Last updated 1 November 2026.
62 plate facts at a glance
| Registration window | 1 September 2012 to 28 February 2013 |
|---|---|
| Age today | Between 13 years 8 months and 14 years 2 months old (as of 1 November 2026) |
| First MOT due | Due by the third anniversary of registration, so between September 2015 and February 2016. Every car on this plate has now passed that point. |
| MOT tests so far | Between 11 and 12 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 | Most petrol cars registered in this window meet the Euro 4 standard that ULEZ asks for. |
| 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 97,000 to 100,500 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 62
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. September plates add 50 to the year, so 62 means 2012. 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 62 plate car before you buy
- Read the MOT history for repeated advisories. At this age, brakes, suspension and corrosion are the usual ones.
- Ask when the cambelt was last changed. Many makers set a time interval as well as a mileage one, so a car this old can be due on time alone.
- On a diesel, ask about the particulate filter and EGR valve, which can be costly if the car mostly did short trips.
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.