The first registration plate, which was issued in London in 1903, was A1. This started the process of using letters and numbers to differentiate and keep track of vehicles. There is evidence to suggest that registration plates were issued in some other areas of the UK slightly earlier, although there is no record of these registration marks.

The first owner of the A1 registration mark was Earl Russell who was among the throng that queued all night outside the offices of the London County Council to secure the honour. He won the plate and an excerpt from ‘Car Illustrated’ on 23rd December 1903 reads, “There has been some amount of competition for the securing of the number plate A1 and this has been acquired by Earl Russell for his Napier car. A Mr. L. H. Oliver of Edgware claims the distinction of personally handing the certificate for A1 over to Earl Russell.

A1 was also owned by the chairman of London County Council, but only for a short time. Later, in 1907, George V. Petty bought the car with A 1 assigned to it. He then proceeded to transfer it to several vehicles throughout his lifetime. On his death, in 1950, Trevor T. Laker inherited the plate. Petty’s last will and testament actually stated that Laker should use the plate until his death, at which point the registration plate was to be sold and the proceeds were to be donated to a dog charity. An ageing Laker actually sold the plate to Dunlop Holdings Ltd, although they did not take possession of it until his death. The £2,500 he received was donated to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.