Within the UK as a whole there are currently two registration and numbering systems for registration plates. The first and most widely known is that used in the UK, comprising Great Britain, Scotland, and Wales. The second system is used in Northern Ireland. Both these registration and numbering schemes conform to the 1998 European Standard Design.
Since 2001, registration plates have been issued with a two-letter area code identifier, followed by a two-digit age identifier, followed by a space, and finally a three letter suffix. Under normal conditions the suffix is a series of random letters, but personalised plates can be ordered in which the three letters spell something, like CAT or ANN. At the far left of the registration plate is the optional blue strip identifying the EU country. For those issued in Great Britain, a circle of yellow stars is on the blue field, with the letters ‘GB’ directly beneath.
The Crown Dependencies, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are outside of the European Union, and so the 1998 European Standard Design law did not apply to them. For example, the registration plates for Guernsey are either silver lettering on a black background, or the more traditional black lettering on a white or yellow background. Their numbering scheme is different, as well, being merely a series of up to six digits. Lower numbers are more highly valued, much as in the UK.
The font of UK plates is also dictated by law. Specifically, the Charles Wright font, slightly modified, is used, and the digits must be a minimum of 79 mm in height for automobiles and 64 mm for motorcycles. Even cherished and personalised plates must adhere to this convention, or risk receiving a fine.
