UK plates encode the registration period in two digits; French plates run in a national sequence; Dutch plates have cycled through a dozen formats since the 1950s. Each pattern here follows its own region's rules.
What you can control
- Eight regional formats, including two US state variants that differ from the generic pattern.
- Ambiguous characters (I, O, Q) are skipped by default, as most authorities require.
- The issuing region is reported alongside, for testing a jurisdiction filter.
- Optional expiry dates for registration-renewal workflows.
What this is not
These match plate formats without corresponding to a registered vehicle. Do not use them on anything that looks like a real plate.
Questions
Why skip I, O and Q?
Readability. On a plate at speed, I looks like 1 and O looks like 0. Most licensing authorities exclude them, and an ANPR system trained on real plates will rarely see them.
What do the two digits in a UK plate mean?
The registration period. 24 means March to August 2024, 74 means September 2024 to February 2025 — the second half of the year adds fifty.
Are these valid registrations?
No. They match the format and correspond to no registered vehicle. A DVLA or DMV lookup will find nothing.