what does wk stand for at the beginning of a numberplate?

Question

does it stand for west kernow or westcountry kernow, me and friend have bet on this!

Answer 1

WK - West: Truro

British vehicle registration plates (‘number plates’) usually indicate both the vehicle's place of origin and age. Vehicles are not re-registered when the owner moves about the country, so the registration town is where it was sold when new. Plates can be swapped between vehicles, so the age guide is not completely reliable, but it is illegal to use a plate that is ‘newer’ than the vehicle.

A definitive exposition of UK vehicle registration plates can be found in the book A History of Motor Vehicle Registration in the United Kingdom [1999/2001] by L H Newall, the revised edition of which has now sold out, too.

Further information on British registration plates, including the history of their issue, and their use as personalised plates, can be found at Number Plates Club.

Plates with six digits split by an X or D (eg, 123 X 456) belong to foreign diplomats based in the UK.

If you want to try communicating with the owner of a particular vehicle, or want an email address based on your vehicle's registration, look at the MotorMail website.

Place of Origin
Since 2001 September, there has been a new system, consisting of two letters, two digits and three letters: the first group gives the place of origin (some of the ones marked ‘unused’ are available as ‘Select’ marks), and the second group gives the age.

AA - Anglia: Peterborough
AB - Anglia: Peterborough
AC - Anglia: Peterborough
AD - Anglia: Peterborough
AE - Anglia: Peterborough
AF - Anglia: Peterborough
AG - Anglia: Peterborough
AH - Anglia: Peterborough
AI - unused
AJ - Anglia: Peterborough
AK - Anglia: Peterborough
AL - Anglia: Peterborough, but reserved for ‘Select’ marks
AM - Anglia: Peterborough
AN - Anglia: Peterborough
AO - Anglia: Norwich
AP - Anglia: Norwich
AQ - unused
AR - Anglia: Norwich
AS - Anglia: Norwich
AT - Anglia: Norwich
AU - Anglia: Ipswich
AV - Anglia: Ipswich
AW - Anglia: Ipswich
AX - Anglia: Ipswich
AY - Anglia: Ipswich
AZ - unused
BA - Birmingham
BB - Birmingham
BC - Birmingham
BD - Birmingham
BE - Birmingham
BF - Birmingham
BG - Birmingham
BH - Birmingham
BI - unused
BJ - Birmingham
BK - Birmingham
BL - Birmingham
BM - Birmingham
BN - Birmingham
BO - Birmingham
BP - Birmingham
BQ - unused
BR - Birmingham
BS - Birmingham
BT - Birmingham
BU - Birmingham
BV - Birmingham
BW - Birmingham
BX - Birmingham
BY - Birmingham
BZ - unused
CA - Cymru: Cardiff
CB - Cymru: Cardiff
CC - Cymru: Cardiff
CD - Cymru: Cardiff
CE - Cymru: Cardiff
CF - Cymru: Cardiff
CG - Cymru: Cardiff
CH - Cymru: Cardiff
CI - unused
CJ - Cymru: Cardiff
CK - Cymru: Cardiff
CL - Cymru: Cardiff
CM - Cymru: Cardiff
CN - Cymru: Cardiff
CO - Cymru: Cardiff
CP - Cymru: Swansea
CQ - unused
CR - Cymru: Swansea
CS - Cymru: Swansea
CT - Cymru: Swansea
CU - Cymru: Swansea
CV - Cymru: Swansea
CW - Cymru: Bangor
CX - Cymru: Bangor
CY - Cymru: Bangor, but reserved for ‘Select’ marks
CZ - unused
DA - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DB - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DC - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DD - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DE - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DF - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DG - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DH - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DI - unused
DJ - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DK - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Chester
DL - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DM - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DN - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DO - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DP - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DQ - unused
DR - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury, but reserved for ‘Select’ marks
DS - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DT - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DU - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DV - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DW - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DX - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DY - Deeside-Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury
DZ - unused
EA - Essex: Chelmsford
EB - Essex: Chelmsford
EC - Essex: Chelmsford
