How to read a UK licence plate.

With the move to the '10' number plate, the vehicle registration format has changed slightly. Introduced in September 2001, the current scheme of letters and numbers adorning UK cars was designed so that plates could be recognised quickly and easily. It'll remain until 2051 too, so it's a good idea to figure it out. Compared to the last plates, which were an entirely random sequence of numbers and letters except for the first, age-defining letter, it is true that they're more recognisable. That's dependent on understanding how they're formed, however. This quick guide will show you how. Area code: The current number plate format is a seven-figure system using two letters, two numbers, and then three further letters. The first two letters denote the locale of the DVLA office where the car was first registered. The idea is that you'll largely drive in the same locality among cars from the same area, thus becoming familiar with the letters representing your area. It also means those from other areas stand out more, and are therefore easier to remember. It's mostly obvious what the letters represent, though not always. The first letter denotes a wider county or area - so N is North and L is London - and the second is the 'local office identifier'. Less obvious letters include the Kent and Sussex area, which begins with G, for 'Garden of England', and V for the Severn Valley. Age identifier: The two numbers are again based on the same principle of shortness and familiarity making them easier to learn - a technique called mnemonics. They identify the age of the car, and change twice per year: March and September. March plates show the year itself, so 2002 becomes 02, 2003 becomes 03, and 2010 becomes 10 and so on. September plates are slightly more confusing. Until September 2009 they had 50 added to the year, so September 2002 was 52, September 2003 was 53, etc. From September this year (2010), they'll have 60 added. That means the next registration will be 60, followed by 61 in 2011. Random letters: These three random letters distinguish individual cars registered at the same DVLA office. Rude or offensive sequences are, of course, banned. And letters I and Q aren't ever used due to potential confusion with the numbers 1 and 0.

By Mark Nichol

Car Rental

Car rental gives you freedom. Freedom to visit old friends and family, travel to places such as out of the way historical sites. The last thing you need, is to know you've missed out on trip, or special event, because you simply could not get there any other way. Are you looking for fairly short term car hire, or longer term car leasing? Is it simply a holiday car hire?

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Car Hire provides means for you to travel safely and comfortably. These benefits of holiday car hire are just some out of the many advantages of hiring a vehicle on your vacation.

What do you look for when hiring a vehicle? Is it a holiday car hire, or are you simply looking for cheap car hire or even THE cheapest car hire? Well the answer is, we are all different. Some seek luxury car hire, or big, powerful top of the range cars, others are happy with older small cars, some want vans and some want trucks, and so the list goes on. Holiday car hire which allows you to take your car from the airport car hire office and leave it at another destination (one way car hire), and car leasing, that allows you to do the same, is big business, but clearly there is massive competition out there, so there are deals to be done.

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