September 2026 Number Plate Change: When Does the 76 Plate Come Out?

The next UK registration plate change takes place on 1 September 2026, when new vehicles registered from that date can receive a 76 plate.

The 76 registration will apply from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027. Before that, vehicles registered between 1 March and 31 August 2026 use the 26 plate.

UK registration age identifiers change twice a year, on 1 March and 1 September. Here is what the 2026 change means, when the new 76 plates come out and how the registration system works.

When Do UK Number Plates Change?

New registration age identifiers are introduced twice a year:

• 1 March each year

• 1 September each year

The March identifier uses the final two digits of the year. The September identifier adds 50 to the March number.

For example:

• March 2026 = 26

• September 2026 = 76

• March 2027 = 27

• September 2027 = 77

The September change means a car registered from 1 September 2026 will normally have a 76 age identifier, while a car registered up to 31 August 2026 will have a 26 identifier.

When Does the 76 Plate Come Out?

The 76 plate comes out on 1 September 2026.

It will be used for vehicles first registered between:

1 September 2026 and 28 February 2027

So if a new car is first registered on 1 September 2026, its registration will contain the 76 age identifier.

The next change will take place on 1 March 2027, when the 27 plate is introduced.

New Car Registration Dates for 2025, 2026 and 2027

The recent and upcoming registration cycles are:

Registration date	New plate	Registration period
1 March 2025	25	Until 31 August 2025
1 September 2025	75	Until 28 February 2026
1 March 2026	26	Until 31 August 2026
1 September 2026	76	Until 28 February 2027
1 March 2027	27	Until 31 August 2027

This table helps when checking the approximate first-registration period of a vehicle.

For example:

• A 25 plate indicates a vehicle first registered between March and August 2025.

• A 75 plate indicates a vehicle first registered between September 2025 and February 2026.

• A 26 plate indicates a vehicle first registered between March and August 2026.

• A 76 plate indicates a vehicle first registered between September 2026 and February 2027.

The registration number can therefore help when comparing vehicles and checking the age of a car.

Also Check: How to Change Driving Licence Address Online

What Year Is a 76 Plate Car?

A 76 plate car was first registered between 1 September 2026 and 28 February 2027.

The 76 does not mean the car was manufactured in 1976 or that it was necessarily built during the 2026 calendar year.

The registration age identifier relates to when the vehicle was first registered.

For example, a car built earlier in 2026 but first registered after 1 September 2026 could receive a 76 registration.

When checking a vehicle, the registration date recorded for that specific car is more useful than assuming the registration number tells you its exact manufacturing date.

What Is the Latest UK Number Plate?

In August 2026, the current registration age identifier is 26.

The 26 plate applies to vehicles first registered from:

1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026

The next change is:

1 September 2026: 76 plate

After the 76 period ends on 28 February 2027, the next March registration will be the 27 plate.

Why Do Number Plates Change in March and September?

The twice-yearly system gives manufacturers, dealers and motorists two major registration points rather than having every new registration use only the calendar year.

The current system has been used since September 2001.

The two numbers in a standard modern registration identify the vehicle's registration period. The first two letters identify the registration area, followed by the age identifier and three random letters.

For example:

AB26 CDE

In this example:

• AB = local memory tag

• 26 = age identifier

• CDE = random letters

The registration itself does not necessarily tell you the exact date the vehicle was manufactured.

What Does a 26 Plate Mean?

A 26 plate means the vehicle was first registered between:

1 March 2026 and 31 August 2026

It does not mean that every part of the vehicle was manufactured in 2026.

If you are checking a used car, the registration date, mileage, service history and vehicle condition should all be considered when assessing its age and value.

What Does a 75 Plate Mean?

A 75 plate was issued to vehicles first registered between:

1 September 2025 and 28 February 2026

It is therefore possible to see a 75 plate on a car first registered in early 2026.

This is one reason why simply looking at the calendar year is not enough when working out how old a vehicle is.

Do Number Plates Change the Value of a Car?

A newer registration can affect how buyers perceive a vehicle, but the registration number is only one factor when comparing cars.

Mileage, condition, specification, service history, engine or powertrain, previous ownership and demand for the particular model can all affect its value.

The September registration change can also create a clear age distinction between otherwise similar cars.

For example, a comparable car first registered on 31 August 2026 would have a 26 plate, while one first registered on 1 September 2026 would have a 76 plate.

That one-day difference produces a different registration identifier even though the vehicles could be almost identical in age.

Also Check: Change Ownership of a Car

Does the September Registration Change Affect a New Car Delivery?

The registration a new vehicle receives depends on when it is first registered.

This means someone ordering a new car around the September change may want to know whether the vehicle will be registered before or from 1 September.

If you are arranging a new vehicle through a car leasing provider, the expected registration and delivery timing are worth confirming before the agreement is finalised. A vehicle delivered and first registered from 1 September 2026 would normally carry the 76 age identifier.

The exact delivery date can depend on vehicle availability, preparation and registration arrangements, so the September plate should not be treated as a guaranteed delivery date.

What About Northern Ireland Number Plates?

The 25, 26, 75 and 76 age-identifier system described above applies to registrations in Great Britain.

Northern Ireland uses a different registration system, so its registration numbers should not be interpreted using the March and September age-identifier rules for Great Britain.

This is important if you're checking a vehicle registered in Northern Ireland, particularly when trying to establish its age from its registration number.

Are Any Number Plates Banned by the DVLA?

Yes. Some registration combinations are withheld from issue where the combination is considered offensive, inappropriate or otherwise unsuitable.

The DVLA reviews registration combinations before they are released and can prevent specific combinations from being allocated.

This means not every possible combination following the normal registration format will necessarily be available.

The withheld combinations can change with each registration series, so figures or examples from an earlier year should not automatically be treated as the current list for September 2026.

Also Read: DVLA Banned Number Plates

How Does the UK Number Plate Format Work?

A standard modern registration follows this format:

Two letters + two numbers + three letters

For example:

AB26 CDE

The two letters at the beginning form the local memory tag, the two numbers identify the vehicle's registration period and the final three letters are randomly allocated.

The age identifier is the part that changes in March and September.

For the September 2026 change, that identifier changes from 26 to 76.

When Do New Number Plates Come Out in 2027?

The next two registration changes after September 2026 are:

• 1 March 2027: 27 plate

• 1 September 2027: 77 plate

Therefore, a vehicle first registered between 1 March and 31 August 2027 will normally have a 27 plate, while one first registered between 1 September 2027 and 28 February 2028 will have a 77 plate.