What you need to know about new number plates on cars being sold across the country TODAY

A range of cars with brand new number plates hit the roads across England, Scotland and Wales today.

March 1 marks the start of a new six-month period in the automotive calendar, marking a change in what are known as ‘age designations’.

These are the first two numbers on the license plate and from today new cars sold will be number 23.

In September, after another six months, the age ratings change back to 73.

The rest of the characters on the license plate are given as usual, with the first few letters indicating the region where the car is registered.

However, the end of the license plate is randomly generated and is used as a unique identifier of the car.

Manufacturers who make the plates must also follow rules regarding fonts, font sizes, colors and placements.

Drivers who fail to display their number plates correctly will not pass their MOT and may also face a fine of up to £1,000 if caught.

However, there are also a number of license plate myths that the car insurance app Cuvva is keen to dispel.

Spokesman Darryl Bowman said: ‘While they indicate the age of the car, it is a common misconception that license plate changes reduce a car’s value.

“If you want to sell your car soon and want the best price possible, it’s best to sell before the new license plates come out.

And if you want to get a bargain on a nearly new car, it might be a good idea to buy a car that’s one license plate back.

“There are ways to reduce a car’s depreciation, such as periodic maintenance, MOT inspections, choosing a popular model and shortening the driving time to keep the mileage low.”