History of UK Vehicle Registration Mark System

History of Vehicle Registration Systems in the UK

Background
Registration Marks:
1903-1932
1932-1953
1953-1963
1963-1983
1983-2001
2001-present
Vehicle Registration Offices (VRO):
Council Issuance Marks 1904-1974
DVLA Issuance Marks 1974-2001
Index of Marks for 1904-2001
Index of Memory Tags 2001-present

Background

It wasn't long after the invention of the horseless carriage that it became apparent that a registration mark would be required in order to identify the owner of a vehicle for purposes of law enforcement. This was formalised into the Motor Car Act of 1903, coming into force on 1 January 1904.
The original fee to register a vehicle was 20 shillings. The original system conceived at the beginning of the 20th Century used a simple area code + 4 unique digits to provide a unique identifier that would remain with the vehicle, even when it is sold on to a new owner.
This history of registration marks can provide some interesting perspectives on our society. We can see that when the concept of a registration mark was first introduced, the growth of personal transportation was not at all predicted with only a few hundred area codes each limited to less than 10,000 registrations.
Another observation is that the number plate itself started off as a simple black and white metal sign, the plastics industry took some time to come up with the high visibility reflective plates that we use today.
Equally noteworthy is the evolution from the old shires and counties to the modern equivalents that we know today.
Also of interest at the time, the Motor Car Act also raised the national speed limit to 20mph. Rush hour drivers of modern times would probably envy such outrageous speeds!
This was the same year that Henry Ford formed his original motor company to manufacturer automobiles.

With a maximum of 9,999 cars in each area, it's not hard to imagine how easy it was to run out of numbers once the popularity of the car took off. Once an area ran out of numbers another code would be available, but what happens when there's no more codes to allocate?
Even if another area had spare numbers, they wouldn't be available to the fast growing areas, so the theoretical maximum of over 5,000,000 combinations could never actually be reached. The busier areas did have more codes available than the quieter areas, so the system was not totally inefficient.
To put this in perspective, in 2004 alone, a total of 2,567,269 new cars were registered in the UK.

It also stands out today that the original system included what is now the Republic of Ireland, not given its independence until 1922.
The original areas were based on local councils; in 1974 this was changed to Local Vehicle Licensing Offices run by the DVLA. Otherwise known as Vehicle Registraion Offices or VROs.

Development

1903-1932

Introduced in 1903, the system used 1 or 2 letters for the area plus the 4 digits.

Example:

The 5,463 car to be registered in Kent for the code KM.
The first car to be registered was a Napier belonging to the Second Earl Russell in 1903, gaining the highly desirable mark A1, issued by London County Council.

Some area/counter combinations have never been used because the DVLA deemed the word offensive or (in recent times) too valuable to give away. For instance, the S counter plus the EX (Gt Yarmouth/Norwich) area code.
This practice originated with the innocent use of the BF mark issued by Dorsetshire, abandoned in 1904 with BF 162 because many motorists took BF to mean Bloody Fool, a serious insult in those days. Dorsetshire switched to FX from then on
From then on, other marks were excluded to avoid offense: WC, ABF, APE, ARS, ASS, AWC, BAS, BBF, BOG, BUB, BUG, BUM, COC, COK, DAM, DUW, FUC, FUK, FUX, GOD, HOG, JEW, LAV, MAS, NBG, POX, SEX, SOD, SOT, UBF, UFF, UWC and WOG. There were others too, especially those were the combination of letters and numbers could appear to be an offensive word.

1932-1953

After nearly 30 years, numbers were starting to run out, so a revised 1932 system was introduced, pioneered by Staffordshire.
This added an additional character to the area code to act as a counter in place of one sequential digit.
So each code now had an additional 23 multiples of 999 numbers, creating 22,977 registrations for each area code, a vast improvement on 9,999. The reason four digits were not retained (giving a larger range of numbers) was down to the restrictions due to standard size of number plates at the time.

Example:

The 1,323 (all of A, 999, plus 324 of B = 1323) car to be registered in Inverness on the code ST, post 1932.
With 1,000,000 cars on the road in 1930 and then a staggering 1,500,000 just five years later, the new system couldn't come fast enough to deal with the amazing growth in traffic. By the start of World War II in 1939, the 2,000,000 mark had been broken.

1953-1963

After a mere 21 further years, areas were already running out of numbers and so the order was reversed when required to increase the capacity. Middlesex issued the first three letter mark with 1 AHX in September 1953, although Staffordshire had already resorted to using a reversed single letter sequence starting with 1000 E in April 1953. The only single letter codes to have used this reverse sequence were D,E,F,H,K,N,R,U and W. This makes them quite rare.