ED - Essex: Chelmsford, but reserved for ‘Select’ marks
EE - Essex: Chelmsford
EF - Essex: Chelmsford
EG - Essex: Chelmsford
EH - Essex: Chelmsford
EI - unused
EJ - Essex: Chelmsford
EK - Essex: Chelmsford
EL - Essex: Chelmsford
EM - Essex: Chelmsford
EN - Essex: Chelmsford
EO - Essex: Chelmsford
EP - Essex: Chelmsford
EQ - unused
ER - Essex: Chelmsford
ES - Essex: Chelmsford
ET - Essex: Chelmsford
EU - Essex: Chelmsford
EV - Essex: Chelmsford
EW - Essex: Chelmsford
EX - Essex: Chelmsford
EY - Essex: Chelmsford
EZ - unused
FA - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FB - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FC - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FD - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FE - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FF - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FG - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FH - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FI - unused
FJ - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FK - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FL - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FM - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FN - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FO - Forest & Fens: Nottingham, but withheld for reasons of taste
FP - Forest & Fens: Nottingham
FQ - unused
FR - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FS - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FT - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FU - Forest & Fens: Lincoln, but withheld for reasons of taste
FV - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FW - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FX - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FY - Forest & Fens: Lincoln
FZ - unused
GA - Garden of England: Maidstone
GB - Garden of England: Maidstone
GC - Garden of England: Maidstone
GD - Garden of England: Maidstone
GE - Garden of England: Maidstone
GF - Garden of England: Maidstone
GG - Garden of England: Maidstone
GH - Garden of England: Maidstone
GI - unused
GJ - Garden of England: Maidstone
GK - Garden of England: Maidstone
GL - Garden of England: Maidstone
GM - Garden of England: Maidstone
GN - Garden of England: Maidstone
GO - Garden of England: Maidstone
GP - Garden of England: Brighton
GQ - unused
GR - Garden of England: Brighton
GS - Garden of England: Brighton
GT - Garden of England: Brighton
GU - Garden of England: Brighton
GV - Garden of England: Brighton
GW - Garden of England: Brighton
GX - Garden of England: Brighton
GY - Garden of England: Brighton
GZ - unused
HA - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HB - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HC - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HD - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HE - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HF - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HG - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HH - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HI - unused
HJ - Hampshire & Dorset: Bournemouth
HK - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HL - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HM - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HN - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HO - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HP - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HQ - unused
HR - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HS - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HT - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HU - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HV - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HW - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth (Isle of Wight only)
HX - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HY - Hampshire & Dorset: Portsmouth
HZ - unused
IA - unused (see old system below)
IB - unused (see old system below)
IC - unused (see old system below)
ID - unused (see old system below)
IE - unused (see old system below)
IF - unused (see old system below)
IG - unused (see old system below)
IH - unused (see old system below)
II - unused (see old system below)
IJ - unused (see old system below)
IK - unused (see old system below)
IL - unused (see old system below)
IM - unused (see old system below)
IN - unused (see old system below)
IO - unused (see old system below)
IP - unused (see old system below)
IQ - unused (see old system below)
