 TAX, GA5 8RAN. Some suggestions on the new system: BU51NES, DE51RED, YE5 1 CAN, PO51BLE, HO51ERY, BU51EST, MA55AGE, PO55ESS, GR05SLY, TO55POT, LE55ONS, WA51HNG (don't be too phonetic and you get WASHING), AU51 BOY, AU51 GAL, OS51 GAL. One reader had a car registered RY02 OUS (not a select combination), which a friend suggested was best remembered as riotous! Our car is LX53 GZM – luxury gizmo? (Not select!) A dustcart was spotted registered MX03 ODR – it's owner perhaps not having spotted the possible connotation with mixed odours?? Another number spotted was SN04 XMS, which could be read as snow for Xmas. Any more nominations welcome, to robert @ londonbusroutes.net (remove the spaces).

Needless to say, the new registration system put an end to registration matching, but select registrations live on, although it is now the “random” part that is important. As mentioned above, many popular combinations are reserved from each series, and I understand that any letters can be purchased with one of the regional identifiers that has not been allocated, and there was also a suggestion that the unused year 01 would be allocated similarly. All registrations where the 2nd and 7th letters match are also reserved, to allow for husband and wife to have both their initials shown.

Some people choose registrations to hide the age of a vehicle. You can always give a vehicle a registration which is older than the vehicle — so give it one that is so much older that this is obvious, particularly a pre-1963 mark, and nobody will know how old the vehicle is. Old registrations are often sold by auction; A1, the first ever British registration and first ‘secured’ by the Second Earl Russell in 1903, was recently sold for an astronomical sum. London’s Routemaster buses have also been a source of many marks. Another cheap source of undated marks is Northern Ireland (see below) whose marks are now legal on the mainland. Once you own such a mark it can be transferred to another vehicle for a modest fee.

Old registrations are still issued afresh sometimes, in order to re-register older vehicles. Often companies would obtain such registrations purely to disguise the age of a vehicle, as described above, but the DVLA has now put a stop on this, no doubt because it was not the intended use. Existing registrations, especially genuine old marks, can still be transferred, but now, once new marks are issued to a particular vehicle, they cannot be transferred.

Area marks

This section details the letter combinations issued to different councils at the start in 1903, and how those allocations changed until the system expired in 2001. It should be remembered that at the time (and until 15 January 1922), what is now the Republic of Ireland was still part of the United Kingdom, and thus falls under the scope of this system.

The initial allocation of codes produced a system which appeared rather random, subsequently compounded by the many additions and alterations that were required over the years, but there was in fact a method behind it.
The letter Q was excluded completely, apart from a Temporary Import Series used for a while by the London office.
All combinations (except Q) with an I or Z in them were allocated to Ireland. Combinations with a G, S or V in them were initially avoided.
All remaining combinations with an G, S and V were assigned to Scotland, and again assigned broadly alphabetically to county councils.
Wales was not afforded such a distinction, all remaining letter combinations being allocated to England and Wales.
Note that not all available codes were allocated initially, and subsequent allocations did not always follow these rules.

Within Scotland and Ireland, marks were allocated broadly on the basis of alphabetical order. In Ireland, cities were assigned first (IA to IZ then AI to NI), followed by counties (OI to WI). Within England and Wales, they were assigned according to population size, starting from A = London, down to FP = Rutland.

London was inevitably the first authority to run out of marks at A9999, and was the first to be deliberately assigned a mnemonic code, LD (BN for Bolton in the initial allocation was coincidental). Many subsequent allocations were on these lines: for instance, most Gx marks went to Glasgow or Greater London, Lx to Greater London, many Kx to Kent, Mx to Middlesex, and there were odd ones that matched, such as LV for Liverpool, NH for Northampton, NL for Northumberland, and RD for Reading. Some marks were assigned based on the original single letter code, such as Kx for Liverpool, Nx for Manchester, Ux for Leeds and Yx for Somerset. Other late applications simply filled in the gaps from FR onwards.

Some areas of the country do not conform to the standard pattern.
Ireland (republic): As mentioned, Ireland was allocated letters in the UK system, and continued to use these post-1922. This survived until 1986, although a few new series had to be issued near the end. From 1 January 1987, Ireland introduced a completely different system. This comprises the last two digits of the year, a letter or two for the issuing office, and as many digits as needed for the registrations issued by that office that year. For example 00D12345 — the 12345th registration issued by Dublin in the year 2000. Usually this gives a plate with up to 8 characters, but Dublin has apparently managed to exceed 99999 registrations per year, and (I am told) one of the lorries in Ballykissangel is registered 98 WW 13802, so 9-character registrations are possible. If older vehicles are re-registered in Ireland, they may take registrations in either the new or old system.
Northern Ireland: Rather than following the rest of the UK with year letter suffixes, NI started issuing registrations with four digits. Area marks including I or Z are issued as and when old ones are exhausted, and are used in multiples with 4 digits, e.g. HDZxxxx, JDZxxxx, KDZxxxx for Ballymena. This continues despite the new system in England, Wales and Scotland. As an aside, during 2004 Co Fermanagh finally exhausted its IL series marks after 101 years, and took over the previously unused IG series!
Isle of Man: The system is similar to the mainstream system, but suffix letters are exhausted consecutively rather than representing dates (and U has been used as a suffix!). Man has its own area code, MN, but also uses MAN combinations “borrowed” from Reading (though AN was originally a West Ham, later London, mark) on the mainland, in place of AMN.
Guernsey: Just numbers, up to five of them.
Jersey: J followed by up to six numbers.
Gibraltar: G followed by up to five numbers.
Alderney: AY followed by up to five numbers.

Other oddities on the mainland include “Portsmouth” GPO marks being reserved for the General Post Office, issued by London, though this series fell out of use some time ago. From 1971, “Swansea” SCY marks were issued by Truro for use on the Isles of Scilly! MAN was not issued by Reading, as noted above. USN was also withheld by London for the use of the United States Navy, which operated a fleet of civilian VIP vehicles to take its many Admirals between London, the various Naval Dockyards they used regularly, and the two airfields at which they maintained a fleet of VIP aircraft (Blackbushe and West Malling), although they now use American Military numbers. ABF did not get issued, nor did certain sensitive combinations.

Council issuance – 1903 to 1974

As explained in the text, until 1974 responsibility for issuing registration marks lay with local and regional councils. The table below lists the allocation of marks and which of the new office(s) took over in 1974. In some cases the marks did not go to the new VRO taking over in the local area, so there are two columns. Some councils either disappeared or ceased issuing registrations before 1974, and for those the office that took over issuance for each area is shown in parentheses.

Note that all the single letters gradually fell out of use as three-letter combinations became the norm.

