LTA car prefix data, August 1972 to today
What year is my car, from its plate?
A Singapore car's registration plate dates it almost exactly, because LTA opens a new prefix every few months and never reuses one. The prefix in front of the number is what matters: SPK is the one being issued right now, opened in June 2026, which makes any car wearing it 4 months old.
Look up a plate or prefix
Type a full plate ("SNQ1234A") or just the prefix ("SNQ") to see when those cars were registered. The table below answers the same thing.
Type a plate or prefix above, or jump straight to the full table.
Every prefix LTA has issued
260 prefixes, August 1972 to June 2026. Each one's window runs from the month it opened to the month before the next prefix started — LTA never publishes an explicit end date, so that next-prefix month is the only bound there is.
1970s (11 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| EA | E | August 1972 to February 1973 |
| EB | E | March 1973 to September 1973 |
| EC | E | October 1973 to February 1974 |
| ED | E | March 1974 to January 1975 |
| EE | E | February 1975 to November 1976 |
| EF | E | December 1976 to August 1977 |
| EG | E | September 1977 to February 1978 |
| EH | E | March 1978 to September 1978 |
| EJ | E | October 1978 to July 1979 |
| EK | E | August 1979 to September 1979 |
| EL | E | October 1979 to December 1979 |
1980s (24 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| EM | E | January 1980 to April 1980 |
| EN | E | May 1980 to August 1980 |
| EP | E | September 1980 to December 1980 |
| EQ | E | January 1981 to May 1981 |
| ER | E | June 1981 to October 1981 |
| ES | E | November 1981 to March 1982 |
| ET | E | April 1982 to July 1982 |
| EU | E | August 1982 to November 1982 |
| EV | E | December 1982 to February 1983 |
| EW | E | March 1983 to June 1983 |
| EX | E | July 1983 to September 1983 |
| EY | E | October 1983 to January 1984 |
| EZ | E | February 1984 to July 1984 |
| SBA | S | August 1984 to January 1985 |
| SBB | S | February 1985 to December 1985 |
| SBC | S | January 1986 to February 1987 |
| SBD | S | March 1987 to November 1987 |
| SBE | S | December 1987 to May 1988 |
| SBF | S | June 1988 to September 1988 |
| SBG | S | October 1988 to December 1988 |
| SBH | S | January 1989 to April 1989 |
| SBJ | S | May 1989 to August 1989 |
| SBK | S | September 1989 to November 1989 |
| SBL | S | December 1989 to February 1990 |
1990s (32 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| SBM | S | March 1990 to May 1990 |
| SBN | S | June 1990 to November 1990 |
| SBP | S | December 1990 to March 1991 |
| SBQ | S | April 1991 to July 1991 |
| SBR | S | August 1991 to November 1991 |
| SBT | S | December 1991 to February 1992 |
| SBU | S | March 1992 to July 1992 |
| SBV | S | August 1992 to November 1992 |
| SBW | S | December 1992 to February 1993 |
| SBX | S | March 1993 to May 1993 |
| SBY | S | June 1993 to August 1993 |
| SBZ | S | September 1993 to November 1993 |
| SCA | S | December 1993 to February 1994 |
| SCE | S | March 1994 to May 1994 |
| SCF | S | June 1994 to August 1994 |
| SCG | S | September 1994 to December 1994 |
| SCH | S | January 1995 to April 1995 |
| SCJ | S | May 1995 to August 1995 |
| SCK | S | September 1995 to December 1995 |
| SCL | S | January 1996 to April 1996 |
| SCM | S | May 1996 to September 1996 |
| SCN | S | October 1996 to February 1997 |
| SCP | S | March 1997 to July 1997 |
| SCQ | S | August 1997 to November 1997 |
| SCR | S | December 1997 to April 1998 |
| SCU | S | May 1998 to July 1998 |
| SCV | S | August 1998 to November 1998 |
| SCW | S | December 1998 to March 1999 |
| SCX | S | April 1999 to June 1999 |
| SCY | S | July 1999 to September 1999 |
| SCZ | S | October 1999 to November 1999 |
| SDA | S | December 1999 to February 2000 |
2000s (91 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| SDB | S | March 2000 to April 2000 |
| SDD | S | May 2000 to June 2000 |