IR - unused (see old system below)
IS - unused (see old system below)
IT - unused (see old system below)
IU - unused (see old system below)
IV - unused (see old system below)
IW - unused (see old system below)
IX - unused (see old system below)
IY - unused (see old system below)
IZ - unused (see old system below)
JA - unused
JB - unused
JC - unused
JD - unused
JE - unused
JF - unused
JG - unused
JH - unused
JI - unused
JJ - unused
JK - unused
JL - unused
JM - unused
JN - unused
JO - unused
JP - unused
JQ - unused
JR - unused
JS - unused
JT - unused
JU - unused
JV - unused
JW - unused
JX - unused
JY - unused
JZ - unused
KA - Luton
KB - Luton
KC - Luton
KD - Luton
KE - Luton
KF - Luton
KG - Luton
KH - Luton
KI - unused
KJ - Luton
KK - Luton
KL - Luton
KM - Northampton
KN - Northampton
KO - Northampton
KP - Northampton
KQ - unused
KR - Northampton
KS - Northampton
KT - Northampton
KU - Northampton
KV - Northampton
KW - Northampton
KX - Northampton
KY - Northampton
KZ - unused
LA - London: Wimbledon
LB - London: Wimbledon
LC - London: Wimbledon
LD - London: Wimbledon
LE - London: Wimbledon
LF - London: Wimbledon
LG - London: Wimbledon
LH - London: Wimbledon
LI - unused
LJ - London: Wimbledon
LK - London: Stanmore
LL - London: Stanmore
LM - London: Stanmore
LN - London: Stanmore
LO - London: Stanmore
LP - London: Stanmore
LQ - unused
LR - London: Stanmore
LS - London: Stanmore
LT - London: Stanmore
LU - London: Sidcup
LV - London: Sidcup
LW - London: Sidcup
LX - London: Sidcup
LY - London: Sidcup
LZ - unused
MA - Manchester & Merseyside
MB - Manchester & Merseyside
MC - Manchester & Merseyside
MD - Manchester & Merseyside
ME - Manchester & Merseyside
MF - Manchester & Merseyside
MG - Manchester & Merseyside
MH - Manchester & Merseyside
MI - unused
MJ - Manchester & Merseyside
MK - Manchester & Merseyside
ML - Manchester & Merseyside
MM - Manchester & Merseyside
MN - Manchester & Merseyside
MO - Manchester & Merseyside
MP - Manchester & Merseyside
MQ - unused
MR - Manchester & Merseyside
MS - Manchester & Merseyside
MT - Manchester & Merseyside
MU - Manchester & Merseyside
MV - Manchester & Merseyside
MW - Manchester & Merseyside
MX - Manchester & Merseyside
MY - Manchester & Merseyside
MZ - unused
NA - North: Newcastle
NB - North: Newcastle
NC - North: Newcastle
ND - North: Newcastle
NE - North: Newcastle
NF - North: Newcastle
NG - North: Newcastle
NH - North: Newcastle
NI - unused
NJ - North: Newcastle
NK - North: Newcastle
NL - North: Newcastle
NM - North: Newcastle
NN - North: Newcastle
NO - North: Newcastle
NP - North: Stockton
NQ - unused
NR - North: Stockton
NS - North: Stockton
NT - North: Stockton
NU - North: Stockton
NV - North: Stockton
NW - North: Stockton
NX - North: Stockton
NY - North: Stockton
NZ - unused
OA - Oxford
OB - Oxford
OC - Oxford
OD - Oxford
OE - Oxford
OF - Oxford
OG - Oxford
OH - Oxford
OI - unused
OJ - Oxford
OK - Oxford
OL - Oxford
OM - Oxford
ON - Oxford
OO - Oxford
OP - Oxford
OQ - unused
OR - Oxford
OS - Oxford
OT - Oxford
OU - Oxford
OV - Oxford
OW - Oxford
OX - Oxford
OY - Oxford
OZ - unused
PA - Preston: Preston
PB - Preston: Preston
PC - Preston: Preston
PD - Preston: Preston
PE - Preston: Preston
PF - Preston: Preston
PG - Preston: Preston
PH - Preston: Preston
PI - unused
PJ - Preston: Preston
PK - Preston: Preston
PL - Preston: Preston
PM - Preston: Preston
PN - Preston: Preston
PO - Preston: Preston
PP - Preston: Preston
PQ - unused
PR - Preston: Preston
PS - Preston: Preston
PT - Preston: Preston
PU - Preston: Carlisle
PV - Preston: Carlisle
PW - Preston: Carlisle
PX - Preston: Carlisle
PY - Preston: Carlisle
PZ - unused
QA - unused
QB - unused
QC - unused
QD - unused
QE - unused
QF - unused
QG - unused
QH - unused
QI - unused
QJ - unused
QK - unused
QL - unused
QM - unused
QN - unused
QO - unused
QP - unused
QQ - unused
QR - unused
QS - unused
QT - unused
QU - unused
QV - unused
QW - unused
QX - unused
QY - unused
QZ - unused
RA - Reading
RB - Reading
RC - Reading
RD - Reading
RE - Reading
RF - Reading
RG - Reading
RH - Reading
RI - unused
RJ - Reading
RK - Reading
RL - Reading
RM - Reading
RN - Reading
RO - Reading
RP - Reading
RQ - unused
RR - Reading
RS - Reading
RT - Reading
RU - Reading
RV - Reading
RW - Reading
RX - Reading
RY - Reading
RZ - unused
SA - Scotland: Glasgow
SB - Scotland: Glasgow
SC - Scotland: Glasgow
SD - Scotland: Glasgow
SE - Scotland: Glasgow
SF - Scotland: Glasgow
SG - Scotland: Glasgow
SH - Scotland: Glasgow
SI - unused
SJ - Scotland: Glasgow
SK - Scotland: Edinburgh
SL - Scotland: Edinburgh
SM - Scotland: Edinburgh