England
Council	Marks	Period	Replaced by	Marks passed to
Barnsley	HE	1913-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Barrow-in-Furness	EO	1903-1974	Barrow-in-Furness	Barrow-in-Furness
Bath	FB GL	1903-1974	Bristol	Bristol, Truro
Bedfordshire	BM MJ NM TM	1903-1974	Luton	Luton
Berkshire	BL JB MO RX	1903-1974	Reading	Reading
Birkenhead	BG CM	1903-1974	Liverpool, Chester	Liverpool
Birmingham	O OA OB OC OE OF OG OH OJ OK OL OM ON OP OV OX VP	1903-1974	Birmingham	Birmingham
Blackburn	BV CB	1903-1974	Preston	Preston, Bolton
Blackpool	FR FV	1904-1974	Preston	Preston
Bolton (Manchester)	BN WH	1903-1974	Bolton	Bolton
Bootle (Liverpool)	EM	1903-1974	Liverpool	Liverpool
Bournemouth	EL LJ RU	1903-1974	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
Bradford	AK KU KW KY	1903-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Brighton	CD UF	1903-1974	Brighton	Brighton
Bristol	AE HT HU HW HY	1903-1974	Bristol	Bristol
Buckinghamshire	BH KX PP	1903-1974	Luton	Luton
Burnley	CW HG	1903-1974	Preston	Preston
Burton-on-Trent	FA	1903-1974	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent
Bury (Manchester)	EN	1903-1974	Bolton	Bolton
Cambridgeshire	CE ER VE	1903-1974	Cambridge	Cambridge
Canterbury	FN JG	1903-1974	Canterbury	Canterbury
Carlisle	HH	1914-1974	Carlisle	Carlisle
Cheshire	LG M MA MB TU	1903-1974	Chester	Chester
Chester	FM	1903-1974	Chester	Chester
Cornwall	AF CV RL	1903-1974	Truro	Truro
Coventry	DU HP KV RW VC WK	1903-1974	Coventry	Coventry
Croydon (London)	BY OY RK VB	1903-1965	(Greater London)	(Greater London)
Cumberland	AO RM	1903-1974	Carlisle	Carlisle
Darlington	HN	1915-1974	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
Derby	CH RC	1903-1974	Nottingham	Nottingham
Derbyshire	R NU RA RB	1903-1974	Nottingham	Nottingham
Devonport (Plymouth)	DR	1903-1915	(Plymouth)	(Plymouth)
Devonshire	T DV OD TA TT UO	1903-1974	Exeter, Barnstaple	Exeter, Barnstaple
Dewsbury (Leeds)	HD	1913-1974	Huddersfield	Huddersfield
Doncaster	DT	1927-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Dorsetshire	FX JT PR TK	1903-1974	Bournemouth	Bournemouth, Plymouth
	BF	1903-1904	—	—
Dudley (Birmingham)	FD	1903-1974	Dudley	Dudley
County Durham	J PT UP	1903-1974	Durham	Durham
Eastbourne	HC JK	1911-1974	Hastings	Hastings
Essex	F EV HK NO PU TW VW VX	1903-1974	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
	OO WC	1960s-1974
Exeter	FJ	1903-1974	Exeter	Exeter
Gateshead (Newcastle)	CN	1903-1974	Newcastle	Newcastle
Gloucester	FH	1903-1974	Gloucester	Gloucester
Gloucestershire	AD DD DG	1903-1974	Gloucester	Gloucester
	DF	1926-1974
Grimsby	EE JV	1903-1974	Grimsby	Grimsby
Halifax	CP JX	1903-1974	Huddersfield	Huddersfield
East Ham (London)	HM* HV*	1915-1965	(Greater London)	(Greater London)
West Ham (London)	AN JD	1903-1965	(Greater London)	(Greater London)
Hanley (Stoke)	EH*	1903-1910	(Stoke-on-Trent)	(Stoke-on-Trent)
Hampshire	AA CG HO OR OT OU	1903-1974	Salisbury, Portsmouth	Salisbury, Portsmouth, Bristol
Hartlepool	EF	1967-1974	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
West Hartlepool	EF	1903-1967	(Hartlepool)	(Hartlepool)
Hastings	DY	1903-1974	Hastings	Hastings
Herefordshire	CJ VJ	1903-1974	Hereford	Hereford
Hertfordshire	AR JH NK RO UR	1903-1974	Luton	Luton, Chelmsford
Huddersfield	CX VH	1903-1974	Huddersfield	Huddersfield
Huntingdonshire	EW	1903-1965	(Peterborough)	(Peterborough)
Ipswich	DX PV	1903-1974	Peterborough	Peterborough
Isle of Wight	DL	1903-1974	Newport (I.o.W.)	Newport (I.o.W.)
Isle of Ely	EB JE	1903-1965	(Cambridgeshire)	(Cambridgeshire)
Kent	D KE KJ KK KL KM KN KO KP KR KT	1903-1974	Maidstone, Canterbury	Maidstone, Canterbury
Kingston-upon-Hull	AT KH RH	1903-1974	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull
Lancashire	B TB TC TD TE TF TJ	1903-1974	Preston	Warrington, Bristol, Bolton, Reading, Liverpool
Leeds	U NW UA UB UG UM	1903-1974	Leeds	Leeds
Leicester	BC JF RY	1903-1974	Leicester	Leicester
Leicestershire	AY JU NR UT	1903-1974	Leicester	Leicester
Lincoln	FE VL	1903-1974	Lincoln	Lincoln
Lincolnshire – Holland	DO JL	1903-1974	Boston	Boston
Lincolnshire – Kesteven	CT TL	1903-1974	Boston, Lincoln	Boston, Lincoln
Lincolnshire – Lindsey	BE FU FW	1903-1974	Grimsby, Lincoln	Grimsby, Lincoln
Liverpool	K KA KB KC KD KF LV	1903-1974	Liverpool	Liverpool
Greater London	A GC GF GH GJ GK GN GO GP GT GU GW GX GY JJ LA LB LC LD LE LF LH LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LT LU LW LX LY UC UL UU UV UW YE YF YH YK YL YM YN YO YP YR YT YU YV YW YX YY	1903-1974	London N.E., London N.W., London S.W., London S.E.	London Central, London N.E., London N.W., London S.W., London S.E., Canterbury
London County	XA XB XC XD XE XF XH XK XL XM XN XO XP XR XT XU XV XW XX XY	1903-1963	(Greater London)	(Various/[not used])
Luton	XD XE	1964-1974	Luton	[not used]
Manchester	N NA NB NC ND NE NF VM VR VU XJ	1903-1974	Manchester	Manchester, [not used]
Middlesbrough	DC XG	1903-1968	(Teesside)	(Teesside)
Middlesex	H HX MC MD ME MF MG MH MK ML MM MP MT MU MV MX MY	1903-1965	(Reading)	(Greater London)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	BB TN VK	1903-1974	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Norfolk	AH NG PW VF	1903-1974	Norwich	Norwich
Northampton	DF	1903-1904	—	—
	NH VV	1903-1974	Northampton	Northampton
Northamptonshire	BD NV RP	1903-1974	Northampton	Northampton
Northumberland	X JR NL TY	1903-1974	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Norwich	CL VG	1903-1974	Norwich	Norwich
Nottingham	AU TO TV	1903-1974	Nottingham	Nottingham
Nottinghamshire	AL NN RR VO	1903-1974	Nottingham	Nottingham
Oldham (Manchester)	BU	1903-1974	Manchester	Manchester
Oxford	FC JO WL	1903-1974	Oxford	Oxford
Oxfordshire	BW UD	1903-1974	Oxford	Oxford
Peterborough	EG FL	1903-1974	Peterborough	Peterborough
Plymouth	CO JY	1903-1974	Plymouth	Plymouth
Portsmouth	BK RV TP	1903-1974	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
Preston	CK RN	1903-1974	Preston	Preston
Radnorshire	FO	1903-1974	Hereford	Hereford (Radnor series)
Reading	DP RD	1903-1974	Reading	Reading
Rochdale (Manchester)	DK	1903-1974	Bolton	Bolton
Rotherham (Sheffield)	ET	1903-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Rutland	FP	1903-1974	Leicester	Leicester
St. Helens (Liverpool)	DJ	1903-1974	Warrington	Warrington
Salford (Manchester)	BA RJ	1903-1974	Manchester	Manchester
Sheffield	W WA WB WE WJ	1903-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Shropshire	AW NT UJ UX	1903-1974	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury
Smethwick (Birmingham)	HA	1907-1966	(Warley)	(Warley)
Solihull (Birmingham)	XC	1964-1974	Birmingham	[not used]
Somersetshire	Y YA YB YC YD	1903-1974	Taunton	Taunton
Southampton	CR OW TR	1903-1974	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
Southend-on-Sea	HJ JN	1914-1974	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
Southport	FY	1903-1974	Liverpool	Liverpool
	WM	1905-1974
