The September plate change: is it really the best time to buy a car?

Are you looking to buy a used car? Find out if September's plate change makes it the best month to buy.



Twice a year, new vehicle registration plates come out in the UK.

On 1 March, new cars are given a plate with the two numbers from the current year. In March 2026, for instance, all newly registered cars had a 26. These registration identifiers continued until the end of August.

Then on 1 September, the plates changed again. A 50 was added to the two-digit year. This means any car registered from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 has a 76.

Then on 1 September, the plates change again. A 50 is added to the two-digit year. This means any car registered from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 will have a 76.

Some people say September is the best time to buy a used car precisely because the plates are changing.

At first glance, this might not seem obvious. Why would a change of reg plate lead to a better price?

Well, a few factors are at play. First, cars registered right at the start of a new plate season hold their residual value for longer. If you think you might want to resell the used car, this can be worth considering.

But perhaps more importantly, these September deals are down to dealers clearing out old stock in time for freshly registered stock. That means dealers might be more likely to make competitive offers.

It's a good time to buy, for sure – but is it the best? Before we answer that, let's take a closer look at how and why plate changes affect used car prices.

Why do plate changes affect sales prices?

In the used car market, prices depend on a range of factors. One is age.

When the plates change in March or September, cars age by a year. This means that, in many cases, the value of the car drops – though by how much changes from dealer to dealer.

September can be a good time to bag a deal, but you shouldn't expect a jaw-dropping price cut. That's more common in the luxury car market. In the used car market, there are bargains to be found, but they may not fall into your lap.

Think of it this way. In reality, a car registered the day before the plate change is just as fresh as one registered on the day of the change. But to a buyer, the day-older car now appears six months old rather than a day.

On top of this, there's a rush to buy new cars when the plates change. This manifests as a sudden flood of part-exchanges and trade-ins. More used cars means lower prices.

You can find bigger discounts just before the plate changes, as dealers seek to clear out their forecourts in anticipation of the March or September rush.

So if you're looking to buy a used car, you may want to wait until the end of the plate change season (February or August).



Why do used car dealership stock levels peak in September?

Used car stock levels peak in September because new reg plates appear on forecourts.

Drivers want a box-fresh car with an up-to-date plate, meaning more part-exchanges and trade-ins. That means dealerships have more used inventory than usual.

This overlaps with the quarterly business year. Dealerships and manufacturers have end-of-quarter sales goals to meet, and September is the end of the third quarter. 

This can mean bargains for the buyer. Dealers always want to close a deal, of course. But at the end of a quarter, they can push harder and, in some cases, offer perks to sweeten the deal.

Last but not least, dealerships tend to be on the quieter side in the summer months when buyers are on their holidays. This is a time when dealers prepare their inventories for September.

How to use timing to your advantage

The September plate change has a definite effect on the used car market. But if you want to buy a used car, 1 September isn't necessarily the best day to buy. The most mouth-watering bargains often appear a little later on – late September through October.

It's also worth noting that September isn't significantly better than March, with Autotrader mentioning them in the same breath.

What's more, it can be best to buy just before the new plates hit the market: February in time for March or August in time for September.

At these times, dealerships are taking a broom to the forecourt, creating space for a big influx of used cars.

This doesn't guarantee you a bargain. But it's definitely a good time to look. If you find a well-stocked dealership and a salesperson keen to hit targets and earn bonuses, you could be in luck.

How are car number plates formulated?

UK car reg numbers are created by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). They use a standard seven-character format. This tells you where and when a vehicle was registered.

The first two letters show the region where the vehicle was registered: A for Anglia, say, or M for Manchester. The second letter tells you the local office.

The middle two numbers show the six-month period when the car was registered: 1 March to 31 August or 1 September to 28/29 February.

The last three letters are a random combination. The DLVA assigns these random letters to dealerships in blocks.

Does a car registration expire?

No. A car's registration lasts for the life of the car. However, the certificate for a personalised number plate expires every 10 years.

When was car registration introduced in the UK?

Car registration in the UK was introduced in 1904 after the Motor Car Act 1903 was passed. This made vehicle registration and number plates compulsory.

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