SOH registration prefix...

[Lobo]

Morn all,

Finally have got the CB400F on the UK register, not that I was in any rush with the 2 other bikes & winter etc.

Anyways, it's been given an 'R' registration (1977) with the prefix SOH.

Now, whilst this may be DVLCs sop to this forum, any other inputs as to what those letters infer welcomed.

Just interested, & thanks,
Simon

[Bryanj]

At the time that came out SOH would have been a particular local office, I know HNP is worcester but can't tell you where SOH is. If you find an old AA of RAC handbook they used to list them in the back

[mick]

Hi Lobo SO = Scotland, Edinburgh according to Wikipedia  cheers Mick.

[Lobo]

Hi guys... thanks.

Befuddled as DVLA now centralised to Cardiff only... no more localised offices (all closed) /face-face stuff; all bloody email / snail mail applications.

So my reg is new(?) and I did a Wikipedia search, noting that my previous 400F was GVH xxxS & registered in Huddersfield. On the website I found the 'VH' bit implied 'uddersfield and so I entered with 'OH' from my new reg. This comes up with 'Birmingham'. Have I got a Brummie Bike!

Confused, or do they simply reassign deleted 'R' (1977) plates as & when....?
Simon

Ps... Just entered 'NP' (Brian's email) & indeed got Worcester.  So, dunno why, but my bike is now from Birmingham..(?) (HN btw is Darlington)

[mick]

I just found this Lobo to confuse you even more lol 

http://www.motorcycle.co.uk/reference/uk-registration-letters-and-area-codes

[matthewmosse]

Dvla don't reuse reg no's. new age related ones are allocated from previously un used numbers from areas that had few new machines registerd back i those days - so mostly they relate to rural areas. If you can get together enough evidence of what an original reg no is for a machine then they can re issue the original number - providing it wasnt sold off by a previous owner as a plate transfer.

[Ian DB]

Its the 2nd and 3rd letter that depict the area code, in this case OH would be Birmingham. My 500/4 was uk registered in 2012 and carries WWE... as the start of the reg no. WE being Sheffield and this fits with the location of the chap I bought the bike from who registered it.

A few years back I got my landrover serries IIa age changed from its then current reg no. to an age related one basically to capitalise on the tax exempt status that had just come into force and this was done at the Trafford office in Manchester and I was subsequently was issued with GVR... VR being Manchester.

So it does tie up that the local offices do, well did as they all closed in December. use area codes when they could.

No idea how things will pan out not that its all being run from Swansea. Took them 3 months to send me my log book

Hope that makes sense

Ian

[tom400f]

With the old scheme (year letter at the end, or when that ran out at the beginning) it is the last two letters that relate to the region. The first letter is just for more combinations, so SOH means OH is the region code.

According to http://www.drivearchive.co.uk/regcodes.htm that is Birmingham. Looks like all the ones with an S in them are Scotland.

The ones I know check out on that list, so Simon your bike is a Brummie one!

[Lobo]

Aye. Thanks fellas... indeed, for no apparent reason I've now got a  Brummie bike (not that it matters). And thanks for all the helps / inputs.

Ian DB - I used to live in dear old Chorley ( for 6 years in a past life) - has it stopped raining yet!

[Ian DB]

Hi Lobo, I'm just down the road in Anderton I'm sure you will know it, and no its still raining.

Ian