South Shields (Newcastle)	CU	1903-1974	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Staffordshire	E RE RF	1903-1974	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent
Stockport (Manchester)	DB JA	1903-1974	Manchester	Manchester
Stoke-on-Trent	VT	1903-1974	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent
East Suffolk	BJ RT	1903-1974	Ipswich	Ipswich
West Suffolk	CF GV	1903-1974	Ipswich	Ipswich, Reading
Sunderland	BR GR	1903-1974	Durham	Durham
Surrey	P PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL	1903-1974	Guildford	Guildford
East Sussex	AP NJ PM PN	1903-1974	Brighton	Brighton, Guildford
West Sussex	BP PO PX	1903-1974	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
Teesside	DC XG	1968-1974	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough, —
Torbay	XF	1968-1974	Exeter	[not used]
Tynemouth (Newcastle)	FT	1904-1974	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Wakefield (Leeds)	HL	1915-1974	Sheffield	Sheffield
Wallasey (Birkenhead)	HF	1913-1974	Liverpool	Liverpool
Walsall (Birmingham)	DH	1903-1974	Dudley	Dudley
Warley (Birmingham)	HA	1966-1974	Dudley	Dudley
Warrington	ED	1903-1974	Warrington	Warrington
Warwickshire	AC NX UE WD	1903-1974	Coventry	Dudley, Coventry
West Bromwich (Birmingham)	EA	1903-1974	Dudley	Dudley
Westmorland	EC JM	1903-1974	Kendal	Kendal, Reading
Wigan	EK JP	1903-1974	Warrington	Warrington
Wiltshire	AM HR MR MW WV	1903-1974	Swindon	Swindon, Brighton
Wolverhampton (Birmingham)	DA JW UK	1903-1974	Birmingham	Birmingham
Worcester	FK	1903-1974	Worcester	Dudley
Worcestershire	AB NP UY WP	1903-1974	Worcester	Worcester
Great Yarmouth	EX	1903-1974	Norwich	Norwich
York	DN VY	1903-1974	York	York
Yorkshire (East Riding)	BT WF	1903-1974	York, Sheffield	York, Sheffield
Yorkshire (North Riding)	AJ PY VN	1903-1974	Middlesbrough, Leeds	Middlesbrough, Leeds
Yorkshire (West Riding)	C WR WT WU WW WX WY YG	1903-1974	Leeds	Leeds
Wales
Council	Marks	Period	Replaced by	Marks passed to
Anglesey	EY	1903-1974	Bangor	Bangor
Brecknockshire	EU	1903-1974	Cardiff	Bristol
Caernarvonshire	CC JC	1903-1974	Bangor	Bangor
Cardiff	BO KG UH	1903-1974	Cardiff	Cardiff
Cardiganshire	EJ	1903-1974	Aberystwyth	Aberystwyth (Cardigan series)
Carmarthenshire	BX TH	1903-1974	Haverfordwest/Swansea	Haverfordwest/Swansea
Denbighshire	CA UN	1903-1974	Chester	Chester, Barnstaple
Flintshire	DM	1903-1974	Chester	Chester
Glamorganshire	L NY TG TX	1903-1974	Cardiff	Cardiff
Merionethshire	FF	1903-1974	Aberystwyth	Aberystwyth (Merioneth series)
Merthyr Tydfil	HB	1908-1974	Cardiff	Cardiff
Monmouthshire	AX WO	1903-1974	Cardiff	Cardiff
Montgomeryshire	EP	1903-1974	Swansea	Swansea
Newport (Monmouthshire)	DW	1903-1974	Cardiff	Cardiff
Pembrokeshire	DE	1903-1974	Haverfordwest	Haverfordwest
Swansea	CY WN	1903-1974	Swansea	Swansea
Scotland
Council	Marks	Period	Replaced by	Marks passed to
Aberdeen	RG RS	1903-1974	Aberdeen	Aberdeen, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Aberdeenshire	AV SA	1903-1974	Aberdeen	Aberdeen, Peterborough
Argyllshire	SB	1903-1974	Oban	Oban
Ayrshire	AG CS SD	1903-1974	Ayr	Ayr, Kingston-upon-Hull
Banffshire	SE	1903-1974	Keith	Keith
Berwickshire	SH	1903-1974	St. Boswell's	St. Boswell's
Buteshire	SJ	1903-1974	Ayr	Ayr
Caithnessshire	SK	1903-1974	Wick	Wick
Clackmannanshire	SL	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee
Coatbridge (Glasgow)	XB	1964-1974	Glasgow	[not used]
Dumfriesshire	SM	1903-1974	Dumfries	Dumfries
Dunbartonshire	SN	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee
Dundee	TS YJ	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee, Brighton
Edinburgh	S FS SC SF SG	1903-1974	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
	WS	1920-1974		Bristol
Elginshire = Morayshire (1919)	SO	1903-1974	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
Fifeshire	FG SP	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee, Brighton
Forfarshire = Angus (1928)	SR	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee
Glasgow	G GA GB GD GE GG	1903-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
	US YS	1912-1974
Govan (Glasgow)	US	1903-1912	(Glasgow)	(Glasgow)
Greenock (Glasgow)	VS	1903-1974	Glasgow	Luton
Haddingtonshire = East Lothian (1921)	SS	1903-1974	Edinburgh	Aberdeen
Invernessshire	ST	1903-1974	Inverness	Inverness
Kincardineshire	SU	1903-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
Kinrossshire	SV	1903-1974	Edinburgh	[not used]
Kirkcaldy	XA	1963-1974	Edinburgh	[not used]
Kirkcudbrightshire	SW	1903-1974	Dumfries	Dumfries
Lanarkshire	V VA VD	1903-1974	Glasgow	Cambridge, Luton
Leith (Edinburgh)	WS	1903-1920	(Edinburgh)	(Edinburgh)
Linlithgowshire = West Lothian (1921)	SX	1903-1974	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
Midlothian	SY	1903-1974	Edinburgh	[not used]
Motherwell (Glasgow)	GM	1903-1974	Glasgow	Reading
Nairnshire	AS	1903-1974	Inverness	Inverness
Orkney	BS	1903-1974	Kirkwall	Kirkwall
Paisley (Glasgow)	XS	1903-1974	Glasgow	[not used]
Partick (Glasgow)	YS	1903-1912	(Glasgow)	(Glasgow)
Peeblesshire	DS	1903-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
Perthshire	ES GS	1903-1974	Dundee	Dundee, Luton
Renfrewshire	HS	1903-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
Ross & Cromarty	JS	1903-1974	Stornoway	Stornoway
Roxburghshire	KS	1903-1974	St. Boswell's	St. Boswell's
Selkirkshire	LS	1903-1974	Stirling	Stirling
Shetland	PS	1903-1974	Lerwick	Lerwick
Stirlingshire	MS WG	1903-1974	Stirling	Stirling, Sheffield
Sutherlandshire	NS	1903-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
Wigtownshire	OS	1903-1974	Stranraer	Stranraer
Wishaw (Glasgow)	GM	1921-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
Isle of Man
Council	Marks	Period
Isle of Man	MN	1903-1974
Ireland
Council	Marks	Period
Antrim	DZ IA KZ RZ	1903-1966
Armagh	IB LZ XZ	1903-1966
Belfast	OI OZ	1903-1966
Belfast Co. Borough	AZ CZ EZ FZ GZ MZ PZ TZ UZ WZ XI	1903-1966
Carlow	IC	1903-1966
Cavan	ID	1903-1966
Clare	IE	1903-1966
Cork	IF ZK ZT	1903-1966
County Cork	PI ZB ZF	1903-1966
Donegal	IH ZP	1903-1966
Down	BZ IJ JZ SZ	1903-1966
Dublin	Z IK RI ZA ZC ZD ZE ZH ZI ZJ ZL ZO ZU	1903-1966
Fermanagh	IL	1903-1966
Galway	IM ZM	1903-1966
Kerry	IN ZX	1903-1966
Kildare	IO ZW	1903-1966
Kilkenny	IP	1903-1966
Kings County = Offaly (1922)	IR	1903-1966
Leitrim	IT	1903-1966
Limerick	IU	1903-1966
Limerick County Borough	TI	1903-1966
Londonderry	IW NZ YZ	1903-1966
Londonderry County Borough	UI	1903-1966
Longford	IX	1903-1966
Louth	IY	1903-1966
Mayo	IZ	1903-1966
Meath	AI ZN	1903-1966
Monaghan	BI	1903-1966
Queens County = Laois (1922)	CI	1903-1966
Roscommon	DI	1903-1966
Sligo	EI	1903-1966
Tipperary (North Riding)	FI	1903-1966
Tipperary (South Riding)	HI	1903-1966
Tyrone	HZ JI VZ	1903-1966
Waterford	KI	1903-1966
Waterford County Borough	WI	1903-1966
Westmeath	LI	1903-1966
Wexford	MI ZR	1903-1966
Wicklow	NI	1903-1966
Not used (originally)
	I GI IG II IS IV OO SI VI WC ZG ZS ZV ZY ZZ

