Last updated 1 November 2026.
04 plate facts at a glance
| Registration window | 1 March 2004 to 31 August 2004 |
|---|---|
| Age today | Between 22 years 2 months and 22 years 8 months old (as of 1 November 2026) |
| First MOT due | Due by the third anniversary of registration, so between March 2007 and August 2007. Every car on this plate has now passed that point. |
| MOT tests so far | About 20 if it has been tested on time every year. |
| Road tax (VED) system | Tax is set by fuel type and CO2 emissions band (A to M). This is the system for cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017. |
| ULEZ rule of thumb: petrol | Petrol cars from this window generally don't meet the Euro 4 standard that ULEZ asks for, as Euro 4 was mandatory for new cars from 2005. |
| ULEZ rule of thumb: diesel | Diesel cars from this window generally don't meet the Euro 6 standard that ULEZ asks for, as Euro 6 was mandatory for new cars from September 2015. |
| Typical mileage now | About 157,500 to 161,000 miles at the average of 7,100 miles a year. Many cars do more or less, so treat it as a guide. |
Sources: GOV.UK, displaying number plates; GOV.UK, getting an MOT; GOV.UK, cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017; TfL, ULEZ standards. The average mileage of 7,100 miles a year is from the Department for Transport's National Travel Survey, table NTS0901 (England, 2024 and 2025). See also our average mileage page.
How to read the 04
Since September 2001 UK plates have two letters for the area, two numbers for the age, then three random letters. The two numbers change on 1 March and 1 September. March plates use the last two digits of the year, so 04 means 2004. A private or cherished plate can make a car look older than it is, so the plate only tells you the earliest the car could have been registered. See every plate from 51 to 76.
Checking a 04 plate car before you buy
- Read the MOT history for advisories on corrosion, suspension and brakes. On a car this age, the same advisory appearing year after year matters more than one that appeared once.
- Ask for proof of the last cambelt or timing chain work, if the engine has one. Rubber parts, bushes and hoses also age with time as well as miles.
- Check that the mileage story holds together year by year. A car this old with very few miles is worth a closer look at the MOT readings.
None of this replaces checking the actual car. A car that was written off by an insurer, or still has finance owed on it, can look perfect, so run a write-off check and a finance check before you pay. A car history check also shows the real first registration date, plate changes and the MOT and mileage history.
ULEZ: check the exact car
The ULEZ rule of thumb above is a guide, not a promise. Whether a car meets the standard depends on its engine and emissions, not just its plate. Use TfL's vehicle checker on the exact registration before you drive into the zone.