What means this "Plate xx" Stuff?

[Seriosha]

Hi there!

Well, to the most of you this question must seem really frakking stupid, i know! But i am not from England and i read it in almost EVERY Thread, so after not figuring it out after reading lots and lots of Threads im just stupid aksing what it means!? My "Plate 59" Clio is blabalabala, WTH is this stuff about!?


Thanks for helping out a stupid German again

 

[5parky]

The first and second half of a year. so a 59 would be second half of 09.

 

[Beef-Mc]

It's basically when the car was registered, 02 is the start of March 2002 and 52 is the start of September 2002 and so on and so forth.

 

[Gumby]

It's the year of registration

pdf guide here

 

[Dave..]

Also worth noting, is that in the UK all our cars have their own regestration plates, and they stay on the car, whereas in Switzerland you have one regestration plate that belongs to you, and goes on your insured car.

So the regestration plate on a UK car is the easiest way of telling how old a car is.