What is a ‘70 plate’ on a new 2020 bike?

[Jimo]

I’m baffled! What is a ‘70 plate’ as advertised for a new 2020 scooter? Obviously not the year!

Jim

[Funkycowie]

I've seen a 70 on a new 2020 NC750x

[MrGrumpy]

The current year designation on the number plate ie the 2nd half of 2020. Started September 20. In March 21, will be replaced by 21, then in September, replaced by 71, then 22, then 72 etc etc.

[roadster]

Sadly I won't be around in 2050 but if bike ( or car) ownership is still allowed by then it is going to get even more confusing, or number plates will get bigger!

[Jimo]

Still makes no sense to me!

Jim

[MrGrumpy]

Still makes no sense to me!

Jim

Not that confusing! Number plates have 3 bits - 2 letters (which indicate where the car was registered), 2 numbers (year code) and 3 random letters. Whilst the old system had one letter per year, this system has two numbers per year (Mar- Sep, and Sep -Feb). The first code when the system was introduced in Mar 2001 was 01. For the 2nd half of this year the code 51 was used, then 02 in 2002, then 52 in the 2nd half of 2002. And so on, up to 2010, when the codes 10 and 60 were used, and then in the 2020s, 20 then 70, are 21 and 71 are next.

[wightegi]

The 3 numbers a year was to help sell cars ,if they started with 01 for 2001 they could run for 99 years .

[roadster]

The simple rule is that if the number is greater than 50 it means that the vehicle was registered in the second half of the year where the year starts in March and ends in February. To find the year subtract 50. For example the number 21 will be issued from March 2021 then the number 21+50 = 71 will be issued from September 2021. Unfortunately this means that a vehicle registered in February 2021 will carry a 70 number so will get lumped together with late 2020 registrations (70-50 = 20 ). Yes a truly crazy idea which boosts March sales at the expense of February sales. If private cars/bikes are still around in 2050 someone will probably decide its time to go hexadecimal!

[richie the 1st]

will get my 70 reg. next month/year

[MrGrumpy]

will get my 70 reg. next month/year

Wait 2 months and you'll get a super-duper 21 plate instead!!