Plate Road
Plate Road
Why Do We Need Registration Plates
The registration plate was the result of the motor becoming more and more popular since it first arrived in the UK. The British Government decided to take various steps to regulate and control the cars that were driving around on British roads. This was very useful because in an event of an accident or a crime the Government could trace the car back to the owner and take appropriate actions.
In 1903 the motor car act issued that all vehicles on British roads had to be registered to their owners and have registration plates attached to the car enabling them to be easily identified. But the issue wasn't put into force until 1904 when it was required by everyone who owned a car in Britain. Since the start of this act many numbering systems have been used to identify cars and their owners and the first numbering system didn't operate until the start of 1932.
The original numbering system got off to a shaky start with various different methods operating and some of the original number systems being changed in some regions in the UK. Very early registration plates had no year identifier, it consisted of having a letter code that denoted the issuing authority of the car and a separate identification number. In England and Wales the letter codes in each area were created alphabetically in comparison to the size of the authority's area. For example somewhere that's crowded like Birmingham got the letter C.
In the rest of the Great Britain the system worked differently with the registration of each car being different to the country it was registered in. For example in Scotland the registration was 'S' and in Northern Ireland it was 'I'. In 1932 the scheme was extended further because the government were running out of possible combinations.
The three systems that have been used over the past 70 years have been:
* The Suffix System- the demands for registration continued to grow as the number of vehicles on Britain's roads increased. The new system used the principle of the regional identification letters as well as the sequential ID numbers. The new part of the registration plate was to add a letter code at the end to indicate the year of the plate being issued to the car. This had good benefits because it enabled people to identify the age of a car if buying second hand and it also meant the number sequence that was used to identify each vehicle could be used again. A example of the suffix system is: AAA1A-YYY999A
* The next system used was the Prefix system. This reversed the Suffix system so the registration plate was the other way around an example is: A1AAA-Y999YYY. This came into force in 1983 when the suffix system ran out of combinations. The year indicator was now at the front of the plate with the region code at the back. It was called the Prefix system because the year was displayed at the front of the plate. Because the system was the same but reversed it had the same advantages as the Suffix System.
* The current system used is what is displayed on the cars today after September 2001. The current registration plate has a two letter regional identifier called the local memory tag. It has a two digit identification number showing the age of the vehicle and then a random three letter combination that allows each vehicle a specific identity.
An example of the current registration plate system is: BD51 SMR- the BD in this number plate stands for Birmingham and each individual region has its own ID. At the start of each year the number ID starts with 0 and 5 after six months of the year. For example, March 2006 would be 06 and November 2007 would be 57. This change for the systems allows registration plates to change twice a year prolonging the life of the current scheme being used.
About the Author
Vehicle expert Catherine Harvey talks to James Parker about why the UK enforced the use of registration plates as the demand for cars grew.
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Atlas HO Norfolk Southern First Union 200849 Thrall |  |
0 Bid | US $23.81 | 9h 57m |
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NICKEL PLATE ROAD NKP WHITE ROAD NAME SET HO SCALE DECALS HN 11 | |
0 Bid | US $5.50 | 11h 21m |
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VTG ATHEARN 5404 HO SCALE OFFSET SIDE 2 BAY HOPPER SL SF 91736 MODEL RR CAR VG | |
2 Bids | US $4.77 | 12h 21m |
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LIONEL 16307 NICKEL PLATE ROAD FLAT CAR WITH TRAILERS NEVER RUN O GAUGE LOOK | |
0 Bid | US $24.95 | 12h 39m |
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CO Style Express Boxcar Troop Sleeper Conversion Ready to Run Baltimore OH | |
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US $20.00 | 13h 24m |
