VATNMT3500 - The format of the tax-free registration mark

Note: The content of this manual applied up until 31 December 2020. Any content still applying to Northern Ireland after this date can be found in the VAT New Means of Transport Northern Ireland (VATNINMT) manual.

Vehicles supplied in the UK under the new means of transport regime will be registered on export plates with the DVLA if they are to be used on the UK’s roads prior to removal. A special series of index numbers are used in the format below. Note; references to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) includes the DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency) in Northern Ireland. Example: XA51 ABC

Letters	Series	Element in the series
X	-	Indicates export
A	Month in which mark is issued	A = March or September / B = April or October / C = May or November / D = June or December / E = July or January / F = August or February
51	Age identifier	March 2002 to August 2002 = 02 / Sept 2002 to Feb 2002 = 52 / Sept 2003 to Feb 2004 = 53 / March 2003 to August 2003 = 03 / March 2004 to August 2004 = 04 / Sept 2004 to Feb 2005 = 54 / Through to: March 2049 to August 2049 = 49 / Sept 2049 to Feb 2050 = 99
ABC	Alpha characters	Random

For security reasons, UK forces personnel are issued with standard index numbers.