Telephone: 01925 633583

Is The New 23 For You?

Its that time of year again when new number plates will be seen on UK roads. Whilst most people will just notice the number less is known about the legal requirements for the plates. 

 

For example, all new number plates must be in a specific “Charles Wright” font which has been in use since 2001. Characters must be 79mm and 50mm wide (except the number 1 or letter I) and the thickness of the character stroke must be 14mm. Finally the space between characters must be 11mm and the space between the age identifier and the random letters must be 33mm.

 

Substituting letter and digit combinations is common practice as new car buyers search for the ultimate personal registration and both 2 and 3 offer the potential to do just that. For example, number 3 is often used to represent an “E” even though it is horizontally inverted, and the number 2 is often used to replate “R” and “Z”. 

 

If “23” is taken as “RE” this offers many opportunities to create something personal with an endless list including words like DARE and MORE, through to names like ABRE and ZORE, which are English for “open” and eastern European for “dawn” respectively.

 

Not all letters are available and combinations and a check with DVLA is necessary first but for anyone fancying a new car this spring it may just be the right time to bag your very own personal registration number. 

 

 

  

Latest News

Škoda Celebrates 23 Years at the Heart of the Tour de France

17-07-2026 Škoda is once again taking centre stage at the world's most famous…
Read more

Meet the Team – Sean Sweeney

10-07-2026 Getting to know the people behind The Lightcliffe Way If you've visited…
Read more

A First Look Inside the Exciting New Škoda Peaq

22-06-2026 The future of family motoring is looking brighter than ever as Škoda has…
Read more

Clare James Automotive Limited trading Lightcliffe Skoda Warrington is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Clare James Automotive Limited trading Lightcliffe Skoda Warrington to act as a credit broker, not a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders, and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.
We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a lender on our panel, which includes lenders of vehicle manufacturers. We have commercial arrangements with lenders and credit brokers which are likely to influence who we introduce you to. We are not an independent financial adviser and don’t give you any advice or recommendations. It is your choice whether you enter into any finance agreement.
Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked to the franchise offering you the vehicle. They will usually offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions (but we do not guarantee they do). If they are unable to offer finance, we then seek to introduce you to someone else on our panel. We will usually receive a commission for your introduction. This will be either a fixed fee, or a fixed percentage of the amount that you borrow. This may be linked to the vehicle model you choose.
Lenders of vehicle manufacturers may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement. Before we propose you to a potential lender, we will tell you of the likely amount of commission we will receive and seek your consent to receiving this commission. The exact amount of commission will be confirmed before you sign your finance agreement.
All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over. Guarantees may be required.

 

What To Do If You Have A Complaint

Lightcliffe Skoda Warrington is a trading style of Clare James Automotive limited which is an appointed representative of Automotive Compliance who are authorised and regulated by the FCA firm number 497010

 

Regulated Complaints Post: Automotive Compliance Ltd, The Factory, 44 Alfred Street, Gloucester, GL1 4DD Telephone: 01452671560 E-mail: complaints@automotive-compliance.co.uk
Financial Ombudsman Service, the following information must also be added to this page: If we cannot resolve your complaint within 8 weeks, you may refer your dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service. This service is free to use. Their consumer helpline is available on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123 or you can visit their website at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk