Number plate confusion revealed

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A quarter of Britons have no idea how old their car is, with 26% unable to state the month and year in which it was registered, a survey by Auto Trader has revealed.

The study presented participants with an example of a future number plate and asked respondents if they knew when the car was made. One in four respondents (27%) could not identify the month in which the vehicle would be released, and a similar figure (21%) could not identify the registration year.

A further 11% freely admitted they had no idea what the number plate meant and how it could be used to identify a vehicle's age.

The study also found general confusion over vehicle age, with 12% believing that new cars were introduced in January of each year, instead of March and September.

Commenting on the study, Matt Thompson, marketing director, Auto Trader, said: "The results of this survey indicate that many British drivers don't understand the numberplate system, finding that Brits may not know the age of their own vehicle.

"Our advice is always to check out our expert guide on our website and do your research before buying a new vehicle, so that you know exactly what you are buying."

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