The New 71 Plate: Everything You Need to Know

Everything you need to know about the new 71 car registration plate for September 2021

For car lovers in the UK, March and September are exciting times because that’s when you start seeing brand new cars on the road.

What is the new 71 registration plate and how does it work? We here you ask. We’ve put together this quick and handy guide to explain everything you need to know about the new 71 plate you’ll see on the UK’s roads.

What is the new 71 plate?

The new 71 number plate is the newest plate allocated to brand new cars registered after September 1st. This is part of number plate changes that happen twice a year, 1st March and 1st September, with new cars in the UK.

The new plate number will see the 3rd and 4th characters changing from 21 to 71.

That’s not the only thing that’s new with the new number plates. Named ‘BS145e’ the new 71 plates will be made from more robust materials that are resistant to bending and breaking under strain. As well as being more robust, all reg plates for newly registered cars are designed to show up clearer on ANPR surveillance cameras on UK roads, as a result, two-tone reg plates are no longer allowed from September 2021. 

Similar to when the registration plates changed in March 2021 to reflect the UK leaving the European Union, going forward all new number plates will have to show the name of the supplier for the vehicle and postcode in the bottom centre of the plate. The plate’s manufacturer and BS145e must also appear in the bottom right corner.

How can I get the new 71 registration plate?

New vehicles registered between 1st september 2021 and 28th February 2022 are eligible for the new registration plate. 

One of the most affordable ways to get your hands on a car with the new 71 registration plate is through leasing. Leasing offers you the chance to drive the latest vehicles on the market, whether you’re looking for a personal car lease or business contract hire.

You can compare the lease deals for hundreds of brand new cars right now. Simply find a new car that has been registered with a dealership after September 1st to be eligible for the new 71 plate. We are the UK's leading Car Leasing Comparison Site.

How does the registration plate work?

To many motorists, vehicle registration plates can seem like a random assortment of letters and numbers when actually each part of a registration plate has its own meaning. Registration plates are used to register your car with the DVLA, who will also hold information on the car like it’s make, fuel type, and colour.

The 1st two letters are the DVLA local memory tag and identify where the car was registered. For example, a licence plate number that starts with L will be registered in London, S will be in Scotland etc.

The 3rd and 4th digits denote the age of the car. This is updated for newly registered cars twice a year in March and September. The number for reg plates from March to August is the last two digits of the year, and for the vehicles registered from September to February it would be the last two digits of the year add 50, so 21 + 50 = 71.

The last 3 letters are randomly generated and allocated to car dealerships after the cars have been registered.

Brand new cars available from September 2021

BMW i4

The all-new BMW i4 is one of two new vehicles joining BMW’s range of all electric cars. Based on the new Gran Coupe which is due later in 2021, the i4 joins a growing market  of electric coupes. The 80 kWh powers a powerful 523bhp electric motor which allows the i4 to achieve 0-62 mph in less than 4 seconds and gives it a top speed of 124mph.

BMW iX

The BMW iX has attracted a lot of attention in the run up to its release, and rightly so. The iX is an all-electric five-door SUV with four-wheel-drive. Two electric motors deliver up to 500bhp, allowing it to achieve a rumoured 0-62mph in less than 5 seconds and the on-board battery gives the iX a range of over 370 miles.

Vauxhall Grandland

Brand new SUV from Vauxhall that follows the designs of the Mokka and Crossland, the new 2021 Grandland returns to manufacturer's product line with a facelift and packed with the latest driving technologies