| SDE | S | July 2000 |
| SDF | S | August 2000 to September 2000 |
| SDG | S | October 2000 to November 2000 |
| SDH | S | December 2000 to January 2001 |
| SDJ | S | February 2001 to March 2001 |
| SDK | S | April 2001 |
| SDL | S | May 2001 to June 2001 |
| SDM | S | July 2001 to August 2001 |
| SDN | S | September 2001 to October 2001 |
| SDP | S | November 2001 |
| SDQ | S | December 2001 to January 2002 |
| SDR | S | February 2002 to March 2002 |
| SDS | S | April 2002 to May 2002 |
| SDT | S | June 2002 |
| SDU | S | July 2002 to August 2002 |
| SDV | S | September 2002 to October 2002 |
| SDW | S | November 2002 to December 2002 |
| SDX | S | January 2003 to February 2003 |
| SDY | S | March 2003 |
| SDZ | S | April 2003 |
| SFA | S | May 2003 to June 2003 |
| SFB | S | July 2003 |
| SFC | S | August 2003 to September 2003 |
| SFD | S | October 2003 |
| SFE | S | November 2003 |
| SFF | S | December 2003 |
| SFG | S | January 2004 |
| SFH | S | February 2004 to March 2004 |
| SFJ | S | April 2004 |
| SFK | S | May 2004 |
| SFL | S | June 2004 |
| SFM | S | July 2004 to August 2004 |
| SFN | S | September 2004 |
| SFP | S | October 2004 |
| SFQ | S | November 2004 |
| SFR | S | December 2004 |
| SFS | S | January 2005 to February 2005 |
| SFT | S | March 2005 to February 2005 |
| SFU | S | March 2005 |
| SFV | S | April 2005 |
| SFW | S | May 2005 to June 2005 |
| SFX | S | July 2005 to June 2005 |
| SFY | S | July 2005 to August 2005 |
| SFZ | S | September 2005 to August 2005 |
| SGA | S | September 2005 |
| SGB | S | October 2005 to November 2005 |
| SGC | S | December 2005 to November 2005 |
| SGD | S | December 2005 |
| SGE | S | January 2006 |
| SGF | S | February 2006 |
| SGG | S | March 2006 |
| SGH | S | April 2006 |
| SGJ | S | May 2006 |
| SGK | S | June 2006 |
| SGL | S | July 2006 |
| SGM | S | August 2006 |
| SGN | S | September 2006 |
| SGP | S | October 2006 |
| SGQ | S | November 2006 |
| SGR | S | December 2006 |
| SGS | S | January 2007 |
| SGT | S | February 2007 |
| SGU | S | March 2007 |
| SGV | S | April 2007 |
| SGW | S | May 2007 |
| SGX | S | June 2007 |
| SGY | S | July 2007 to August 2007 |
| SGZ | S | September 2007 |
| SJA | S | October 2007 |
| SJB | S | November 2007 |
| SJC | S | December 2007 |
| SJD | S | January 2008 |
| SJE | S | February 2008 |
| SJF | S | March 2008 to April 2008 |
| SJG | S | May 2008 |
| SJH | S | June 2008 |
| SJJ | S | July 2008 |
| SJK | S | August 2008 |
| SJL | S | September 2008 |
| SJM | S | October 2008 |
| SJN | S | November 2008 to December 2008 |
| SJP | S | January 2009 |
| SJQ | S | February 2009 |
| SJR | S | March 2009 to April 2009 |
| SJS | S | May 2009 |
| SJT | S | June 2009 to July 2009 |
| SJU | S | August 2009 to September 2009 |
| SJV | S | October 2009 to November 2009 |
| SJW | S | December 2009 |
2010s (63 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| SJX | S | January 2010 to February 2010 |
| SJY | S | March 2010 to May 2010 |
| SJZ | S | June 2010 to September 2010 |
| SKA | S | October 2010 to December 2010 |
| SKB | S | January 2011 to March 2011 |
| SKC | S | April 2011 to May 2011 |
| SKD | S | June 2011 to September 2011 |
| SKE | S | October 2011 to January 2012 |
| SKF | S | February 2012 to April 2012 |
| SKG | S | May 2012 to July 2012 |
| SKH | S | August 2012 to October 2012 |
| SKJ | S | November 2012 to February 2013 |
| SKK | S | March 2013 to May 2013 |
| SKL | S | June 2013 to August 2013 |
| SKM | S | September 2013 to December 2013 |
| SKN | S | January 2014 to April 2014 |
| SKP | S | May 2014 to July 2014 |
| SKQ | S | August 2014 to September 2014 |
| SKR | S | October 2014 to December 2014 |
| SKS | S | January 2015 to February 2015 |
| SKT | S | March 2015 to June 2015 |
| SKV | S | July 2015 to August 2015 |
| SKW | S | September 2015 to October 2015 |
| SKZ | S | November 2015 |
| SLA | S | December 2015 to January 2016 |
| SLB | S | February 2016 |
