Why March and September spark a private number plate rush
By Steven Jackson OBE, Founder, New Reg Limited
Twice a year a new age identifier is released and millions of number plate combinations change hands, from personalised buys to the marks taken out of circulation.
Twice a year, in March and September, the DVLA releases a new age identifier, and the private number plate market moves into its busiest weeks. The March plate carries the year number, so 26 for 2026, while the September plate adds 50, giving 76. For anyone after a personalised plate, this is the moment the freshest combinations become available.
Why the rush happens. The full range of a new series is normally made available to buy within about six weeks of each registration date. When that window opens, buyers move quickly for the combinations that spell a name or carry the right initials, because the best ones do not last. At the same time, millions of combinations are taken out of general availability to be issued as standard plates on new cars.
What buyers chase first. Demand concentrates on marks that read as initials or names. Our figures from official DVLA new-reg data and newreg.co.uk show the two-letter initials AA, AE and MR leading the way, and short three-letter combinations such as SAM and BEE selling fastest. The number itself matters too, with low numbers and the digit 1 the most prized of all.
How to play it. If you want a plate from the new series, it pays to know your target before the window opens: your initials, a name, or a word you can form. Searching early, when the pool is deepest, gives the best chance of landing the exact combination rather than a compromise.
These figures come from official DVLA new-reg data and newreg.co.uk and cover the current market. You can search the latest releases at newreg.co.uk. This is general information, not advice.
Verified against an official source
Based on official DVLA registration formats and New Reg market data.
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