What year is a 26 plate?
A 26 plate car was first registered between 1 March 2026 and 31 August 2026. The two numbers in the middle of a UK number plate are the age identifier, which changes every March and September: a March plate carries the last two digits of the year and a September plate adds 50, so 26 is the March 2026 plate and 76 is the one that followed in September 2026. That makes a 26 plate car about 0 years old today.
- First registered
- 1 March 2026 to 31 August 2026
- Matching plate
- 76 plate, same year
- First MOT due
- 1 March 2029 to 31 August 2029
When is a 26 plate car's MOT due?
A car's first MOT is due by the third anniversary of its registration, so a 26 plate car will need its first test between March 2029 and August 2029. Until then it does not need an MOT, though it still needs tax and insurance.
Is a 26 plate car ULEZ compliant?
A petrol 26 plate car is likely to meet the ULEZ standard, which for petrol cars is Euro 4: TfL says compliant petrol cars are generally those first registered as new after 2005.
A diesel 26 plate car is likely to meet the ULEZ standard of Euro 6, since TfL says compliant diesels are generally those first registered as new after September 2015.
Electric cars are not charged. A free ULEZ check reads the car's actual Euro standard from the DVLA record, which is the real answer for any one car.
How is a 26 plate car taxed?
A 26 plate car is taxed under the system for cars registered from 1 April 2017: after the first year it pays the flat standard rate, plus an extra charge for five years if it cost more than £40,000 new. A free car tax check shows whether a particular car is taxed and when it is due.
Check a 26 plate car
The age identifier only tells you when a car was first registered. To see a particular car's MOT history, mileage, tax and likely ULEZ status, enter its registration.
Number plate questions
Is a 26 plate newer than a 76 plate?
No. Both are from 2026, but the 26 plate was issued from March to August and the 76 plate from September, so a 76 plate car is the newer of the two by up to six months.
Can a private number plate make a car look newer than it is?
No. The DVLA does not allow a registration to be put on a car if it would make the car look newer than it is. A private plate can make a car look older, so the plate is a guide to age, not proof. The free check shows the first registration date from the DVLA record.
What do the first two letters of a 26 plate mean?
They are the DVLA memory tag, which shows the region where the car was first registered. The first letter is the area, such as L for London or M for Manchester, and the second identifies the local office. The last three letters are chosen at random.
Nearby plates
Last updated 11 November 2026. Age identifiers: DVLA leaflet INF104. ULEZ standards: Transport for London. MOT and vehicle tax rules: GOV.UK. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.