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Athearn Nickel Plate Road Double Door Box Car HO Scale | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 13h 46m |
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Lionel Nickel Plate Road NKP PS 5 Gondola 44801 | |
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US $45.00 | 13h 52m |
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Lionel NKP Nickel Plate Road C420 577 Command Control Scratch and Dent | |
1 Bid | US $120.00 | 13h 53m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE PENNSYLVANIA BOX CAR 64160 G | |
14 Bids | US $202.50 | 13h 57m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE OBSERVATION CAR 132 I | |
6 Bids | US $17.50 | 13h 58m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE CABOOSE 67 P | |
13 Bids | US $76.00 | 13h 59m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE BUFFET DINER CAR 130 K | |
6 Bids | US $15.50 | 13h 59m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE NYC HR STOCK CAR 65 Q | |
14 Bids | US $202.50 | 14h 1m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE STANDARD OIL CO SINGLE DOME TANK CAR 66 R | |
6 Bids | US $49.00 | 14h 2m |
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Roundhouse Nickel Plate Road Double Door Box HO Scale | |
0 Bid | US $8.99 | 14h 6m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE US MAIL BAGGAGE CAR 131 J | |
12 Bids | US $79.88 | 14h 7m |
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PREWAR IVES O GAUGE TIN PLATE SARATOGA PASSENGER CAR 129 H | |
10 Bids | US $22.50 | 14h 8m |
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LIONEL TMCC 14552 14555 24517 NYC F3 A B B A LTD EDITION 2002 SET EXCELLENT | |
0 Bid | US $699.00 | 14h 42m |
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Gold Silver Stamp Mills Railroad Modeling the Mining Industry photos plans | |
0 Bid | US $28.75 | 16h 46m |
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Spectrum On30 Scale Train Steam 0 4 0 Porter DCC Tsunami Sound Black 28058 | |
4 Bids | US $81.00 | 16h 56m |
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LIONEL 2028 2328 65 2338 GP STAIRS W RIVETS PILOT EXC | |
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US $9.95 | 16h 56m |
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Nickel Plate Road H 6o Mikado 2 8 2 Custom PFM Brass HO | 5 Bids | US $405.00 | 17h 27m |
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1984 Nickle Plate Road Woodside Reefer 6 5722 | |
0 Bid | US $1.00 | 17h 54m |
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2 K LINE SMOKING BAY WINDOW CABOOSE SP NICKEL PLATE ROAD MINTinBOXES NO RESERV | |
14 Bids | US $42.03 | 18h 3m |
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Rare Vintage Flat Car with Plane Lionel HO 1958 Nickel Plate Road | |
5 Bids | US $15.50 | 18h 27m |
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N Scale Atlas Nickel Plate Road GP30 900 | |
0 Bid | US $49.95 | 19h 14m |
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Atlas HO Oregon Steel Mills CW Thrall 2743 Gondola 5 | |
0 Bid | US $22.81 | 19h 26m |
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CUSTOM Athearn Great Northern Railroad WV Caboose | |
0 Bid | US $34.99 | 19h 26m |
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Spectrum On30 Scale Train Steam 0 4 2 Porter DCC Tsunami Sound Maroon 28201 | |
12 Bids | US $130.00 | 19h 27m |
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5 LIONEL GONDOLA CARS WM NPL NYC REP STEEL 0 027 | |
1 Bid | US $6.00 | 20h 9m |
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N GAUGE N SCALE ATLAS RSD12 NICKEL PLATE MICRO TRAIN SPECIAL RUN4282 ROAD 332 | |
9 Bids | US $21.00 | 20h 24m |
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Lionel 6 18590 Nickel Plate Road Conventional C 420 Alco Diesel 578 | |
0 Bid | US $125.00 | 21h 49m |
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Trainline HO Track Cleaning Car931 751 NEW HO Suit Tyco Bachmann Powerline etc | |
0 Bid | US $21.35 | 1d 1h 42m |
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Athearn HO Mack B Tractor w 40 Trailer Santa FePlate | |
0 Bid | US $22.81 | 1d 2h 9m |
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N SCALE TRAIN RTR 2 PK MINI METALS INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS VAN NICKEL PLATE MINT | |
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US $9.99 | 1d 3h 16m |
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S Scale Champ Decal Set SN 11 Nickel Plate Road Set WHITE Logos and Letters | |
2 Bids | US $7.50 | 1d 5h 5m |
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S Scale Enhoring Decal Set SE 144 Nickel Plate Road Diesel Loco Decals | |