DVLA series – 1974 to 2001 (England, Wales & Scotland)

Since the 1996-97 shake-up, the surviving British VROs/LVLOs have been grouped into 5 broad geographical areas:

1. Scotland & North
2. North Wales & West
3. Eastern
4. South Wales & South
5. South East

In the table below, offices that have closed are shown immediately above the offices that took over their areas. The marks did not necessarily transfer, however. Marks shown in parentheses are those taken over from another office after 1974 (most often the one listed immediately above). On closure in 1996, Coventry's work was split between Birmingham and Northampton, and Liverpool's between Preston, Manchester and Chester. The “originated from” column gives the council(s) covering the area prior to 1974, or (if in parentheses) donors of marks which switched areas in 1974.

Scotland & North
VRO/LVLO name	Marks	Originated from	Dates operational
Wick	SK	Caithnessshire	1974-1981
Kirkwall	BS	Orkney	1974-1980
Stornoway	JS	Ross & Cromarty	1974-1980
Inverness	AS (BS) (JS) (SK) ST	Invernessshire, Nairnshire	1974-2001
Keith	SE	Banffshire	1974-1981
Lerwick	PS	Shetland	1974-1980
Aberdeen	(PS) RS SA (SE) SO SS	Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Lothian, Morayshire	1974-2001
Dundee	ES SL SN SP SR TS	Dundee, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dunbartonshire, Fifeshire, Perthshire	1974-2001
Ayr	CS SD SJ	Ayrshire, Buteshire	1974-1981
Stranraer	OS	Wigtownshire	1974-1981
Oban	SB	Argyllshire	1974-1980
Glasgow	(CS) DS GA GB GD GE GG HS NS (OS) (SB) (SD) (SJ) SU US YS	Glasgow, Kincardineshire, Peeblesshire, Renfrewshire, Sutherlandshire	1974-2001
Stirling	LS MS	Stirlingshire, Selkirkshire	1974-1981
St. Boswell's	KS SH	Berwickshire, Roxburghshire	1974-1975
Selkirk	(KS) (SH)	—	1975-1980
Edinburgh	FS (KS) (LS) (MS) SC SF SG (SH) SX	Edinburgh, West Lothian	1974-2001
Durham	BR GR PT UP	Co. Durham, Sunderland	1974-1981
Newcastle	BB (BR) CN CU FT (GR) JR NL (PT) RG TN TY (UP) VK	Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Tynemouth, Northumberland (Aberdeen)	1974-2001
Dumfries	SM SW	Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire	1974-1981
Carlisle	AO HH RM (SM)	Carlisle, Cumberland	1974-2001
Middlesbrough	AJ DC EF HN PY VN	Darlington, Hartlepool, Teesside, Yorkshire (North Riding)	1974-2001
North Wales & West
VRO/LVLO name	Marks	Originated from	Dates operational
Bangor	CC	Caernarvonshire	1974-2001
Kendal	EC	Westmorland	1974-1981
Barrow-in-Furness	EO	Barrow-in-Furness	1974-1981
Preston	BV CK CW (EC) EO FR FV HG RN	Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley	1974-2001
York	BT DN VY	York, Yorkshire (East Riding)	1974-1980
Huddersfield	CP CX HD JX VH	Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Halifax	...
Leeds	(BT) (DN) NW UA UB UG UM (VY) WR WT WU WW WX WY YG	Leeds, Yorkshire (West Riding), Yorkshire (North Riding)	1974-2001
Warrington	DJ ED EK EM JP TB	Warrington, Bootle, St. Helens, Wigan, Lancashire	1974-1981
Liverpool	BG CM (DJ) (ED) (EK) FY HF (JP) KA KB KC KD KF LV TJ WM	Liverpool, Birkenhead, Southport, Wallasey, Lancashire	1974-1996
Bolton	BN CB DK EN TD TE WH	Bolton, Blackburn, Bury, Rochdale, Lancashire	1974-1981
Manchester	BA (BN) BU (CB) DB (DK) (EN) JA NA NB NC ND NE NF RJ (TD) (TE) VM VR VU (WH)	Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport	1974-2001
Chester	CA DM FM LG MA MB TU	Chester, Cheshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire	1974-2001
Shrewsbury	AW NT UJ UX	Shropshire	1974-2001
Coventry	AC DU HP KV RW VC WK	Coventry, Warwickshire	1974-1996
Dudley	DH EA FD FK HA NX UE WD	Dudley, Walsall, Warley, West Bromwich, Warwickshire (Worcester)	...
Birmingham	DA (DH) (HA) JW OA OB OC OE OF OG OH OJ OK OL OM ON OP OV OX UK VP	Birmingham, Wolverhampton	1974-2001
Hereford	CJ FO VJ	Herefordshire, Radnorshire	1974-1981
Gloucester	AD (CJ) DD DF DG FH (FO) (VJ)	Gloucestershire	1974-1997
Worcester	AB NP UY WP	Worcestershire	1974-2001
Eastern
VRO/LVLO name	Marks	Originated from	Dates operational
Kingston-upon-Hull	AG AT KH RH	Kingston-upon-Hull (Ayrshire)	1974-1997
Beverley	(AG) (AT) (KH) (RH)	—	1997-2001
Sheffield	AK DT ET HE HL KU KW KY WA WB WE WF WG WJ	Sheffield, Barnsley, Bradford, Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield, Yorkshire (East Riding)	1974-2001
Boston	CT DO JL	Holland (Lincs.), Kesteven (Lincs.)	1974-1981
Grimsby	BE EE FU JV	Grimsby, Lindsey (Lincs.)	1974-1980
Lincoln	(BE) (CT) (DO) (EE) FE (FU) FW (JL) (JV) TL VL	Lincoln, Kesteven (Lincs.), Lindsey (Lincs.)	1974-2001
Stoke-on-Trent	BF EH FA RE RF VT	Stoke-on-Trent, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire	1974-1997
Leicester	AY BC FP JF JU NR RY UT	Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland	1974-1996
Nottingham	AL AU (AY) (BC) (BF) CH (EH) (FA) (JF) (JU) NN (NR) NU RA RB RC (RE) (RF) RR (RY) TO TV (UT) VO (VT)	Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, Derbyshire	1974-2001
Cambridge	CE EB ER JE VA VE	Cambridge, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire (Lanarkshire)	1974-1980
Peterborough	AV (CE) (EB) EG (ER) EW FL (JE) (VA) (VE)	Peterborough/Huntingdon (Aberdeenshire)	1974-2001
Norwich	AH CL EX NG PW VF VG	Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk	1974-2001
Ipswich	BJ DX GV PV RT	Ipswich, East Suffolk, West Suffolk	1974-2001
London NE	MC MD ME MF MG MH MK ML MM MP MT MU	Greater London	1974-1997
Chelmsford	AR EV HJ HK JN NO OO PU TW VW VX WC	Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Hertfordshire	1974-2001
Luton	BH BM GS KX MJ NK NM PP RO TM UR VD* VS	Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire (Greenock, Perthshire)	1974-2001
Northampton	BD NH NV RP VV	Northamptonshire	1974-2001
South Wales & South
VRO/LVLO name	Marks	Originated from	Dates operational
Aberystwyth	EJ FF	Cardiganshire, Merionethshire	1974-1981
Bangor[2]	EY (FF) JC	Anglesey, Caernarvonshire	1981-1983
Haverfordwest	BX DE (EJ)	Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire	1974-1996
Swansea	(BX) CY (DE) (EJ) EP TH WN	Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Montgomeryshire	1974-2001
Cardiff	AX BO DW HB KG NY TG TX UH WO	Cardiff, Newport (Mon.), Glamorganshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire	1974-2001
Swindon	AM HR MR MW	Wiltshire	1974-1997
Bristol	AE (AM) EU FB (HR) HT HU HW HY (MR) (MW) OU TC WS	Bristol, Bath, Breconshire, Hampshire (Edinburgh, Lancashire)	1974-2001
Oxford	BW FC JO UD WL	Oxford, Oxfordshire	1974-2001
Guildford	PA PB PC PD PE PF PG PH PJ PK PL PM	Surrey, East Sussex	1974-1997
Reading	AN BL CF DP GM JB JH JM MO RD RX TF	Reading, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, (Lancashire, Greater London, Motherwell/Wishaw, West Suffolk, Westmorland)	1974-2001
Newport (I.o.W.)	DL	Isle of Wight	1974-1981
Portsmouth	BK BP CR (DL) OR OT OW PO PX RV TP TR	Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire, West Sussex	1974-2001
Salisbury	AA CG HO	Hampshire	1974-1980
Bournemouth	(AA) (CG) EL FX (HO) JT LJ PR RU	Bournemouth, Dorsetshire	1974-2001
Taunton	YA YB YC YD	Somersetshire	1974-1997
Barnstaple	UN UO	Devonshire, (Denbighshire)	1974-1981
Plymouth	CO DR JY TK	Plymouth, Dorsetshire	1974-1980
Exeter	DV FJ OD TA TT (YA) (YB) (YC) (YD)	Exeter, Devonshire	1974-2001
Truro	AF CV GL RL	Cornwall, (Bath)	1974-2001
South East
VRO/LVLO name	Marks	Originated from	Dates operational
London Central	HM HV HX JD UC UU UV UW YE YF YH YK YL YM YN YO YP YR YT YU YV YW YX YY	Greater London	1974-1997
London SW	GC GF GH GJ GK GN GO GP GT	Greater London	1974-1997
Wimbledon	(GC) (GF) (GH) (GJ) (GK) (GN) (GO) (GP) (GT)	—	1997-2001
London NW	BY LA LB LC LD LE LF LH LK LL LM LN LO LP LR LT LU LW LX LY OY RK	Greater London	1974-1997
Stanmore	(BY) (LA) (LB) (LC) (LD) (LE) (LF) (LH) (LK) (LL) (LM) (LN) (LO) (LP) (LR) (LT) (LU) (LW) (LX) (LY) (OY) (RK)	—	1997-2001
London SE	GU GW GX GY MV MX MY	Greater London	1974-1997
Sidcup	(GU) (GW) (GX) (GY) (MV) (MX) (MY)	—	1997-2001
Canterbury	FN JG JJ KT VB	Canterbury, Kent (Greater London)	1974-1981
Maidstone	KE KJ KK KL KM KN KO KP KR	Kent	1974-2001
Hastings	DY HC JK	Hastings, Eastbourne	1974-1980
Brighton	AP CD (DY) FG (HC) (JK) NJ PN UF WV YJ	Brighton, East Sussex (Dundee, Fifeshire, Wiltshire)	1974-2001

Index

This table lists the marks alphabetically, to enable marks to be looked up in the tables above, and also for an easy way to follow through any particular mark.