Example:

A car registered in Middlesex for the code MD after switching order. The exact number cannot be known because not all series started from one and some numbers were skipped.
For example, 500 UR, 1001 FK, 2001 BH, and 501 AW were the first marks issued in their respective series. PX is an example of skipped numbers, that went from 1 PX to 99 PX then skipped to 1000 PX, then it continued to 9999 PX.
By 1959, 5,000,000 cars were on the road, just two years later 10,000,000 cars suddenly crowded Britain's streets.

1963-1983

After just 10 more years (note exponential growth in car registrations), the system was running out again!
This called for a more radical approach that could cope with a much larger number of registrations. So it was conceived to add another identifier to the existing system to indicate the year of registration.
Therefore, the total number of registrations available under the 1932 system would be repeatable each and every year, allowing for a massive increase in registrations without the system running out.
Around this time, some areas were resorting back to the original system but reversed the number and letter sequence.
The new 1963 system wasn't universally adopted across the country. Middlesex were running out of their old numbers in 1962 and so introduced the new system early with AHX 1A in February 1963. Many areas waited until they exhausted the old system before changing over to the active suffix of the time, all were converted by the time the C suffix was in use in 1965.

Example:

A car registered between January to July 1967 in Southampton. The exact number cannot be known as some number ranges were reserved by fleets who wanted to tie the fleet number to the registration mark for ease of identification.
The original suffix plates shifted to a Summer change over to ease the burden on car dealerships that were overrun by customers at the end of the year. The reason August was chosen as the change over month is because this was the time of year when new models were introduced, using the annual works holiday as an opportunity to upgrade the production lines!
Therefore, not only could you show you had a new car, you were also demonstrating you had the latest model.

Under the suffix system, the following letters were used:

Suffix Month From Month To

A Jan 1963 Dec 1963

B Jan 1964 Dec 1964

C Jan 1965 Dec 1965

D Jan 1966 Dec 1966

E Jan 1967 Jul 1967

F Aug 1967 Jul 1968

G Aug 1968 Jul 1969

H Aug 1969 Jul 1970

J Aug 1970 Jul 1971

K Aug 1971 Jul 1972

L Aug 1972 Jul 1973

M Aug 1973 Jul 1974

N Aug 1974 Jul 1975

P Aug 1975 Jul 1976

R Aug 1976 Jul 1977

S Aug 1977 Jul 1978

T Aug 1978 Jul 1979

V Aug 1979 Jul 1980

W Aug 1980 Jul 1981

X Aug 1981 Jul 1982

Y Aug 1982 Jul 1983

By 1970, 15,000,000 cars were on the roads, showing a marked slow-down in the increase of traffic compared to the 1950s.

1983-2001

In 1983 the system was reversed to use a age plate prefix identifier, starting at A again.
Example:

A car registered between August 1983 and July 1984 in Preston.
Up to 1997, the counter letter was issued sequentially, this allowed people to wait until the right moment to bag a free personalised number plate with their initials. With a profitable business of selling registration marks, the DVLA put a stop to this and R-prefix on have randomly allocated counter sequences.
The introduction of the twice yearly number change (S prefix onwards) is designed to reduce the large number of cars all registered around the same time of year by people trying to get the latest age identifier.

Under the prefix system, the following letters were used:

Prefix Month From Month To

A Aug 1983 Jul 1984

B Aug 1984 Jul 1985

C Aug 1985 Jul 1986

D Aug 1986 Jul 1987

E Aug 1987 Jul 1988

F Aug 1988 Jul 1989

G Aug 1989 Jul 1990

H Aug 1990 Jul 1991

J Aug 1991 Jul 1992

K Aug 1992 Jul 1993

L Aug 1993 Jul 1994

M Aug 1994 Jul 1995

N Aug 1995 Jul 1996

P Aug 1996 Jul 1997

R Aug 1997 Jul 1998

S Aug 1998 Feb 1999

T Mar 1999 Aug 1999

V Sep 1999 Feb 2000

W Mar 2000 Aug 2000

X Sep 2000 Feb 2001

Y Mar 2001 Aug 2001

At the time of the move to the prefix system, there were 20,000,000 cars on the road. Still increasing, but quite slowly now.

2001-

Post Sep-2001 Planned Age IDs

Year March September

2001 — 51

2002 02 52

2003 03 53

2004 04 54

2005 05 55

2006 06 56

2007 07 57

2008 08 58

2009 09 59

2010 10 60

2011 11 61

2012 12 62

2013 13 63

2014 14 64

2015 15 65

2016 16 66

2017 17 67

2018 18 68

2019 19 69

2020 20 70

2021 21 71

2022 22 72

2023 23 73

2024 24 74

2025 25 75

2026 26 76

2027 27 77

2028 28 78

2029 29 79

2030 30 80

2031 31 81

2032 32 82

2033 33 83

2034 34 84

2035 35 85

2036 36 86

2037 37 87

2038 38 88

2039 39 89

2040 40 90

2041 41 91

2042 42 92

2043 43 93

2044 44 94

2045 45 95

2046 46 96

2047 47 97

2048 48 98

2049 49 99

Note the 01 plate has been reserved for future personalised plates.
Notice that, where possible, the first letter provides some local significance, e.g. S for Scotland, B for Birmingham.

