What year is a 73 plate?
A 73 plate car was first registered between 1 September 2023 and 29 February 2024. 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 73 is the September 2023 plate and 23 was the March 2023 plate before it. That makes a 73 plate car between 2 and 3 years old today.
- First registered
- 1 September 2023 to 29 February 2024
- Matching plate
- 23 plate, same year
- First MOT due
- 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027
When is a 73 plate car's MOT due?
A car's first MOT is due by the third anniversary of its registration, so 73 plate cars are coming up for their first test now, between September 2026 and February 2027. A free MOT check shows whether a particular car has had it yet.
Is a 73 plate car ULEZ compliant?
A petrol 73 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 73 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 73 plate car taxed?
A 73 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 73 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 73 plate newer than a 23 plate?
Yes. Both are from 2023, but the 23 plate was issued from March to August and the 73 plate from September, so a 73 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 73 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.