Drivers will start seeing new number plates on the road this morning as experts issue warnings to motorists looking to get a good deal on their cars.
From today, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, the new “76” number plate will be seen on newly registered vehicles.
This will replace the “26” plates introduced in March, with “76” now being featured on all new vehicles until February 28, 2027.
The so-called “new reg plate” day often stimulates massive growth in vehicle sales as drivers look to get their hands on the latest cars on the market.
Last year saw a record number of electric vehicle deliveries, while the total market grew by 13.7 per cent compared to the previous month.
It also represented the best September performance since 2020 as the UK registered almost 313,000 new cars.
Experts have highlighted that motorists could get themselves a bargain when looking for a new car, especially if it has an older “26” number plate.
Darryl Bowman, from Cuvva, noted that cars with older plates could be even cheaper than they were when they were the latest cars on the market.
The new ’76’ number plate will be found on new cars from today onwards
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He highlighted that cars depreciate with age, and the introduction of the new “76” plates could make cars with “26” plates seem old in comparison.
Mr Bowman said: “If you’re buying a car, the arrival of September’s new plates could be a chance to snag a bargain.
“But whether you’re buying or selling, the golden rule for preserving your car’s value is to keep on top of maintenance and ensure it passes its MOT checks.
“Number plates indicate the age of the car, but its condition is the most important factor.”
Drivers could be slapped with a £1,000 fine if their number plates are illegal
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The current vehicle registration format was first introduced 25 years ago and has the plate include two letters, two numbers, followed by three letters.
A plate’s first two letters refer to the region where the vehicle was first registered, followed by the two numbers when it was issued and three letters chosen at random.
Memory tags are used to outline where the vehicle was first registered, such as B for Birmingham, L for London, M for Manchester and Merseyside, S for Scotland, and V for Severn Valley.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com, urged drivers to check their own plate to avoid hefty fines.
Drivers can buy personalised number plates from the DVLA, which often hosts online auctions for custom plates
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PAHe explained that a non-compliant number plate could lead to a £1,000 fine, an automatic MOT failure and even invalidate their insurance.
New licence plates must be fitted with a British Standard number BS AU 145e, and must be made from a reflective material.
It should also include black characters on a white background for the front plate and black characters on a yellow background on the rear.
Mr Crole-Rees added: “It’s worth every driver checking their plate is compliant. A few minutes checking now could save you a fine, a failed MOT, and a serious headache with your insurer down the line.”