26 Number Plate Explained: Dates, Meaning and the 76 Plate
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The 26 plate was issued for new registrations from 1 March to 31 August 2026, and the 76 plate replaced it on 1 September 2026. The plate doesn't change what an electric car costs through salary sacrifice, because the monthly payment depends on the car's price, your tax band and the Benefit in Kind rate (4% in 2026/27).
This guide covers when each plate was released, how the numbering system works, whether to wait for the next plate, and what green plates, private plates and banned combinations mean for an electric car on a salary sacrifice scheme.
When Were 26 Plates Released?
The 26 number plate was released on 1st March 2026. This marked the first registration period of 2026, with the second period (76 plates) following on 1st September 2026. The 76 plate covers cars first registered until 28 February 2027, and the 27 plate follows from 1 March 2027, according to carVertical.
A car's plate is set by the date it's first registered, so the plate follows the registration date rather than the order date. The DVLA fixes both release dates each year, and they don't move for weekends or bank holidays.
Should You Wait for the Next Plate or Order Now?
Whether to wait depends on how you're buying, because a newer plate can affect resale value, price and dealer discounts.
| Waiting for the next plate and ordering now compared | Wait for the 27 plate | Order now on a 76 plate |
|---|---|---|
| Resale value | A car on the new plate may hold its resale or trade-in value better, though the gap shrinks over time | The effect matters less if you keep the car for several years or never resell it |
| Upfront price | Cars on the newest plate typically cost more than the same car on an outgoing plate | Dealers are likely to discount outgoing-plate cars in the months before a change, typically February and August |
| Appearance and running costs | The newest plate signals a brand-new car to other road users | Specification and running costs are identical whichever plate the car carries |
These points come from What Car and Mercedes-Benz South West, and they apply mainly to cars you buy and sell yourself. The calculation changes with salary sacrifice, because resale value stops being an issue. A used EV carries an earlier plate too, and the used electric car salary sacrifice range comes with verified battery health, the same all-inclusive package and delivery in as little as 14 days.
How Does the UK Number Plate System Work?
UK number plates follow a specific format that's been in place since September 2001. Understanding this system helps you identify when any vehicle was first registered.
The Standard Format
Modern UK plates consist of seven characters in this order:
Local memory tag (2 letters): Indicates where the vehicle was registered
Age identifier (2 numbers): Shows the registration period
Random letters (3 letters): Unique identifier for the vehicle
For example: LO26 ABC
LO = London area
26 = Registered March-August 2026
ABC = Random identifier
Age Identifier System
The number plate system operates on a six-month cycle:
March to August: Year + 0 (e.g., 26 for March 2026)
September to February: Year + 50 (e.g., 76 for September 2026)
This means:
26 plates = March-August 2026
76 plates = September 2026-February 2027
27 plates = March-August 2027
| UK number plate release schedule compared | Registration window | Age identifier logic |
|---|---|---|
| 75 plate | 1 Sept 2025 to 28 Feb 2026 | 2025 + 50 = 75 |
| 26 plate | 1 Mar 2026 to 31 Aug 2026 | Last two digits of 2026 |
| 76 plate | 1 Sept 2026 to 28 Feb 2027 | 2026 + 50 = 76 |
| 27 plate | 1 Mar 2027 to 31 Aug 2027 | Last two digits of 2027 |
What Are Green Number Plates?
Green number plates, officially introduced in December 2020, have been available for battery electric cars since 8 December 2020, according to carVertical. They show a green flash and are voluntary. Hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, are not eligible for green plates.
Any parking or clean air zone benefits depend on the local authority rather than the plate itself. Green plates identify a zero-emission car at a glance, but they don't change what an electric car costs on salary sacrifice.
Are Green Plates Compulsory?
No. Green number plates remain entirely optional. You can choose a standard white front plate and yellow rear plate for your electric car if you prefer. The choice is purely aesthetic and preference-based, though the practical benefits may make them attractive for urban drivers.
What Are Private Number Plates?
Private or personalised number plates allow you to display custom combinations rather than standard registrations. These plates must still follow DVLA formatting rules but can create words, names, or meaningful combinations.
Private plates can be retained when you change vehicles, making them a long-term investment. If you're leasing through a salary sacrifice electric car scheme, check your provider's policy on personalised plates as some schemes allow them whilst others restrict customisation.
Number Plate Rules and Regulations
The DVLA enforces strict rules governing number plates to ensure clarity, legibility, and compliance.