The current plan when this system expires is to switch the order of digits so that the number plate of 2050 could look like this:
XXX NN AR
Whether the DVLA would use 50, 01 or 51 for March 2050 is unknown.

Who knows if cars as we know them will still be around by the time that system expires?

History of Vehicle Registration Offices

Council issuance – 1903 to 1974

Prior to the local authority shake up in 1974, regional councils had authority for issuing vehicle registrations.
Where possible, the table below indicates which VRO took over responsibility, where applicable. Some regionals were re-organised, renamed or simply disappeared, so are not easy to map to the replacement VRO.
In those cases, parentheses are used to indicate the VRO migration route.

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
Dorsetshire	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
Essex	OO WC	1960s-1974	Chelmsford	Chelmsford
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
Gloucestershire	DF	1926-1974	Gloucester	Gloucester
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	—	—
Northampton	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
Southport	WM	1905-1974	Liverpool	Liverpool
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 WW WX WY	1903-1974	Middlesbrough, Leeds	Middlesbrough, Leeds
Yorkshire (West Riding)	C WR WT WU 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
Edinburgh	WS	1920-1974	Edinburgh	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
Glasgow	US YS	1912-1974	Glasgow	Glasgow
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)

During the period 1996-97, the VROs were re-organised again, along the lines of major regional areas of Britain.

Scotland & North
North Wales & West
Eastern
South Wales & South
South East

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

Further to the data above, is this list in alphabetical order of which codes where used by which areas, during different time periods.
Ireland used their own system from 1987 onwards.

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 — — — — —

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) —

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 North Riding Yorkshire North Riding Leeds Leeds Leeds

WX Yorkshire North Riding Yorkshire North Riding Leeds Leeds Leeds

WY Yorkshire North Riding Yorkshire North 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<

Suffix	Month From	Month To
A	Jan 1963	Dec 1963
B	Jan 1964	Dec 1964
C	Jan 1965	Dec 1965
D	Jan 1966	Dec 1966
E	Jan 1967	Jul 1967
F	Aug 1967	Jul 1968
G	Aug 1968	Jul 1969
H	Aug 1969	Jul 1970
J	Aug 1970	Jul 1971
K	Aug 1971	Jul 1972
L	Aug 1972	Jul 1973
M	Aug 1973	Jul 1974
N	Aug 1974	Jul 1975
P	Aug 1975	Jul 1976
R	Aug 1976	Jul 1977
S	Aug 1977	Jul 1978
T	Aug 1978	Jul 1979
V	Aug 1979	Jul 1980
W	Aug 1980	Jul 1981
X	Aug 1981	Jul 1982
Y	Aug 1982	Jul 1983

Prefix	Month From	Month To
A	Aug 1983	Jul 1984
B	Aug 1984	Jul 1985
C	Aug 1985	Jul 1986
D	Aug 1986	Jul 1987
E	Aug 1987	Jul 1988
F	Aug 1988	Jul 1989
G	Aug 1989	Jul 1990
H	Aug 1990	Jul 1991
J	Aug 1991	Jul 1992
K	Aug 1992	Jul 1993
L	Aug 1993	Jul 1994
M	Aug 1994	Jul 1995
N	Aug 1995	Jul 1996
P	Aug 1996	Jul 1997
R	Aug 1997	Jul 1998
S	Aug 1998	Feb 1999
T	Mar 1999	Aug 1999
V	Sep 1999	Feb 2000
W	Mar 2000	Aug 2000
X	Sep 2000	Feb 2001
Y	Mar 2001	Aug 2001

Year	March	September
2001	—	51
2002	02	52
2003	03	53
2004	04	54
2005	05	55
2006	06	56
2007	07	57
2008	08	58
2009	09	59
2010	10	60
2011	11	61
2012	12	62
2013	13	63
2014	14	64
2015	15	65
2016	16	66
2017	17	67
2018	18	68
2019	19	69
2020	20	70
2021	21	71
2022	22	72
2023	23	73
2024	24	74
2025	25	75
2026	26	76
2027	27	77
2028	28	78
2029	29	79
2030	30	80
2031	31	81
2032	32	82
2033	33	83
2034	34	84
2035	35	85
2036	36	86
2037	37	87
2038	38	88
2039	39	89
2040	40	90
2041	41	91
2042	42	92
2043	43	93
2044	44	94
2045	45	95
2046	46	96
2047	47	97
2048	48	98
2049	49	99