Many of our clients ask: Are number plates from the Republic of Ireland and those from Northern Ireland the same? No, they are not. In fact, they each have a unique type and style, making them easy to tell apart.
In the UK, the law allows car enthusiasts to display Northern Ireland number plates but not those from the Republic of Ireland. The former being made up of letters instead of numbers, like other plates in the UK. On the other hand, the latter always starts with numerals.
For this reason, we use the term Irish number plates for Northern Irish plates. This article will discuss everything you need to know about them. Read on to discover if this registration implementation is a great fit for your car.
Why Does the UK Law Allow Irish Number Plates?
Many people find it surprising that UK law lets car owners use Irish number plates on their vehicles. To reiterate, you can use Northern Irish number plates in the UK but not those from Southern Ireland.
Since the separation of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland became part of UK territory. On the other hand, Southern Ireland remains a separate independent country. For this reason, it’s legal to use plates from Northern Ireland across England, Wales, and Scotland.
However, note that only DVLA Swansea can oversee the process of transferring and assigning Northern Ireland plates.
How Do Northern Irish Number Plates Look?
At first glance, Northern Irish number plates have striking similarities to others in the mainland UK. They use black alphanumeric characters on a white background in front and the same character style on a reflective yellow plate at the back. The UK first adopted this style in 1973, and the government hasn’t made any significant change to it since then.
However, Irish plates use characters and letters differently than their UK counterparts. While UK plates contain two letters, two numbers, and three more letters, Irish ones display one to three letters followed by one to four numerals.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) considers numbers from one through 999 as cherished registrations which require additional fees. The same rule applies to plates with four identical digits, such as 1111 or 2222. For any other number between 1000 and 9998, the agency follows a first come, first served system.
Reading Irish Plates
Reading Irish plates is quite simple, but they use a different system than those in the UK. With Irish number plates, you can’t tell a car’s age from the registration.
While the first character is an arbitrary letter, the two succeeding ones indicate the origin of the car’s registration. These two numerals always use an I or a Z to represent Ireland and the issuing council.
The alphanumeric system in Irish plates is part of its appeal. After all, the three-letter structure followed by several digits offer unmatched creativity for car owners. Popular combinations include LIL and BIG followed by numbers, like LIL 1234 or BIG 3.
Irish Number Plate Features
Northern Irish number plates use the same national system as UK registrations, which follow the Motor Car Act of 1903. Originally, the two-letter codes in Irish plates represented counties and cities, but they now confirm council origins.
While Irish plates observe an alphanumeric system, they don’t contain age indicators. Essentially, they are dateless plates. For this reason, you can assign them to cars of any age without worrying about unintentionally breaking the law.
Remember, in the UK, the government forbids anyone from attempting to disguise a vehicle’s age with number plates from previous years. Such acts may lead to hefty fines and potential criminal charges.
Benefits of Using Irish Number Plates
Do you ever wonder what makes Irish number plates so attractive? We’ve listed some advantages of using them below.
Timelessness
As mentioned, Irish number plates are dateless. You can transfer them onto roadworthy cars within the UK, and you can keep passing them on to other users. This feature also increases their value over time, making them ideal investments.
Affordability
Private plates are notoriously pricey compared to regular ones. While personalised Irish plates can still be quite expensive, they are often more affordable than their UK counterparts. For this reason, people won’t hesitate getting a plate for themselves or gifting one during special occasions.
Originality
Many car enthusiasts invest in number plates to make their vehicles stand out. The alphanumeric dateless details offer various catchy combinations, making them enticing to this group. Recently, the plates BIG 1 and IG 1 sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Additional Characters
Irish number plates use the letter I — a character that standard registration numbers don’t use. You can also add the letter Z on your personalised plate, which the DVLA recently introduced to current registrations. With I and Z, you can brand your car with names like KAZ or DIG.
Ease of Transfer
Typically, transferring plates from Northern Ireland to the UK is a quick and simple process. Reliable providers will assist you in fulfilling DVLA requirements. In most cases, you only need to forward your V5C and MOT certificate to get your new road Tax Disc.
Get an Irish Number Plate Now
If you’re thinking of a personalised registration mark, consider getting an Irish number plate. They’re dateless, so you can use them on any roadworthy vehicle. Plus, they’re highly affordable and original, giving your car an edge without breaking the bank.
Also, getting an Irish number plate for your car is as easy as 1-2-3. Contact our representatives for a fun and timeless Irish number plate.