Display Requirements
Colours: Front plates must be white with black characters; rear plates yellow with black characters (except green plates, which have a green flash)
Reflective material: All plates must be made from reflective material
What You Cannot Do
Alter spacing to create different words or meanings
Make plates less legible through tinting or covers
Display incorrect information about registration date or area
Obscure any part of the registration
Penalties for illegal plates include fines up to £1,000 and an MOT failure.
Which Number Plates Does The DVLA Ban?
The DVLA proactively bans number plate combinations that could cause offence, reference illegal activities, or create inappropriate meanings. Before each plate change, the DVLA reviews potential registrations and withholds any that may cause offence, embarrassment or are in poor taste, and it withheld more than 500 combinations from the 76 series, according to Car Dealer Magazine. Withheld registrations aren't issued on new cars.
Does the Number Plate Affect Your Salary Sacrifice Cost?
No, the plate has little effect on what you pay. Salary sacrifice means you never own the car outright, so a slightly older plate doesn't change your monthly cost because the car goes back at the end of the term. That cost is set by the car's price, your tax band and the Benefit in Kind rate, which for zero-emission cars is 4% in 2026/27, 5% in 2027/28, 7% in 2028/29 (a 2 percentage point rise) and 9% in 2029/30. The rate applies in the same way whether the car carries a 26 or 76 plate.
Ordering your electric car through salary sacrifice offers substantial financial advantages:
Employees typically save 20 to 50% compared with a personal lease
Benefit in Kind at 4% in 2026/27, against a maximum of 37% for petrol and diesel cars
Tax-efficient: Payments come from pre-tax salary, reducing your taxable income
All-inclusive package: insurance, servicing and maintenance, breakdown cover and road tax (VED) included, with tyres and home charging optional
No large upfront payment: the cost is spread through a single, predictable monthly payment
"Employees ask us every August whether they should hold out for the new plate. On salary sacrifice, it doesn't really matter. The car goes back at the end of the term, so the only number worth focusing on is the monthly cost, rather than the two digits on the number plate."
"Employees ask us every August whether they should hold out for the new plate. On salary sacrifice, it doesn't really matter. The car goes back at the end of the term, so the only number worth focusing on is the monthly cost, rather than the two digits on the number plate."
Gaurav Ahluwalia, CMO at The Electric Car Scheme
What Do The First Two Letters On A Number Plate Mean?
The first two letters of your number plate indicate the region where the vehicle was registered: the first letter shows the region and the second narrows it to a DVLA office. Understanding these codes helps you identify a vehicle's origin.
Main Regional Codes
London: LA-LY
Anglia: AA-AY (Norwich, Ipswich, Peterborough, Chelmsford)
Birmingham: codes starting B
Manchester and Merseyside: MA-MY
Oxford: OA-OY
Scotland: SA-SY (Glasgow, Edinburgh)
Wales: CA-CY (Cardiff)
Bristol: WM-WY
Frequently Asked Questions
What Year Is a 76 Plate?
A 76 plate means the car was first registered between 1 September 2026 and 28 February 2027. The 76 comes from the year 2026 plus 50, which is how every September plate is calculated, according to carVertical.
Is a 75 Plate 2026?
A 75 plate is a 2025 registration, but it covers cars registered from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026, so some 75 plate cars were registered in early 2026. The 26 plate replaced it on 1 March 2026.
When Did the 76 Plate Come Out?
The 76 plate came out on 1 September 2026. It stays current until 28 February 2027, and the 27 plate follows on 1 March 2027.
How Old Is a 67 Plate?
A 67 plate was registered between 1 September 2017 and 28 February 2018, so it's about nine years old in October 2026. It's the 2017 plus 50 formula, the same one used for the 76 plate.
Are Green Number Plates Mandatory for Electric Cars?
No, green plates remain optional for all battery electric cars. You can choose standard white and yellow plates if you prefer. The decision is personal, and any parking or clean air zone benefits depend on the local authority.
Can I put a 26 plate on my current electric car?
No. It is illegal to display a registration plate that makes a vehicle appear newer than it is. You can only display registration plates dated to your vehicle's original registration date or older private plates. Displaying a 26 plate on an older vehicle would result in fines and MOT failure.
Do Number Plates Affect the Cost of Salary Sacrifice?
No. The registration plate is included in your electric car salary sacrifice package at no additional cost. Whether you receive a 26 or 76 plate makes no difference to your monthly salary sacrifice amount, which is based on the vehicle value, not the registration.
Choosing When To Order Your EV
The 26 plate has gone, and the 76 plate is current until 28 February 2027, when the 27 plate arrives. For most drivers on electric car salary sacrifice with The Electric Car Scheme, the plate won't change the monthly cost, so the car's price, your tax band and the Benefit in Kind rate are the figures to compare.
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Last updated: 09.02.26
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