New Number Plate Dates 2025–2026 (DVLA Confirmed)

The DVLA changes UK car registration plates twice each year. The system follows a fixed national schedule and applies to all new vehicle registrations across England, Scotland, and Wales.

This guide explains when new number plates are released, what the 26 and 76 plates mean, which plate is currently in use, the full 2026 registration timeline, and how DVLA banned number plates work.

When Do UK Number Plates Change?

UK number plates change on the same two dates every year:

• 1 March

• 1 September

March plates show the year number.
September plates add 50 to that number.

This system spreads new registrations across the year and makes it easy to identify when a vehicle was first registered.

26 Plate Release Date (March 2026)

The 26 number plate is issued from:

1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026

Any car first registered during this period will display a 26 plate, including:

• Private cars

• Business vehicles

• Lease and company cars

If a vehicle has a 26 plate, it was first registered in 2026.

76 Plate Release Date (September 2026)

The 76 number plate is introduced on:

1 September 2026

It remains in use until 28 February 2027.

September plates add 50 to the year number, which is why:

• 2026 becomes 76

• 2025 became 75

Explore our car leasing deals to secure your next vehicle in time for the release.

New Car Registration Dates for 2026

Here is the full 2026 registration timeline:

• 1 March 2026 – 26 plate begins

• 31 August 2026 – 26 plate ends

• 1 September 2026 – 76 plate begins

• 28 February 2027 – 76 plate ends

Any vehicle showing a 26 or 76 plate was first registered in 2026.

2025 Number Plates Explained (25 and 75)

The same DVLA system applied in 2025:

• 25 plate: 1 March 2025 to 31 August 2025

• 75 plate: 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026

This is useful when checking vehicle age, warranty start dates, and used car values.

What Is the Latest UK Number Plate Right Now?

The latest UK number plate currently in use is the 75 plate.

• Current plate: 75

• Valid until: 28 February 2026

• Next release: 26 plate from 1 March 2026

What Year Is a 26 Plate Car?

A 26 plate car was registered between:

1 March 2026 and 31 August 2026

This confirms the vehicle was first registered in 2026, regardless of build date or order date.

DVLA Banned Number Plates (2025–2026)

Each year, the DVLA blocks certain number plate combinations before release. For the 2026 series, 403 combinations have been blocked based on DVLA data obtained through Freedom of Information requests.

Plates are withheld if they could be offensive, misleading, or sensitive.

Examples from the 26 series include:

Rude or offensive

• BJ26 AGG

• SK26 NKS

Violence or crime related

• TE26 ROR

• GA26 GUN

Political or sensitive references

• RU26 UKR

• GA26 AZA

The DVLA does not publish the DVLA Banned Number Plates list in advance. Blocked combinations are removed from the registration system before new plates are released.

UK Number Plate Format Explained

All standard UK number plates follow the same structure:

• Two letters – Local DVLA registration area

• Two numbers – Age identifier (for example, 26 or 76)

• Three letters – Random sequence

Example format: AB26 CDE