Huge number plate changes to be launched within weeks as drivers risk massive £1,000 fines

This is one of two dates when new number plates are released, with the "24" registration plate having been introduced on March 1 in keeping with tradition since 2001.

The age identifier of the licence plate changes every year to highlight the newest vehicles on the market, with many drivers looking specifically to get the latest plate at this time of the year.

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This will also normally act as a huge boost to new car registrations every March and September, with drivers more likely to buy the latest models and number plates.

According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), March saw 317,786 new cars registered - marking the best March since 2019.

The same was seen last September when the car market jumped by 21 per cent thanks to 272,000 new cars being registered in "new plate month".

Despite the challenging economic backdrop, many drivers still make use of March and September to buy their new cars, further boosting the UK automotive market.

With the new number plates being released, drivers need to make sure their vehicle registrations are legal or they could risk hefty fines.

Number plates must consist of two letters referring to the region where it was registered, followed by two numbers indicating when the car was issued and three letters chosen at random.

British motorists can be fined up to £1,000 and their vehicle will fail its MOT test if they drive with incorrectly displayed number plates.

They must be made from a reflective material, not have a background pattern, be marked to show who supplied the number plate and be fitted with a British Standard Number - namely "BS AU 145e" for those fitted after September 2021.

It must also display black characters on a white background for the front plate and black characters on a yellow background for the rear plate. It must also be in the official Charles Wright font.

The GOV.UK website also suggests that drivers can get theft-resistant number plates, which make it harder for criminals to remove them quickly from their vehicle and use them on other vehicles.

It calls on motorists to ask their local car dealer or registered number plate supplier for more information about sturdier plates.

To coincide with the new number plates, the DVLA will be hosting its next online auction for personalised registration plates on Tuesday, September 10.

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Drivers can get their hands on unique licence plates with starting prices ranging from £70 to as much as £2,500 for the rarest plates, including "951 A", "1812 A" and "234 B".

The last number plate auction took place in the last week of July and saw one plate - "911 FUN" - sell for a staggering £42,010.