There were major changes to the allocation of marks in 1965, 1974, 1980/1 and 1996/7 — particularly in 1974 — so the table below is divided into the resulting periods. However, there have been odd changes at other times as well. For further details see the main list. Single letter codes generally fell out of use in the 1930s. Ireland ceased to use these letters after 1986, introducing a new system from 1987.

Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
A	Greater London	—	—	—	—
AA	Hampshire	Hampshire	Salisbury	Bournemouth (Salisbury series)	Bournemouth
AB	Worcestershire	Worcestershire	Worcester	Worcester	Worcester
AC	Warwickshire	Warwickshire	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
AD	Gloucestershire	Gloucestershire	Gloucester	Gloucester	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
AE	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
AF	Cornwall	Cornwall	Truro	Truro	Truro
AG	Ayrshire	Ayrshire	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Beverley
AH	Norfolk	Norfolk	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
AI	Meath	Meath	Meath	Meath	—
AJ	Yorkshire North Riding	Yorkshire North Riding	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
AK	Bradford	Bradford	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
AL	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
AM	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	Swindon	Swindon	Bristol (Swindon series)
AN	West Ham	Greater London	Reading	Reading	Reading
AO	Cumberland	Cumberland	Carlisle	Carlisle	Carlisle
AP	East Sussex	East Sussex	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
AR	Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
AS	Nairnshire	Nairnshire	Inverness	Inverness	Inverness
AT	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Beverley
AU	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
AV	Aberdeenshire	Aberdeenshire	Peterborough	Peterborough	Peterborough
AW	Shropshire	Shropshire	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury
AX	Monmouthshire	Monmouthshire	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
AY	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
AZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
B	Lancashire	—	—	—	—
BA	Salford	Salford	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
BB	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
BC	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
BD	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton
BE	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Grimsby	Lincoln (Grimsby series)	Lincoln
BF	Dorsetshire (before 1904)	Staffordshire	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
BG	Birkenhead	Birkenhead	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
BH	Buckinghamshire	Buckinghamshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
BI	Monaghan	Monaghan	Monaghan	Monaghan	—
BJ	East Suffolk	East Suffolk	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich
BK	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
BL	Berkshire	Berkshire	Reading	Reading	Reading
BM	Bedfordshire	Bedfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
BN	Bolton	Bolton	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
BO	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
BP	West Sussex	West Sussex	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
BR	Sunderland	Sunderland	Durham	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)
BS	Orkney	Orkney	Kirkwall	Inverness (Kirkwall series)	—
BT	Yorkshire East Riding	Yorkshire East Riding	York	Leeds (York series)	Leeds (York series)
BU	Oldham	Oldham	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
BV	Blackburn	Blackburn	Preston	Preston	Preston
BW	Oxfordshire	Oxfordshire	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford
BX	Carmarthenshire	Carmarthenshire	Haverfordwest	Haverfordwest	Swansea (Haverfordwest series)
BY	Croydon	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
BZ	Down	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
C	Yorkshire West Riding	—	—	—	—
CA	Denbighshire	Denbighshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
CB	Blackburn	Blackburn	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
CC	Caernarvonshire	Caernarvonshire	Bangor	Bangor	Bangor
CD	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
CE	Cambridgeshire	Cambridge/Isle of Ely	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough (Cambridge series)
CF	West Suffolk	West Suffolk	Reading	Reading	Reading
CG	Hampshire	Hampshire	Salisbury	Bournemouth (Salisbury series)	Bournemouth
CH	Derby	Derby	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
CI	Queens County (before 1922) Laois	Laois	Laois	Laois	—
CJ	Herefordshire	Herefordshire	Hereford	Gloucester (Hereford series)	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
CK	Preston	Preston	Preston	Preston	Preston
CL	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
CM	Birkenhead	Birkenhead	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
CN	Gateshead	Gateshead	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
CO	Plymouth	Plymouth	Plymouth	—	—
CP	Halifax	Halifax	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Leeds/Manchester ? (Huddersfield series)
CR	Southampton	Southampton	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
CS	Ayrshire	Ayrshire	Ayr	Glasgow (Ayr series)	Glasgow (Ayr series)
CT	Kesteven (Lincs.)	Kesteven (Lincs.)	Boston	Lincoln (Boston series)	Lincoln
CU	South Shields	South Shields	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
CV	Cornwall	Cornwall	Truro	Truro	Truro
CW	Burnley	Burnley	Preston	Preston	Preston
CX	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Leeds/Manchester ? (Huddersfield series)
CY	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea
CZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
D	Kent	—	—	—	—
DA	Wolverhampton	Wolverhampton	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
DB	Stockport	Stockport	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
DC	Middlesbrough	Teesside	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
DD	Gloucestershire	Gloucestershire	Gloucester	Gloucester	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
DE	Pembrokeshire	Pembrokeshire	Haverfordwest	Haverfordwest	Swansea (Haverfordwest series)
DF	Northampton (before 1904) Gloucestershire (since 1926)	Gloucestershire	Gloucester	Gloucester	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
DG	Gloucestershire	Gloucestershire	Gloucester	Gloucester	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
DH	Walsall	Walsall	Dudley	Dudley	Birmingham ? (Dudley series)
DI	Roscommon	Roscommon	Roscommon	Roscommon	—
DJ	St. Helens	St. Helens	Warrington	Liverpool (Warrington series)	—
DK	Rochdale	Rochdale	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
DL	Isle of Wight	Isle of Wight	Newport (I.o.W.)	Portsmouth (I.o.W. series)	?
DM	Flintshire	Flintshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
DN	York	York	York	Leeds (York series)	Leeds (York series)
DO	Holland (Lincs.)	Holland (Lincs.)	Boston	Lincoln (Boston series)	Lincoln
DP	Reading	Reading	Reading	Reading	Reading
DR	Devonport (before 1915) Plymouth	Plymouth	Plymouth	—	—
DS	Peeblesshire	Peeblesshire	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
DT	Doncaster (since 1927)	Doncaster	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
DU	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
DV	Devonshire	Devonshire	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter
DW	Newport (Mon.)	Newport (Mon.)	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
DX	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich
DY	Hastings	Hastings	Hastings	Brighton (Hastings series)	Brighton (Hastings series)
DZ	Antrim	Ballymena	Ballymena	Ballymena	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
E	Staffordshire	—	—	—	—
EA	West Bromwich	West Bromwich	Dudley	Dudley	—
EB	Isle of Ely	Isle of Ely/Cambridgeshire	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough (Cambridge series)
EC	Westmorland	Westmorland	Kendal	Preston (Kendal series)	Preston
ED	Warrington	Warrington	Warrington	Liverpool (Warrington series)	—
EE	Grimsby	Grimsby	Grimsby	Lincoln (Grimsby series)	Lincoln
EF	West Hartlepool	Hartlepool	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
EG	Peterborough	Peterborough/Huntingdon	Peterborough	Peterborough	Peterborough
EH	Hanley (before 1910) Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
EI	Sligo	Sligo	Sligo	Sligo	—
EJ	Cardiganshire	Cardiganshire	Aberystwyth (Cardigan series)	Haverfordwest (Cardigan series)	Swansea (Haverfordwest series)
EK	Wigan	Wigan	Warrington	Liverpool (Warrington series)	—
EL	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
EM	Bootle	Bootle	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
EN	Bury	Bury	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
EO	Barrow-in-Furness	Barrow-in-Furness	Barrow-in-Furness	Preston (Barrow series)	Preston
EP	Montgomeryshire	Montgomeryshire	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea
ER	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire/Isle of Ely	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough
ES	Perthshire	Perthshire	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
ET	Rotherham	Rotherham	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
EU	Brecknockshire	Breconshire	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
EV	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
EW	Huntingdonshire	Huntingdon/Peterborough	Peterborough	Peterborough	Peterborough
EX	Great Yarmouth	Great Yarmouth	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
EY	Anglesey	Anglesey	Bangor	Bangor	Bangor
EZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
F	Essex	—	—	—	—
FA	Burton-upon-Trent	Burton-upon-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
FB	Bath	Bath	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
FC	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford
FD	Dudley	Dudley	Dudley	Dudley	—
FE	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln
FF	Merionethshire	Merionethshire	Aberystwyth (Merioneth series)	Bangor (Merioneth series)	—
FG	Fifeshire	Fifeshire	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
FH	Gloucester	Gloucester	Gloucester	Gloucester	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
FI	Tipperary North Riding	Tipperary North Riding	Tipperary North Riding	Tipperary North Riding	—
FJ	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter
FK	Worcester	Worcester	Dudley	Dudley	—
FL	Peterborough	Peterborough/Huntingdon	Peterborough	Peterborough	Peterborough
FM	Chester	Chester	Chester	Chester	Chester
FN	Canterbury	Canterbury	Canterbury	—	—
FO	Radnorshire	Radnorshire	Hereford (Radnor series)	Gloucester (Radnor series)	Worcester/Bristol ? (Radnor series)
FP	Rutland	Rutland	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
FR	Blackpool (since 1904)	Blackpool	Preston	Preston	Preston
FS	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
FT	Tynemouth (since 1904)	Tynemouth	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
FU	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Grimsby	Lincoln (Grimsby series)	Lincoln
FV	Blackpool (since 1904)	Blackpool	Preston	Preston	Preston
FW	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Lindsey (Lincs.)	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln
FX	Dorsetshire	Dorsetshire	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
FY	Southport	Southport	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
FZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
G	Glasgow	—	—	—	—
GA	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
GB	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
GC	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GD	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
GE	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
GF	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GG	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
GH	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GI	—	—	—	Tipperary South Riding	—
GJ	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GK	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GL	Bath	Bath	Truro	Truro	Truro
GM	Motherwell Motherwell/Wishaw (since 1921)	Motherwell/Wishaw	Reading	Reading	Reading
GN	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GO	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GP	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GR	Sunderland	Sunderland	Durham	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)
GS	Perthshire	Perthshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
GT	Greater London	Greater London	London S.W.	London S.W.	Wimbledon
GU	Greater London	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
GV	West Suffolk	West Suffolk	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich
GW	Greater London	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
GX	Greater London	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
GY	Greater London	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
GZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
H	Middlesex	—	—	—	—
HA	Smethwick (since 1907)	Warley	Dudley	Dudley	Birmingham ? (Dudley series)
HB	Merthyr Tydfil (since 1908)	Merthyr Tydfil	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
HC	Eastbourne (since 1911)	Eastbourne	Hastings	Brighton (Hastings series)	Brighton (Hastings series)
HD	Dewsbury (since 1913)	Dewsbury	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Leeds/Manchester ? (Huddersfield series)
HE	Barnsley (since 1913)	Barnsley	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
HF	Wallasey (since 1913)	Wallasey	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
HG	Burnley	Burnley	Preston	Preston	Preston
HH	Carlisle (since 1914)	Carlisle	Carlisle	Carlisle	Carlisle
HI	Tipperary South Riding	Tipperary South Riding	Tipperary South Riding	Tipperary South Riding	—
HJ	Southend-on-Sea (since 1914)	Southend-on-Sea	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
HK	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
HL	Wakefield (since 1915)	Wakefield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
HM	East Ham (since 1915)	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
HN	Darlington (since 1915)	Darlington	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
HO	Hampshire	Hampshire	Salisbury	Bournemouth (Salisbury series)	Bournemouth
HP	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
HR	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	Swindon	Swindon	Bristol
HS	Renfrewshire	Renfrewshire	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
HT	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
HU	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
HV	East Ham (since 1915)	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
HW	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
HX	Middlesex	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
HY	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
HZ	Tyrone	Omagh	Omagh	Omagh	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
I	—	—	—	—	—
IA	Antrim	Ballymena	Ballymena	Ballymena	—
IB	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	—
IC	Carlow	Carlow	Carlow	Carlow	—
ID	Cavan	Cavan	Cavan	Cavan	—
IE	Clare	Clare	Clare	Clare	—
IF	Cork	Cork	Cork	Cork	—
IG	—	—	—	Fermanagh(?)	—
IH	Donegal	Donegal	Donegal	Donegal	—
II	—	—	—	—	—
IJ	Down	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	—
IK	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
IL	Fermanagh	Enniskillen	Enniskillen	Enniskillen	—
IM	Galway	Galway	Galway	Galway	—
IN	Kerry	Kerry	Kerry	Kerry	—
IO	Kildare	Kildare	Kildare	Kildare	—
IP	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	Kilkenny	—
IR	Kings County (before 1922) Offaly	Offaly	Offaly	Offaly	—
IS	—	—	—	Mayo	—
IT	Leitrim	Leitrim	Leitrim	Leitrim	—
IU	Limerick	Limerick	Limerick	Limerick	—
IV	—	—	—	Limerick	—
IW	Londonderry	Coleraine	Coleraine	Coleraine	—
IX	Longford	Longford	Longford	Longford	—
IY	Louth	Louth	Louth	Louth	—
IZ	Mayo	Mayo	Mayo	Mayo	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
J	County Durham	—	—	—	—
JA	Stockport	Stockport	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
JB	Berkshire	Berkshire	Reading	Reading	Reading
JC	Caernarvonshire	Caernarvonshire	Bangor	Bangor	Bangor
JD	West Ham	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
JE	Isle of Ely	Isle of Ely/Cambridgeshire	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough (Cambridge series)
JF	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
JG	Canterbury	Canterbury	Canterbury	—	—
JH	Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire	Reading	Reading	Reading
JI	Tyrone	Tyrone	Omagh	Omagh	—
JJ	Greater London	Greater London	Canterbury	—	—
JK	Eastbourne (since 1911)	Eastbourne	Hastings	Brighton (Hastings series)	Brighton (Hastings series)
JL	Holland (Lincs.)	Holland (Lincs.)	Boston	Lincoln (Boston series)	Lincoln
JM	Westmorland	Westmorland	Reading	Reading	Reading
JN	Southend-on-Sea (since 1914)	Southend-on-Sea	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
JO	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford
JP	Wigan	Wigan	Warrington	Liverpool (Warrington series)	—
JR	Northumberland	Northumberland	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
JS	Ross & Cromarty	Ross & Cromarty	Stornoway	Inverness (Stornoway series)	—
JT	Dorsetshire	Dorsetshire	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
JU	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
JV	Grimsby	Grimsby	Grimsby	Lincoln (Grimsby series)	Lincoln
JW	Wolverhampton	Wolverhampton	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
JX	Halifax	Halifax	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Leeds/Manchester ? (Huddersfield series)
JY	Plymouth	Plymouth	Plymouth	—	—
JZ	Down	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
K	Liverpool	—	—	—	—
KA	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
KB	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
KC	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
KD	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
KE	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KF	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
KG	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
KH	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Beverley
KI	Waterford	Waterford	Waterford	Waterford	—
KJ	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KK	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KL	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KM	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KN	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KO	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KP	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KR	Kent	Kent	Maidstone	Maidstone	Maidstone
KS	Roxburghshire	Roxburghshire	St. Boswell's (before 1975) Selkirk	Edinburgh (Selkirk series)	Edinburgh (Selkirk series)
KT	Kent	Kent	Canterbury	—	—
KU	Bradford	Bradford	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
KV	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
KW	Bradford	Bradford	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
KX	Buckinghamshire	Buckinghamshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
KY	Bradford	Bradford	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
KZ	Antrim	Ballymena	Ballymena	Ballymena	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
L	Glamorganshire	—	—	—	—
LA	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LB	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LC	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LD	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LE	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LF	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LG	Cheshire	Cheshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
LH	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LI	Westmeath	Westmeath	Westmeath	Westmeath	—
LJ	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
LK	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LL	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LM	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LN	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LO	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LP	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LR	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LS	Selkirkshire	Selkirkshire	Stirling	Edinburgh (Stirling series)	Edinburgh (Stirling series)
LT	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LU	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LV	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
LW	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LX	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LY	Greater London	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
LZ	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
M	Cheshire	—	—	—	—
MA	Cheshire	Cheshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
MB	Cheshire	Cheshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
MC	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MD	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
ME	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MF	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MG	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MH	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MI	Wexford	Wexford	Wexford	Wexford	—
MJ	Bedfordshire	Bedfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
MK	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
ML	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MM	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MN	Isle of Man	Isle of Man	Isle of Man	Isle of Man	Isle of Man
MO	Berkshire	Berkshire	Reading	Reading	Reading
MP	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MR	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	Swindon	Swindon	Bristol
MS	Stirlingshire	Stirlingshire	Stirling	Edinburgh (Stirling series)	Edinburgh (Stirling series)
MT	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MU	Middlesex	Greater London	London N.E.	London N.E.	Chelmsford (dealer series)
MV	Middlesex	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
MW	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	Swindon	Swindon	Bristol
MX	Middlesex	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
MY	Middlesex	Greater London	London S.E.	London S.E.	Sidcup
MZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
N	Manchester	—	—	—	—
NA	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
NB	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
NC	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
ND	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
NE	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
NF	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
NG	Norfolk	Norfolk	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
NH	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton
NI	Wicklow	Wicklow	Wicklow	Wicklow	—
NJ	East Sussex	East Sussex	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
NK	Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
NL	Northumberland	Northumberland	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NM	Bedfordshire	Bedfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
NN	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
NO	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
NP	Worcestershire	Worcestershire	Worcester	Worcester	Worcester
NR	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
NS	Sutherlandshire	Sutherlandshire	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
NT	Shropshire	Shropshire	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury
NU	Derbyshire	Derbyshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
NV	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton
NW	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
NX	Warwickshire	Warwickshire	Dudley	Dudley	—
NY	Glamorganshire	Glamorganshire	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
NZ	Londonderry	Londonderry	Coleraine	Coleraine	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
O	Birmingham	—	—	—	—
OA	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OB	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OC	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OD	Devonshire	Devonshire	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter
OE	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OF	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OG	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OH	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OI	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
OJ	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OK	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OL	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OM	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
ON	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OO	—	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
OP	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OR	Hampshire	Hampshire	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
OS	Wigtownshire	Wigtownshire	Stanraer	Glasgow (Stranraer series)	Glasgow (Stranraer series)
OT	Hampshire	Hampshire	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
OU	Hampshire	Hampshire	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
OV	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OW	Southampton	Southampton	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
OX	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
OY	Croydon	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
OZ	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
P	Surrey	—	—	—	—
PA	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PB	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PC	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PD	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PE	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PF	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PG	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PH	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PI	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	—
PJ	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PK	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PL	Surrey	Surrey	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PM	East Sussex	East Sussex	Guildford	Guildford	Reading ? (Guildford series)
PN	East Sussex	East Sussex	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
PO	West Sussex	West Sussex	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
PP	Buckinghamshire	Buckinghamshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
PR	Dorsetshire	Dorsetshire	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
PS	Shetland	Shetland	Lerwick	Aberdeen (Lerwick series)	—
PT	County Durham	County Durham	Durham	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)
PU	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
PV	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich
PW	Norfolk	Norfolk	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
PX	West Sussex	West Sussex	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
PY	Yorkshire North Riding	Yorkshire North Riding	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
PZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
R	Derbyshire	—	—	—	—
RA	Derbyshire	Derbyshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
RB	Derbyshire	Derbyshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
RC	Derby	Derby	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
RD	Reading	Reading	Reading	Reading	Reading
RE	Staffordshire	Staffordshire	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
RF	Staffordshire	Staffordshire	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
RG	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
