Car number plates act as a vehicles unique identifier. Similar to DNA, there are no two number plates the same and one specific registration can only be found on one specific vehicle. All the information regarding registration numbers is held on a central database which, administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency commonly known as the DVLA.
Over the years car number plates have followed various formats to meet the increase in the amount of cars our roads.
Car registrations were first made compulsory in 1903 when the Motor Car Act was introduced. Back then the DVLA did not exist so it was the local council’s responsibility to administer registration numbers. Problems arose however when vehicles were sold or the owners move to a different area as it was necessary for the registration details to be transferred to another council. Over time this problem grew with the massive rise in the volume of traffic on our roads. It was clear that the council system of car registrations could not cope.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre (DVLC) was formed in 1965 and took over the responsibility of administering , rapidly becoming collector’s items and the ultimate car accessory.
