New registration plates for 2026: What you need to know if you’re buying a new car

March and September bring new registration plates and fresh models to showrooms - making it the perfect time to arrange temporary car insurance and take a potential new car for a spin.

What do I need to know about new number plates?

Number plates change twice a year - on 1 March and 1 September.

They’re linked to the car, not the owner, and they stay with that vehicle until it’s scrapped or exported. If you want to, you can transfer a plate to another car.

It didn’t always work this way. When plates were only updated once a year, everyone rushed to buy at the same time. Now that they change twice a year, sales are spread out a bit more. It also makes it much easier to tell how old a car is just by looking at the plate.

Some drivers like getting a car with the very latest plate. But if you’re more interested in getting a good deal, it’s worth looking at the cars that are being replaced when the new plates come out. Dealers often want to free up space, which can mean better prices.

And just because a car doesn’t have the newest plate, it doesn’t mean it’s old. It could still have low mileage and warranty left - just without the “brand new” label.

What you should know about insuring your new 26 plate car

Making sure your brand-new car is insured before hitting the road isn’t always straightforward. You need to ensure your vehicle is registered with the DVLA and that you have a valid car insurance policy in place.

In most cases, the dealer or garage will handle registration for you. If they’ve already done this, there’s nothing more you need to do. If you do need to register it yourself, you’ll need to complete a V55/4 form, pay the £55 registration fee, and arrange vehicle tax. You can always check your car’s details using the DVLA database.

Driving your new car straight from the dealership is exciting, but insurance is a legal requirement. You have a few options: 

• Change your existing policy: Updating your current insurance to cover your new car can be a convenient choice. Just contact your insurer - your premium may change depending on the vehicle.
• Get temporary car insurance: This is a flexible short-term option if you’re still comparing annual policies. It keeps you covered while you decide and is perfect for test drives or short-term needs.
• Opt for an annual policy: Arranging full cover before collecting your car can save hassle. Make sure you have all vehicle details ready when getting a quote. You can choose from third party only, third party with fire and theft, or comprehensive cover.

How do I insure a car without registration?

Sometimes your new car won’t be registered until the day you pick it up or when it’s delivered. When you get a quote with Confused.com, we can usually identify your car using the number plate.

If your car is brand new, this option might not always be available. In that case, you’ll need to manually enter the vehicle details yourself. Don’t worry - once you’ve filled out the quote form, you should still be able to get cover.

How long does it take for a new car to appear on the DVLA?

The process only takes between 3-5 days for used cars, but it's longer for brand new cars.

After your new car has been registered, you'll typically receive your V5C registration certificate after 4 to 6 weeks. It takes a similar amount of time for DVLA records to update and reflect the registration.

When is a good time to buy or sell a car?

According to Auto Express, March and September are the busiest times of year for traders. That’s because lots of buyers like to trade in their old cars and grab a brand-new model as soon as it hits the showrooms. From small updates to full makeovers, there’s usually a lot on offer in these new ranges.

While deciding which new car to buy, drivers often want to sell their current vehicles. If they go down the private-sale route, potential buyers will usually want to take the car out for a test drive - and this is where temporary car insurance really comes in handy.

What are the benefits of temporary car insurance?

Buying a new car is a big investment, so you’ll probably want to get a proper feel for it. Temporary insurance lets you take out comprehensive cover for an hour, a day, or longer, so you can give the car a proper spin.

Temporary cover is designed to fit around your lifestyle. It’s especially handy if you’re selling a car and want to go along on the potential buyer’s test drive.

While the car is out on a test drive, temporary insurance can cover:

• Accidental damage to the covered car and any other vehicles involved

• Injuries to another person following an accident

• Third-party European cover or the equivalent, depending on where you go

Sellers don’t need to worry either - their no-claims discount stays protected, because temporary insurance is a completely separate policy from their annual cover.

Using temporary car insurance just makes the process easier. Some policies have restrictions, so it’s a good idea to check exactly what’s covered before buying.

How do I get temporary car insurance?

Getting temporary cover is easy-peasy. Just do the following:

• Go to our temporary car insurance page.
• Enter your car registration.
• Fill in your cover and driver details.

You’ll then see a quote. If you’re happy with this you can go ahead and buy. This'll start at the time and date you requested. 

Why do we need number plates?

Number plates let the DVLA keep track of vehicles on UK roads and link each one to its registered keeper. They’re used to check that a car is insured, taxed and has a valid MOT.

They also help police and traffic enforcement identify vehicles involved in offences, such as speeding, and spot uninsured or stolen cars. Without number plates, it would be much harder to enforce road laws and keep UK roads safe.

Things to watch out for on number plates

If your number plate is not clearly visible (for example, if it's covered in dirt, muck or simply broken), you could be fined up to £1,000 and your vehicle will also fail its MOT. 

The UK government states the number plates on your vehicle must:

• Be made from a reflective material.
• Display black characters on a white background (front plate).
• Display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate).
• Not have a background pattern.
• Be marked to show who supplied the number plate.
• Be marked with a British Standard number - this is ‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021.

The characters must not be removable or reflective. If your number plates were fitted after 1 September 2021, they must also be a single shade of black.

Different types of number plate

Besides a regular number plate, there are a few different types you might come across:

Personalised plates

These let you create a unique plate for your car. You can buy them from the DVLA online or from private dealers and auctions. Once you have the plate you want, it’s easy to put it on your car - and just as simple to remove, sell, or transfer later. All the details are on GOV.UK.

Green number plates