RH	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Kingston-upon-Hull	Beverley
RI	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
RJ	Salford	Salford	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
RK	Croydon	Greater London	London N.W.	London N.W.	Stanmore
RL	Cornwall	Cornwall	Truro	Truro	Truro
RM	Cumberland	Cumberland	Carlisle	Carlisle	Carlisle
RN	Preston	Preston	Preston	Preston	Preston
RO	Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
RP	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton
RR	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
RS	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
RT	East Suffolk	East Suffolk	Ipswich	Ipswich	Ipswich
RU	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth	Bournemouth
RV	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
RW	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
RX	Berkshire	Berkshire	Reading	Reading	Reading
RY	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
RZ	Antrim	Ballymena	Ballymena	Ballymena	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
S	Edinburgh	—	—	—	—
SA	Aberdeenshire	Aberdeenshire	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
SB	Argyllshire	Argyllshire	Oban	Glasgow (Oban series)	Glasgow (Oban series)
SC	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
SD	Ayrshire	Ayrshire	Ayr	Glasgow (Ayr series)	—
SE	Banffshire	Banffshire	Keith	Aberdeen (Keith series)	—
SF	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
SG	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
SH	Berwickshire	Berwickshire	St. Boswell's (before 1975) Selkirk	Edinburgh (Selkirk series)	—
SI	—	—	—	Dublin	—
SJ	Buteshire	Buteshire	Ayr	Glasgow (Ayr series)	—
SK	Caithness-shire	Caithness-shire	Wick	Inverness (Wick series)	—
SL	Clackmannanshire	Clackmannanshire	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
SM	Dumfriesshire	Dumfriesshire	Dumfries	Carlisle (Dumfries series)	—
SN	Dunbartonshire	Dunbartonshire	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
SO	Elginshire (before 1919) Morayshire	Morayshire	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
SP	Fifeshire	Fifeshire	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
SR	Forfarshire (before 1928) Angus	Angus	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
SS	Haddingtonshire (before 1921) East Lothian	East Lothian	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	Aberdeen
ST	Inverness-shire	Inverness-shire	Inverness	Inverness	Inverness
SU	Kincardineshire	Kincardineshire	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
SV	Kinross-shire	Kinross-shire	—	—	†
SW	Kirkcudbrightshire	Kirkcudbrightshire	Dumfries	Carlisle (Dumfries series)	—
SX	Linlithgowshire (before 1921) West Lothian	West Lothian	Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Edinburgh
SY	Midlothian	Midlothian	—	—	†
SZ	Down	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	Downpatrick	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
T	Devonshire	—	—	—	—
TA	Devonshire	Devonshire	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter
TB	Lancashire	Lancashire	Warrington	Liverpool (Warrington series)	—
TC	Lancashire	Lancashire	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
TD	Lancashire	Lancashire	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
TE	Lancashire	Lancashire	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
TF	Lancashire	Lancashire	Reading	Reading	Reading
TG	Glamorganshire	Glamorganshire	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
TH	Carmarthenshire	Carmarthenshire	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea
TI	Limerick County Borough	Limerick County Borough	Limerick County Borough	Limerick County Borough	—
TJ	Lancashire	Lancashire	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
TK	Dorsetshire	Dorsetshire	Plymouth	—	—
TL	Kesteven (Lincs.)	Kesteven (Lincs.)	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln
TM	Bedfordshire	Bedfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
TN	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TO	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
TP	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
TR	Southampton	Southampton	Portsmouth	Portsmouth	Portsmouth
TS	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee	Dundee
TT	Devonshire	Devonshire	Exeter	Exeter	Exeter
TU	Cheshire	Cheshire	Chester	Chester	Chester
TV	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
TW	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
TX	Glamorganshire	Glamorganshire	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
TY	Northumberland	Northumberland	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
U	Leeds	—	—	—	—
UA	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
UB	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
UC	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
UD	Oxfordshire	Oxfordshire	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford
UE	Warwickshire	Warwickshire	Dudley	Dudley	—
UF	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
UG	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
UH	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
UI	Londonderry County Borough	Londonderry	Londonderry	Londonderry	—
UJ	Shropshire	Shropshire	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury
UK	Wolverhampton	Wolverhampton	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
UL	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
UM	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
UN	Denbighshire	Denbighshire	Barnstaple	—	—
UO	Devonshire	Devonshire	Barnstaple	—	—
UP	County Durham	County Durham	Durham	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)	Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Durham series)
UR	Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire	Luton	Luton	Luton
US	Govan (before 1912) Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
UT	Leicestershire	Leicestershire	Leicester	Leicester	Nottingham (Leicester series)
UU	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
UV	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
UW	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
UX	Shropshire	Shropshire	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury	Shrewsbury
UY	Worcestershire	Worcestershire	Worcester	Worcester	Worcester
UZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
V	Lanarkshire	—	—	—	—
VA	Lanarkshire	Lanarkshire	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough (Cambridge series)
VB	Croydon	Greater London	Canterbury	—	—
VC	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
VD	Lanarkshire	Lanarkshire	Luton (export series for Vauxhall) until 1977	—	—
VE	Cambridgeshire	Cambridgeshire/Isle of Ely	Cambridge	Peterborough (Cambridge series)	Peterborough (Cambridge series)
VF	Norfolk	Norfolk	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
VG	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich	Norwich
VH	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Huddersfield	Leeds/Manchester ? (Huddersfield series)
VI	—	—	—	—	—
VJ	Herefordshire	Herefordshire	Hereford	Gloucester (Hereford series)	Worcester/Bristol ? (Gloucester series)
VK	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
VL	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln	Lincoln
VM	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
VN	Yorkshire North Riding	Yorkshire North Riding	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough	Middlesbrough
VO	Nottinghamshire	Nottinghamshire	Nottingham	Nottingham	Nottingham
VP	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham	Birmingham
VR	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
VS	Greenock	Greenock	Luton	Luton	Luton
VT	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Nottingham
VU	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester	Manchester
VV	Northamptonshire	Northamptonshire	Northampton	Northampton	Northampton
VW	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
VX	Essex	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
VY	York	York	York	Leeds (York series)	Leeds (York series)
VZ	Tyrone	Omagh	Omagh	Omagh	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
W	Sheffield	—	—	—	—
WA	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WB	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WC	—	Essex	Chelmsford	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
WD	Warwickshire	Warwickshire	Dudley	Dudley	—
WE	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WF	Yorkshire East Riding	Yorkshire East Riding	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WG	Stirlingshire	Stirlingshire	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WH	Bolton	Bolton	Bolton	Manchester (Bolton series)	Manchester (Bolton series)
WI	Waterford County Borough	Waterford County Borough	Waterford County Borough	Waterford County Borough	—
WJ	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield	Sheffield
WK	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Coventry	Birmingham/Northampton ? (Coventry series)
WL	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford	Oxford
WM	Southport (since 1905)	Southport	Liverpool	Liverpool	—
WN	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea	Swansea
WO	Monmouthshire	Monmouthshire	Cardiff	Cardiff	Cardiff
WP	Worcestershire	Worcestershire	Worcester	Worcester	Worcester
WR	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WS	Leith (before 1920) Edinburgh	Edinburgh	Bristol	Bristol	Bristol
WT	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WU	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WV	Wiltshire	Wiltshire	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
WW	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WX	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WY	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
WZ	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
X	Northumberland	—	—	—	—
XA	London County (before 1963)	Kirkcaldy (since 1963)	—	—	—
XB	London County (before 1963)	Coatbridge (since 1964)	—	—	—
XC	London County (before 1963)	Solihull (since 1964)	—	—	—
XD	London County (before 1963)	Luton (since 1964)	—	—	—
XE	London County (before 1963)	Luton (since 1964)	—	—	—
XF	London County (before 1963)	Torbay (since 1968)	—	—	—
XG	Middlesbrough (before 1968)	Teesside (since 1968)	—	—	—
XH	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XI	Belfast County Borough	Belfast	Belfast	Belfast	—
XJ	Manchester	Manchester	—	—	—
XK	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XL	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XM	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XN	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XO	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XP	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	*
XR	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XS	Paisley	Paisley	—	—	*
XT	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XU	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XV	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XW	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XX	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XY	London County (before 1963)	—	—	—	—
XZ	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	Armagh	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
Y	Somersetshire	—	—	—	—
YA	Somersetshire	Somersetshire	Taunton	Taunton	Exeter (Taunton series)
YB	Somersetshire	Somersetshire	Taunton	Taunton	Exeter (Taunton series)
YC	Somersetshire	Somersetshire	Taunton	Taunton	Exeter (Taunton series)
YD	Somersetshire	Somersetshire	Taunton	Taunton	Exeter (Taunton series)
YE	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YF	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YG	Yorkshire West Riding	Yorkshire West Riding	Leeds	Leeds	Leeds
YH	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YI	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
YJ	Dundee	Dundee	Brighton	Brighton	Brighton
YK	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YL	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YM	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YN	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YO	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YP	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YR	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YS	Partick (before 1912) Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow	Glasgow
YT	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YU	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YV	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	—
YW	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	Wimbledon (dealer series)
YX	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	Wimbledon (dealer series)
YY	Greater London	Greater London	London Central	London Central	Wimbledon (dealer series)
YZ	Londonderry	Coleraine	Coleraine	Coleraine	—
Letter	1904-1964	1965-1974	1974-1980	1981-1996	1997-2001
Z	Dublin	—	—	—	—
ZA	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZB	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	—
ZC	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZD	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZE	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZF	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	Cork County Borough	—
ZG	—	—	—	Dublin	—
ZH	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZI	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZJ	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZK	Cork	Cork	Cork	Cork	—
ZL	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZM	Galway	Galway	Galway	Galway	—
ZN	Meath	Meath	Meath	Meath	—
ZO	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZP	Donegal	Donegal	Donegal	Donegal	—
ZR	Wexford	Wexford	Wexford	Wexford	—
ZS	—	—	—	Dublin	—
ZT	Cork	Cork	Cork	Cork	—
ZU	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	Dublin	—
ZV	—	—	—	Dublin	—
ZW	Kildare	Kildare	Kildare	Kildare	—
ZX	Kerry	Kerry	Kerry	Kerry	—
ZY	—	—	—	Louth	—
ZZ	*	*	*	*	—

