1st September in the automotive industry is 1 of 2 special dates (Other date being 1st March) throughout the year, it is the date that the latest set of registrations is released and this time we’re on the 74 plate. Here in this article, is everything you need to know about the latest plate and what it means as someone who is looking to purchase, lease or subscribe a new vehicle.
Registration Release Dates
Twice a year, the DVLA release a new number series to be placed onto cars registered between certain dates. For vehicles registered between the 1st September 2024 and the 28th February 2025, vehicles will feature a 74 registeration plate.
Whilst the current system may seem confusing to many, the ‘7’ represents the 2nd half of the year whilst the 4 signifies the year 2024. We’ve covered how the registration system works in a previous article, just click the link to take a read.
See how future number plates will look using our handy table below:
| Year of registration | Plate from March | Plate from September |
| 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 |
The current system has now been in place since September 2001. The number plate is divided into 3 sections, as shown on our image below:
Do I need to have a new car to get a 74 plate?
This is a difficult one, as you can purchase a 74 plate registration number from the DLVA or third-party personalised plate sellers which you can place any car that has been registered after the 1st September 2024.
So if you happen to see the perfect plate for sale, you could purchase this and then in 3 years time when the 77 plates are out, you could then put this 74 plate registration number on to that vehicle.
If you purchase a 74 plate personalised plate from the DVLA, you can keep this upto 10 years on a retention certificate without you needing to assign it to a vehicle. It’s super easy to renew after the period has run out, just make sure you do this before the expiry date.
How do 74 plates impact car sales?
The 1st March and 1st September is a very important time for car dealers, vehicle subscription firms and even those who are looking at purchasing, leasing or subscribing to a new vehicle. Some people buy cars for vanity purposes, having the latest plate cars on the drive can be seen as a sign of status.
Many customers be it personal or businesses hold off registering vehicles in the weeks leading up to the launch and with very good reason, sometimes the amount of money that the vehicle can loose by registering it the day before can be massive and have a huge impact on residual values.
On top of this with so many car swaps during the months of March and September, it brings in a flurry of used cars that dealers can take in and put on to their pitch to sell, increasing their sales and more importantly profit.
What do green strips mean on number plates?
You may have seen quite a few cars with green strips down the left-hand side on some of the latest models, it was an initiative launched by Grant Shapps, the then British Transport Secretary. The green ‘flash’ was to appear on all fully electric vehicles, so people can instantly recognise that the vehicle was greener and with the hope that authorities would launch incentives and policies to encourage adoption of this fuel type.
Ideas included reduced parking fees, access to low or zero emission zones and even Government Grants.
What are the current laws with number plates?
There are various laws on number plates, what they can be made of, how they should be displayed and the typeface. Ignoring these laws can result in fines and if you have a personalised plate, you could have this taken off you.
The Government website currently states that number plates should be:
- Be made of reflective material
- Front Plate: Display Black Text on a White Background
- Rear Plate: Display Black Text on a Yellow Background
- No Background Patterns
- Marked to show who supplied the number plate
- Marked with the British Standard Number; BS AU 145e
Letters/Numbers must not be removable or reflextive and if your plates were made posr 1st September 2021, they must be a single shade of black.
Your numbers can also:
- Have 3D Letters/Numbers
- Display Certain Flags, Symbols and Identifiers
- Display a Green Flash (See Above)
Subscribe to a 74 Plate
We’re super excited to let you know that we have some amazing vehicles arriving from 1st September 2024 all with 74 plates, these include the amazing Plug-in Hybrid Audi A3 to the Land Rover Defender SUV’s. Just keep an eye on our website for further details.
Our team are on-hand to help you with your car subscription or short-term car lease requirements, whether your a personal customer who needs a car for their family, or a business customer who needs multiple vehicles for their employees.
Speak to the Cocoon Vehicles on 01332 290173 or use the ENQUIRY FORM at the bottom of this article.
Don’t forget we can also help with specialist areas such as those who require an Expat Car Lease, New Start-up Businesses or even longer term car leases using our Find a Car Lease service.
