What is a prefix number plate?

A registration issued between 1983 and 2001, with a year-identifying letter at the start (e.g. A123 BCD).

What does the first letter mean?

It's the year-letter — A is 1983, running through to Y in 2001.

Are prefix plates cheap?

They're among the more affordable styles, especially longer combinations — the three trailing letters are where the value sits.

Prefix Number Plates

Prefix plates are the registrations issued between 1983 and 2001, the mirror image of the suffix style — here the year-letter sits at the front.

About prefix number plates ↓

Showing 24 plates of 199.

For Sale (8)

Featured

EII OTJ

For saleSpotted 1×

£4,995

E11 OTJ is a clever Elliot or Elliot J plate, with 11 reading as LL. A smart prefix registration for anyone called Elliot, Elliott, or Eliot, offering a personal, memorable look on any cherished car.

£29,995

M4 RRY reads instantly as Marry, making it one of the strongest wedding plates available. Ideal for wedding car hire, bridal transport, event brands, the surname Marry or a romantic word-style plate.

£2,995

V33 GAS reads strongly as Vegas, with 33 forming the E sound. A fun, bold plate for Las Vegas fans, nightlife, events, travel or casino-themed brands, wanting instant roadside impact and personality.

£450

£2,000

£24,995

£5,000

£2,995

Spotted (16)

About prefix number plates

Prefix plates are the registrations issued between 1983 and 2001, the mirror image of the suffix style — here the year-letter sits at the front. They're affordable, widely available, and especially popular for the three-letter group at the end, which so often spells a name or initials.

What a prefix plate is

A prefix registration runs year-letter, one to three numbers, then three letters — for example A123 BCD. The opening letter identifies the year, from A in 1983 through to Y by 2001, when the current style replaced it. With the age-letter out of the way at the start, the trailing three letters do the heavy lifting, which is why prefix plates are a favourite for spelling initials, names and short words.

Why people buy prefix plates

They hit a sweet spot: cheaper and more plentiful than dateless or short suffix plates, but uniquely good at spelling names and words. That three-letter group at the end, paired with the right number, lets a prefix plate read as a name — Simon (S1 MON), James (J4 MES), Sarah (S4 RAH), Jenny (J3 NNY) — or a word like MARRY (M4 RRY). The number matters, but it''s that trailing trio that does the magic, which makes prefix plates one of the most cost-effective ways to put your actual name on a car.

Prefix plates on Plate Circle

Browse prefix plates currently listed for sale, recently sold and spotted on vehicles by the community — every result links to that plate''s full master record.

Frequently asked questions

What is a prefix number plate?: A registration issued between 1983 and 2001, with a year-identifying letter at the start (e.g. A123 BCD).
What does the first letter mean?: It's the year-letter — A is 1983, running through to Y in 2001.
Are prefix plates cheap?: They're among the more affordable styles, especially longer combinations — the three trailing letters are where the value sits.