Number plates are entirely unique to each vehicle they are issued to and it’s the law that they are displayed in a clear and prominent position on the lorry, van, car or motorbike (usually in the same place). All registration numbers have to be listed on a Government database so every vehicle can be located in the event of a theft, an accident or a suspected crime. In the UK, all vehicle registrations are monitored by the DVLA who also issue the private registration plates. Also in the UK, all number plates are unique in the way that the characters are set out, but the plate itself is always a rectangle (on a car) and the font used for the characters has to always adhere to strict legal requirements. Any other font being used such as italics is deemed illegible and therefore considered completely illegal.
The current number plate system used in Britain was introduced 9 years ago and is made up of seven characters. The first two letters are the area code (the first letter indicates the region and the second letter relates to the local registration office), then the next two numbers are used as an age identifier so you can instantly see how old the car is. This is changed every year in March and September. The last part of the plate is a three letter sequence that holds no particular reference although the letters I and Q are excluded as well as any combinations that might deem offensive even in foreign languages. However, the desire for a personalized number plate has seen modifications made to the layout of characters in direct conflict to the legal requirements. Strategically positioned screws and the re-positioning of some of the characters can result in a hefty fine and the only legal and correct way of obtaining a private registration number plate would be to go through the correct channels, like the DVLA.