2 Bids | US $6.50 | 1d 5h 10m |
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S Scale Nimco Decals Nickel Plate RR LOCOS GOLD 722 S Set Vintage Mint | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 1d 7h 5m |
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S Scale Nimco Decals Nickel Plate RR Passenger GOLD 722 S Set Vintage Mint | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 1d 7h 9m |
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WALTHERS HO Model Train NICKEL PLATE 40 X 29 Steel Box Car 25922 NEW IN BOX | |
0 Bid | US $15.99 | 1d 7h 46m |
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Anerican Flyer 343 Nickel Plate Road Engine And Tender Train 1940s 1950s NO RES | |
8 Bids | US $114.05 | 1d 8h 53m |
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Walthers Heavyweights HO Scale Nickel Plate Road Diner 932 10169 | |
0 Bid | US $31.99 | 1d 8h 54m |
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MTH 20 90002d NICKEL PLATE ROAD FLATCAR W 2 20 TRAILERS | 2 Bids | US $19.50 | 1d 9h 2m |
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NICKLE PLATE ROAD 2 8 4 BERKSHIRE EXCELLENT | |
0 Bid | US $45.00 | 1d 9h 30m |
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NIB TRAIN MINIATURE HO TM NKP NYCSTL NICKEL PLATE ROAD 40 STOCK CAR | |
4 Bids | US $11.49 | 1d 10h 8m |
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INDUSTRIAL RAILNICKLE PLATE RD 0 27 BOXCAR WITH DIE CAST TRUCKS LN WITH BOXLOOK | |
0 Bid | US $14.45 | 1d 10h 25m |
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Kato N Scale USRA Heavy Mikado Nickel Plate 688 | |
2 Bids | US $65.00 | 1d 11h 8m |
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Bachmann Spectrum On30 Painted Unlettered 0 4 2 Porter | |
0 Bid | US $210.70 | 1d 11h 25m |
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American Flyer 342AC Nickel Plate Road | |
1 Bid | US $65.00 | 1d 11h 31m |
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PRECISION SCALE PSC CBQ S4a 4 6 4 4001 Streamlined Steam PLATED RARE | |
0 Bid | US $2,150.00 | 1d 12h 8m |
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ARNOLD NICKEL PLATE GP7 | |
1 Bid | US $19.99 | 1d 12h 23m |
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S Scale Enhorning Decals PS 15 Nickel Plate Passenger Car Decals GOLD MINT | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 1d 12h 25m |
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LGB 2119D Denver Rio Grande Western Mogul Factory Sound | |
2 Bids | US $323.72 | 1d 12h 28m |
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S Scale Enhoring Decals PS 104 Nickel Plate Alum Passenger Cars All Car Types | |
0 Bid | US $4.88 | 1d 12h 32m |
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New HO Scale Bachmann 60810 GP30 Diesel Nickel Plate Road 905 DCC Equipped | |
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US $51.35 | 1d 13h 1m |
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NEW O Scale Canadian Pacific Hudson 4 6 4 Locomotive BACHMANN 40209 | |
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US $550.00 | 1d 13h 13m |
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N SCALE 2 BOX CARS NKP LK LK | |
0 Bid | US $6.00 | 1d 13h 17m |
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MANTUA HO METAL 0 6 0 STEAM LOCO BODY 31031 | |
1 Bid | US $8.99 | 1d 13h 23m |
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Industrial Rail Pre Atlas O27 IDMU1009 Box Car Nickel Plate Road | |
0 Bid | US $15.95 | 1d 13h 44m |
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37926 MARKLIN HO Freight Train Steam Loco CL 042 DB mfx | |
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US $419.99 | 1d 13h 56m |
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Lionel 9404 Nickel Plate Road Box Car | |
0 Bid | US $24.99 | 1d 13h 56m |
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HO Athearn 70821 Nickle Plate Road 34 2 bay hoppers 6 pack | |
0 Bid | US $74.99 | 1d 13h 56m |
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HO Athearn 95632 40 3 bay offset hoppers Nickle Plate Road 6 pack | |
0 Bid | US $79.99 | 1d 13h 56m |
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Atlas 2 Bay Offset Side Hopper Nickel Plate Road 33441 | |
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US $16.50 | 1d 14h 8m |
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Atlas 2 Bay Offset Side Hopper Nickel Plate Road 33799 | |
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US $16.50 | 1d 14h 8m |
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Atlas 2 Bay Offset Side Hopper 3 Pack Nickel Plate Road | |
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US $50.00 | 1d 14h 8m |
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