SN - Scotland: Edinburgh
SO - Scotland: Edinburgh
SP - Scotland: Dundee
SQ - unused
SR - Scotland: Dundee
SS - Scotland: Dundee
ST - Scotland: Dundee
SU - Scotland: Aberdeen
SV - Scotland: Aberdeen
SW - Scotland: Aberdeen
SX - Scotland: Inverness
SY - Scotland: Inverness
SZ - unused
TA - unused
TB - unused
TC - unused
TD - unused
TE - unused
TF - unused
TG - unused
TH - unused
TI - unused
TJ - unused
TK - unused
TL - unused
TM - unused
TN - unused
TO - unused
TP - unused
TQ - unused
TR - unused
TS - unused
TT - unused
TU - unused
TV - unused
TW - unused
TX - unused
TY - unused
TZ - unused
UA - unused
UB - unused
UC - unused
UD - unused
UE - unused
UF - unused
UG - unused
UH - unused
UI - unused
UJ - unused
UK - unused
UL - unused
UM - unused
UN - unused
UO - unused
UP - unused
UQ - unused
UR - unused
US - unused
UT - unused
UU - unused
UV - unused
UW - unused
UX - unused
UY - unused
UZ - unused
VA - Severn Valley: Worcester
VB - Severn Valley: Worcester
VC - Severn Valley: Worcester
VD - Severn Valley: Worcester, but withheld for reasons of taste ?
VE - Severn Valley: Worcester
VF - Severn Valley: Worcester
VG - Severn Valley: Worcester
VH - Severn Valley: Worcester
VI - unused
VJ - Severn Valley: Worcester
VK - Severn Valley: Worcester
VL - Severn Valley: Worcester
VM - Severn Valley: Worcester
VN - Severn Valley: Worcester
VO - Severn Valley: Worcester
VP - Severn Valley: Worcester
VQ - unused
VR - Severn Valley: Worcester
VS - Severn Valley: Worcester
VT - Severn Valley: Worcester
VU - Severn Valley: Worcester
VV - Severn Valley: Worcester
VW - Severn Valley: Worcester
VX - Severn Valley: Worcester
VY - Severn Valley: Worcester
VZ - unused
WA - West: Exeter
WB - West: Exeter
WC - West: Exeter
WD - West: Exeter
WE - West: Exeter
WF - West: Exeter
WG - West: Exeter
WH - West: Exeter
WI - unused
WJ - West: Exeter
WK - West: Truro
WL - West: Truro
WM - West: Bristol
WN - West: Bristol
WO - West: Bristol
WP - West: Bristol
WQ - unused
WR - West: Bristol
WS - West: Bristol
WT - West: Bristol
WU - West: Bristol
WV - West: Bristol
WW - West: Bristol
WX - West: Bristol
WY - West: Bristol
WZ - unused
XA - temporary export plates
XB - temporary export plates
XC - temporary export plates
XD - temporary export plates
XE - temporary export plates
XF - temporary export plates
XG - unused
XH - unused
XI - unused
XJ - unused
XK - unused
XL - unused
XM - unused
XN - unused
XO - unused
XP - unused
XQ - unused
XR - unused
XS - unused
XT - unused
XU - unused
XV - unused
XW - unused
XX - unused
XY - unused
XZ - unused
YA - Yorkshire: Leeds, but possibly reserved for ‘Select’ marks ?
YB - Yorkshire: Leeds
YC - Yorkshire: Leeds
YD - Yorkshire: Leeds
YE - Yorkshire: Leeds
YF - Yorkshire: Leeds
YG - Yorkshire: Leeds
YH - Yorkshire: Leeds
YI - unused
YJ - Yorkshire: Leeds
YK - Yorkshire: Leeds
YL - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YM - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YN - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YO - Yorkshire: Sheffield, but possibly reserved for ‘Select’ marks ?
YP - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YQ - unused
YR - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YS - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YT - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YU - Yorkshire: Sheffield
YV - Yorkshire: Beverley
YW - Yorkshire: Beverley
YX - Yorkshire: Beverley
YY - Yorkshire: Beverley
YZ - unused
ZA - unused
ZB - unused
ZC - unused
ZD - unused
ZE - unused
ZF - unused
ZG - unused
ZH - unused
ZI - unused
ZJ - unused
ZK - unused
ZL - unused
ZM - unused
ZN - unused
ZO - unused
ZP - unused
ZQ - unused
ZR - unused
ZS - unused
ZT - unused
ZU - unused
ZV - unused
ZW - unused
ZX - unused
ZY - unused
ZZ - unused

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

WK - Women Know. Its a new watchdog that is checking the statistics caused by the urban myths surrounding the greater or lesser abilities of female drivers at the wheel of vehicles on our roads. Drive carefully. Someone somewhere is watching you!

Answer 4

It stands for West: Truro

Info on other codes here:
http://www.kingkong.demon.co.uk/where/gb.htm

Answer 5

It's the first letter that matters W. The K is just a sequence letter. The first letter normally refers to county so I would suggest Warwickshire or Worcestershire.For example I live in Essex and my car reg. is EJ.

Answer 6

It's a regional identifier - in this case the region is Truro.

Answer 7

it doesn't stand for anything - it is a coding sequence.

Answer 8

Stands for 'Wan Ker'