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Definitions and interpretations of the term Car Registrations
The term "Car Registrations" normally refers to process of recording a vehicle's existance and giving it an identity easily established whilst it is used on the public roads.
A more accurate description could be vehicle registration numbers or vehicle registration marks. It has been a legal requirement since 1903 for every motorised vehicle used on the public roads to carry a registration number on its number plates
The registration is made up of a collection of numbers and letters which is unique to that vehicle and can be used to identify to the vehicle quickly and from a distance
The component parts of the registration number have for many years been used to identify the age of the car and also the area of the country where it was first registered.
The area identifier was accidentally built into registrations when they were fist introduced in 1903. Each borough was assigned two letters which all cars registered in that area would have on their number plates.
For example Cornish registrations would all have AF,CV or GL ans some numbers. Later when three letters were used, the last two would signify the area, these letters were carried over to the suffix system and also the prefix system. In the current system it is the first two letters which give the area and a whole new allocation of letters was given.
The aqe identifier was introduced back in 1963 when the first M.O.T. tests were introduced. It enable police to identify which car should have an M.O.T. certificate.
Car number plates are essential during normal daily use but it is more accurate to use the VIN number of the vehicle to prove its identity as this cannot be changed legally.
Number plates are becoming more and more important as ANPR cameras are used all over the country , reading car registrations as they pass by and using the information for all kinds of uses including law enforcement.
If you have any questions regarding any of the above , please contact us by email or telephone.
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