Y-reg cars hit the road

It is the end for traditional-style UK number-plates

The first Y-registration number-plates hit British roads on Thursday.

It is the last time the traditional format will appear before the new European-style plates are introduced in September.

The new plates are expected to boost car sales, which are already on the rise following price cuts by the major manufacturers.

We are back to the good old days of midnight parties at car showrooms

Christopher McGowan
SMMT

The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) said March looks likely to be a bumper month for the car dealers.

"We are back to the good old days of midnight parties at car showrooms," said SMMT spokesman Christopher McGowan.

"People will have collected their cars at midnight and will already be driving round with the new Y-registration plates."

British consumers have complained in the past that they can get better deals in continental Europe than in the UK.

Last November the government introduced legislation aimed at increasing competition in the car industry.

The move followed an investigation by the Competition Commission, which showed that British buyers were paying on average 12% more than other Europeans for their cars.

'Tough call'

The legislation was initially opposed by carmakers, but since then the industry appears to have changed its tune, with lower prices attracting more buyers.

Mr McGowan said: "November, December, January and February have been highly successful months, with the consumers coming back into the showrooms and buying cars."

But he added that prices were not likely to get any lower as the car industry had gone as far as it could.

"Regardless of the wrongs and rights of the case it has been a tough call for the industry," he said.

The new European-style plates will start with two letters which will enable people to see the place of origin of a car. They will still show the year of registration on them.

Car dealers are expecting a surge of sales when they are introduced later in the year.