DVLA educate drivers

DVLA Personalised Registrations is bracing itself for an onslaught of interest in its 10-series of registrations when they become available to view online at dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk  on Monday, November 2.

The agency believes the series, which identify vehicles registered from March 1, 2010, will open up a whole new avenue of private plates and will go on sale on Tuesday, December 1.

Alarmingly, a recent survey showed despite being introduced in 2001, motorists are still unsure of the date recognition system within the current style of new vehicle registrations.

The poll, conducted by DVLA Personalised Registrations, showed only 17 per cent of the 1004 people correctly identified that the current “09” and “59” registrations, correlating to vehicles registered from March 1 and September 1 2009, will be superseded by 10 and 60 respectively.

Introduced in September 2001, the current style of registrations comprises two letters, a two figure age identifier, a space and three letters. Next year, 2010, will be recognised by 10 and 60.

When the current style came into force, motorists were informed that vehicles registered from March 1 each year would be recognised by the lower numerical series and those first on the road in September by the higher numerical figure – 2002 is highlighted by 02 and 52, 2003 by 03 and 53, 2004 by 04 and 54, 2005 by 05 and 55 and so on.  

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Marketing Manager, said: “As sure as night follows day, 10 follows 9 and 60 follows 59 and yet, incredibly, our survey has shown a vast majority of those motorists we quizzed could not answer our question asking what new registrations follow our 09 and 59 series in 2010.”