* QA-QH/QJ-QP/QR-QY: London temporary import series
* ZZ: Dublin temporary import series
* XP: London temporary export series (1990s)
* XS: RXS for embassy staff vehicles which did not qualify for D or X diplomatic plates.
† SV, SY: Marks are used for registering vintage vehicles.

Dates of year letters

Letter   -A   -B   -C   -D   -E   -F   -G   -H   -J   -K   -L   -M   -N   -P
Started 1.63 1.64 1.65 1.66 1.67 8.67 8.68 8.69 8.70 8.71 8.72 8.73 8.74 8.75

Letter   -R   -S   -T   -V   -W   -X   -Y   A-   B-   C-   D-   E-   F-   G-
Started 8.76 8.77 8.78 8.79 8.80 8.81 8.82 8.83 8.84 8.85 8.86 8.87 8.88 8.89

Letter   H-   J-   K-   L-   M-   N-   P-   R-   S-   T-   V-   W-   X-   Y-
Started 8.90 8.91 8.92 8.93 8.94 8.95 8.96 8.97 8.98 3.99 9.99 3.00 9.00 3.01

New system marks

In the event of one office receiving an exceptionally high demand that depletes its stock of registration marks, marks may be transferred between DVLA local offices, or other "blank" series brought into play.

Links

DVLA — offical site.
DVLA Sale Of Marks scheme.

Private number plates – a free online club for personalised number plate enthusiasts and general motoring memorabilia.

Dik Winter's registrations pages.

PL8S (ha ha) — a number plate collector's site based in the USA.

The Road Transport Fleet Data Society

U.K. and R.O.I. Vehicle Registration Marks (Similar to this page but without the commentary)

European Vehicle Registration Plates article on Wikipedia which has links further down the page to the systems for individual countries in Europe.

Ciltern Vehicle Preservation Group: registration list 1903-2003, explanation of registration system and details of which series were actually issued in the first 3 years of the new system.

Car Registrations Another in-depth look at the British registration system

European Registration Plate Association

Registration plate suppliers/manufacturers
Europlate
Framptons t/a PL8S
Create Your Plate
Northumbria Numbers
Cape Plates
Private Number Plates
Legal Number Plates
WES Number plates
Cherished Number Plates
Prized Plates
Simply Registrations | See also | Private Number Plates 4U | Car Registrations
Car Reg and Personally Yours
Plate Hunter
Premier Number Plates
National Numbers
British Car Registrations - DVLA recognised reseller
Plate Trader
Select Number Plates - Private, cherished and personalised number plates.
Private Number Plates - DVLA recognised reseller & Cherished number plate dealer
Premier Plates - Private Number Plates and Personalised Number Plates
Absolute Reg Number Plates
Primo Registrations and Discount Registrations
Reg Transfers
The Private Plate Company
UK Registrations
Number Plates Direct
Netplates
Number 1 Plates
Swiftreg
(Happy to add links to any UK/Eire registration plate businesses – please send an email to request one)

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All the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge, but I am not infallible! Please email any corrections (typos or otherwise) to robert @ londonbusroutes.net (remove the spaces).