| SLC | S | March 2016 |
| SLD | S | April 2016 |
| SLE | S | May 2016 to June 2016 |
| SLF | S | July 2016 |
| SLG | S | August 2016 |
| SLH | S | September 2016 |
| SLJ | S | October 2016 |
| SLK | S | November 2016 to December 2016 |
| SLL | S | January 2017 |
| SLM | S | February 2017 |
| SLN | S | March 2017 |
| SLP | S | April 2017 |
| SLQ | S | May 2017 |
| SLR | S | June 2017 |
| SLS | S | July 2017 |
| SLT | S | August 2017 to September 2017 |
| SLU | S | October 2017 |
| SLV | S | November 2017 |
| SLW | S | December 2017 |
| SLX | S | January 2018 |
| SLZ | S | February 2018 to March 2018 |
| SMA | S | April 2018 |
| SMC | S | May 2018 |
| SMD | S | June 2018 |
| SME | S | July 2018 |
| SMF | S | August 2018 to September 2018 |
| SMG | S | October 2018 |
| SMH | S | November 2018 to December 2018 |
| SMJ | S | January 2019 |
| SMK | S | February 2019 |
| SML | S | March 2019 |
| SMM | S | April 2019 to May 2019 |
| SMN | S | June 2019 |
| SMP | S | July 2019 to August 2019 |
| SMQ | S | September 2019 to October 2019 |
| SMR | S | November 2019 |
| SMS | S | December 2019 |
2020s (39 prefixes)
| Prefix | Series | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| SMT | S | January 2020 to March 2020 |
| SMU | S | April 2020 to July 2020 |
| SMV | S | August 2020 |
| SMW | S | September 2020 to October 2020 |
| SMX | S | November 2020 |
| SMY | S | December 2020 to January 2021 |
| SMZ | S | February 2021 to March 2021 |
| SNA | S | April 2021 |
| SNB | S | May 2021 to June 2021 |
| SNC | S | July 2021 to August 2021 |
| SND | S | September 2021 to October 2021 |
| SNE | S | November 2021 to January 2022 |
| SNF | S | February 2022 to March 2022 |
| SNG | S | April 2022 to June 2022 |
| SNH | S | July 2022 to September 2022 |
| SNJ | S | October 2022 to November 2022 |
| SNK | S | December 2022 to February 2023 |
| SNL | S | March 2023 to May 2023 |
| SNM | S | June 2023 to August 2023 |
| SNN | S | September 2023 to October 2023 |
| SNP | S | November 2023 to December 2023 |
| SNQ | S | January 2024 to February 2024 |
| SNR | S | March 2024 to April 2024 |
| SNS | S | May 2024 to June 2024 |
| SNT | S | July 2024 |
| SNU | S | August 2024 to October 2024 |
| SNV | S | November 2024 to December 2024 |
| SNW | S | January 2025 to February 2025 |
| SNX | S | March 2025 |
| SNY | S | April 2025 to May 2025 |
| SNZ | S | June 2025 |
| SPB | S | July 2025 |
| SPC | S | August 2025 to September 2025 |
| SPD | S | October 2025 to November 2025 |
| SPE | S | December 2025 |
| SPG | S | January 2026 to February 2026 |
| SPH | S | March 2026 |
| SPJ | S | April 2026 to May 2026 |
| SPK | S | June 2026 onwards — current |
How a plate is built up
A Singapore car plate has three parts. The prefix — one or two letters, then a letter, like SPK — is what this whole page is about: it names the batch the car was registered in. The running number after it, up to four digits, is simply the next number LTA had free in that prefix; it carries no meaning beyond order. The final check letter is where people's guesses tend to go wrong.
LTA does not publish how the check letter is calculated. Several different weightings circulate online, presented confidently and contradicting each other — which is exactly the sign that none of them is confirmed on its own say-so. This page states only what is verifiable: the last letter is a check letter LTA computes from the prefix and the running number.
One of those weightings can now be tested, because LTA's bidding list prints the check letter beside every number still available — thousands of known-good plates at a time. One rule reproduces every single one of them, and the plate bidding page sets it out along with how many plates it has been checked against. It is still not official, and the prefixes on this page reach back to 1972 while the evidence only covers the series open today — so there is still no calculator here, applied blind to a fifty-year-old plate.
