Irish style number plates

Northern Irish number plates and registrations are a great way to hide the age of your vehicle in the most affordable way. They do not have a year 'identifier' which means that you can use them on any vehicle of any age. Since Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, you can legally use its number plates across the UK too.

Irish number plates are cheaper than Dateless registrations. Plus, their unique style lets you create custom plates with your name, initials, or any word you like. For instance, you could have registrations like INGRID, IVAN, IMOGENE, ISAAC, ZAC, ZANE, BIG, DAZ, and more.

Use the custom-built Irish search tool below to find your ideal Irish registrations easily.

What are Northern Irish number plates?

Northern Irish number plates consist of letters and digits ranging from 1 to 9999, similar to those in Great Britain. These plates do not indicate the year of a vehicle, making them 'ageless'. All private number plates that are from Northern Ireland, include either the letter I or Z. These are the codes for the region.

The Northern Irish format includes letters paired with 1, 2, 3, or 4 numbers. The letters always have an I or Z within it. The Letter combinations are in fact area identifiers.

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For instance, use "IL" as the code to identify Enniskillen. Then, it continues with the sequence of codes such as AIL, BIL, CIL, DIL, EIL, and so forth. This started in 1903 and continued until 1957 when they ran out of possible combinations. In January 1958, they reversed the sequences starting with Antrim, using the code 1 IA.

The format "AXX 1234" then started in January 1966. For example "XX" is the county code and "A" is a serial letter, making it simpler to assign new codes.

Northern Ireland's vehicle registration system is similar to Britain's. Counties in the UK had two letters, and 'I' and 'Z' for Irish counties. NI uses 'AZ'-'YZ', and the ROI uses 'ZA'-'ZZ'. Northern Ireland has 794,477 registrations today, up from 50 in 1903.

You can use any Northern Ireland car registrations in the UK. They are suitable for use on cars in England, Scotland, and Wales. Unlike those plates issued from the Republic of Ireland.

Plus, they also fall under the "dateless" category. This implies that the're suitable for use on vehicles of any age in the UK. Moreover, you can use them as "cover plates" to hide the age of your vehicle.

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The Irish-style format

The diagram illustrates an Irish style format. See the area of issue, followed by 3 numbers.

Diagram of Irish Style registration layout.

Irish number plates ideas & inspiration

Below are some examples of how you can use these registration numbers to create the perfect private number plates.

DAZ 1234

Daz, Darren or Daryl

BAZ 699

Baz or Barry

ING 1216

Ingrid

JIL 199

Jill

LEZ 133

Les or Leslie

CAZ 123

Caroline or Carrie

TAZ 123

Tasmine or Tasmina

BIG 8767

Big (for Boss or Gym Goer)

OIL 121

Oil

RCZ 124

RCZ (Peugeot RCZ)

How to transfer Northern Irish registrations

For many years, we've been buying, selling, and transferring cost effective Irish registrations across the UK. We also handle the sale of those owned by third party customers too. Plus we've gained a wealth of experience having been working closely with the DVLA for the past 20 years.

We can handle the transfer of your Irish vehicle registration and have it on your car in just a week. However, if you want to do it yourself, the process is simple. It's even easier because you don't need to worry about the age of your vehicle either.

In addition, we have helpful guides available to assist you. If you need more help, give us a call on 0203 930 9671 and we'll guide you through the process. It's that simple.

Why choose Click4Reg?

Click4reg, is your go-to source for private number plates. We're experts in finding the perfect Irish-style number plate for you. We have over 20 years of experience, we're a trusted supplier of DVLA vehicle registrations in the UK. Our selection is one of the largest in the United Kingdom, and you can easily buy Irish number plates online anytime.

Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service and will guide you through every step of the buying process.

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Frequently asked questions about Irish number plates

  • Are Irish number plates legal in the UK?

    Yes, Irish number plates are legal. You can use them on vehicles registered in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. But registrations from the ROI, including those with personalised plates, cannot be displayed on vehicles in the UK.

  • How do Irish number plates work?

    An Irish registration plate follows the same rules as the rest of the UK. However, they have a unique format. They consist of letters that always include an I or Z and 1, 2, 3, or 4 numbers. The plates are not age-specific and suitable for any vehicle, regardless of age.