Plates also come in more than one finish. Non-reflective plates are white lettering on black. Reflective plates are black lettering on white at the front, and black lettering on yellow at the back:
SPK is a real prefix; 1234 and the final A are a made-up running number and check letter for illustration, not a lookup result. Character sizes and spacing above follow LTA's published spec: 70mm tall, 50mm wide characters, 10mm between two adjoining letters or two adjoining digits, 20mm between a letter and a digit. The real plate typeface is Charles Wright; no digitisation of it carries a licence that can be shipped from here, so the lettering is Arial Bold pinned into the same 50mm cell.
LTA also runs several plates that look different again — Off-Peak Car, Revised Off-Peak Car, Weekend Car, and the Classic and Vintage schemes. LTA's own page shows these only as images and never states their colours in writing, so none are reproduced here; see LTA's standard registration page for how they look.
Malaysian plates that look Singaporean
A black plate with white lettering and an S at the front is not automatically a Singapore car. Malaysia registers Sabah under an S prefix too — SK 8012 F — and Sabah cars are a common sight here. Sarawak, often named as the culprit, is actually the easy one: every Sarawak plate starts with Q, and Singapore has never issued a Q prefix to a car — not once in 260 prefixes since August 1972. A Q plate is never Singaporean, and a Singapore plate is never Sarawakian.
What makes Sabah genuinely confusable is the finish. Malaysia's private plates are white on black front and back — the same combination as a Singapore non-reflective plate. Side by side, only the letters differ:
The Malaysian examples are drawn to Singapore's character spec so the three sit on the same scale for comparison. Malaysia publishes its own dimensions, which are not these — the point here is the colours and the shape of the format, not the millimetres.
The test that always settles it is the one this whole page is built on: Singapore's prefix list is finite and published. There are exactly 260 of them and they are all in the table above. If the letters in front of the number are not in that table, the car is not registered in Singapore — which is why the lookup refuses an unknown prefix instead of guessing at one.
For a quicker read at a distance, the second letter is often enough. Singapore has only ever used 11 of them — B, C, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P — so:
- SC, SF, SJ, SN, SP — Singapore. Sabah has no division on these letters.
- SA, SS, ST, SU, SW, SY — Sabah. Singapore has never opened a prefix on these.
- SB, SD, SG, SK, SL, SM — could be either, and the table is the only way to be sure.
Two further tells, once you are close enough to read the whole plate. A Singapore rear plate may be black on yellow; Malaysian private plates are black front and back, so a yellow rear plate is not one. And the trailing letter means different things: on a Singapore plate it is a check letter computed from everything before it, while on a Malaysian plate it is simply the next letter in a sequence that advances when the numbers run out.
A few things the data gives away
Two letters have never appeared anywhere in a car prefix, across 260 prefixes and over half a century: I and O. LTA does not say why, but the standard explanation — repeated widely enough to be worth stating, though it is not an LTA claim — is that I and O are too easily misread as the digits 1 and 0.
The series itself only changed once. Cars were registered under an E prefix from August 1972; the last one, EZ, opened in February 1984. Six months later, in August 1984, LTA started on SBA and every prefix since has run under S. Nothing in the published data says why the letter changed or what the 6-month gap was for.
A smaller oddity: within a two-letter block, LTA has occasionally skipped a letter it would otherwise have used next — SBS, SCB, SCC, SCD, SCS, SCT, and 8 others. As with the never-used letters, no published reason exists for any of them.
How fast prefixes get used up
A prefix holds a fixed block of running numbers, so how quickly LTA moves on to the next one is a rough stand-in for how many cars were being registered — rough, because LTA has never published how many plates actually fit in a prefix, and it reserves and retires combinations for reasons that are not public. Read the line below as a shape, not a count: the slowest prefix on record, EF, took 22 months to need a successor; 99 prefixes opened a month or less after the one before them, almost all of them since the 2000s.
Sources
Prefix and opening-month data: LTA DataMall, Car Prefix (Identification Marks) For Cars Registered In Singapore, fetched 10 September 2026. LTA refreshes this dataset roughly once a year, so a prefix that opened very recently may not be reflected here until the next refresh. Plate colours, dimensions and spacing: LTA's standard registration page. Malaysian plate formats and colours, for the comparison above: Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia. That is the one claim here LTA cannot vouch for, and the Sabah division letters in particular are a secondary source rather than an official register. Not affiliated with or endorsed by LTA.
Which plate numbers you can bid for · What each car actually costs · Why cars cost so much · EV vs petrol, run for run · What Singapore is buying, by brand · How fast EVs are catching on · Buying used
