Zero Number Plates: The UK's Rarest Registrations
There are only eight number plates in the United Kingdom where the number is simply 0. Seven are Scottish. One is English. None were ever issued through the normal registration process. They exist because of local pride, political ingenuity, and — in at least one case — a single man's stubborn refusal to hand over his car.
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What Are Zero Number Plates?
When motor vehicle registration was introduced in Britain in 1903, each local authority was assigned a letter code and issued numbers sequentially from 1 upwards. The number 0 was never part of that system. Zero plates were created as one-off exceptions, issued directly to local councils for use on civic vehicles — usually the car carrying the Lord Provost or equivalent civic figurehead.
They were not available to the public. They were not auctioned. They were not part of any series. As a result, only eight exist across the entire country, making them among the most unusual registrations in British motoring history.
There is one small precedent worth noting. Since 1905, a handful of councils did issue registrations with a leading zero on their "Heavy Motor Car" registers — motorcycles and similar vehicles occasionally received numbers such as FB 01
. But a leading zero in a longer sequence is a very different thing from a standalone single-digit 0, and the eight plates discussed here belong firmly in their own category.
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Why Were They Created?
As the 20th century progressed and distinctive registrations became more of a phenomenon, some local authorities realised too late that they had missed the chance to secure the relevant number one plate for official use. In certain cases, private owners were generous and handed their number one over to the council. Others refused entirely.
It was one such refusal that sparked the whole tradition. R.J. Smith, honorary secretary of the Scottish Automobile Club, held G 1 — Glasgow's first ever registration. When the Lord Provost of Glasgow asked for it, Smith declined. The Lord Provost's response was characteristically practical: if G 1 could not be obtained, Glasgow would simply issue G 0.
Edinburgh faced the same problem and reached the same conclusion with S 0. Three other Scottish issuing authorities followed: Midlothian with SY 0
, Lanarkshire with V 0, and Greenock with VS 0
.
The only English zero plate came about through a more specific set of circumstances. Sir James Miller served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1951 to 1954, during which time he was driven in S 0. When he became Lord Mayor of London in 1964, he hoped to have a comparable plate. LM 1
had been used by the previous Lord Mayor, Rupert De la Bère, but De la Bère had held it in a personal capacity and took it with him when his term ended. The City of London was not a licensing authority in its own right, so Miller had to persuade London County Council to issue LM 0
— which they did, making it the only zero plate ever created outside Scotland.
G 0 was issued in 1915 by Glasgow City Council. The others followed over the subsequent decades.
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The Complete List
Plate
Holder
Notes
G 0
Lord Provost of Glasgow
Issued 1915; the original zero plate, created after G 1 could not be acquired
HS 0
East Renfrewshire Council
Originally issued to Eastwood District Council; that authority was abolished in 1996 and taken over by East Renfrewshire Council
LM 0
Lord Mayor of London
The only English zero plate; issued after Sir James Miller persuaded London County Council to create it in 1964
RG 0
Lord Provost of Aberdeen
Still in civic use; seen at the Grampian Transport Museum rally in 2006
S 0
Lord Provost of Edinburgh
Issued after Edinburgh could not obtain S 1
SY 0
Midlothian Council
V 0
Strathclyde Regional Council
Originally issued to Lanarkshire
VS 0
Inverclyde Council
Originally issued to Greenock
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What Happened to Them?
Most zero plates remain with their councils, treated as civic property in the same way as a mace or ceremonial chain of office. When Dundee was asked about selling its distinctive plates in 2016, the council declined, calling them "part of the civic regalia." The Lord Provost of Edinburgh drew a similar comparison to museums and galleries.
HS 0
is the exception. East Renfrewshire Council, facing a projected £30 million budget shortfall, announced plans to sell it. The council had not used the plate since the lease on its official car ended in 2022, and described it as "something which serves no real purpose." As of 2024 a buyer had not yet been found, though the council remained confident of a six-figure sum.
There is a complication. Some sources suggest that certain zero plates were issued under conditions that prevent their onward sale — G 0 in particular has been cited as potentially subject to restrictions of this kind. The DVLA has been asked for clarification but the position has not been publicly resolved.
The broader principle — councils selling distinctive plates to fund local services — is well established. Leeds famously sold U 1 to raise funds, setting a precedent that others have periodically referenced when facing budget pressure.
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What Are Zero Number Plates Worth?
No zero plate has ever been sold at public auction, which makes valuation genuinely difficult. They sit in a category with no comparable sales history.
The consensus among specialist dealers is that the value lies somewhere between a standard single-digit plate in the same letter combination and HS 1
or equivalent. One leading dealer estimated HS 0
could achieve north of £150,000, describing that figure as potentially conservative. Another pointed to 9 HS
being listed at around £125,000, suggesting the zero could trade between that and the premium commanded by a number one.
What makes them interesting beyond raw rarity is the history. These plates were not withheld from issue and later released — they were created specifically because the standard system could not produce them. There are exactly eight. None will ever be made again.
For any plate in this bracket, a Plateworth valuation will give you the closest available market estimate based on comparable sales data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many zero number plates exist in the UK? Eight. Seven are held by Scottish councils and one — LM 0
— is held by the City of London for use by the Lord Mayor.
Can you buy a zero number plate? Not currently. All eight remain either in civic use or are held by their respective councils. HS 0
has been earmarked for sale by East Renfrewshire Council, though as of 2024 a sale had not been completed. Some plates may carry restrictions preventing transfer.
Why do zero number plates exist? They were created by local authorities that could not obtain their area's number one plate, which was already in private hands. Rather than go without a distinctive civic registration, councils issued the only number that had never been allocated — zero.
Why is G 0 significant? It was the first zero plate, issued by Glasgow City Council in 1915 after the holder of G 1 refused to surrender it. It established the pattern that other Scottish authorities later followed.
Is LM 0
the only English zero plate? Yes. It was created in 1964 at the request of Sir James Miller, who as Lord Mayor of London wanted a plate equivalent to S 0, which he had used as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The City of London is not a licensing authority, so Miller arranged for London County Council to issue it.
What is a zero number plate worth? No zero plate has sold publicly, so there is no direct comparable. Specialist estimates for HS 0
have ranged from £100,000 to over £150,000, based on the rarity of the format and the value of similar single-digit short plates in the same letter combination.
Could more zero number plates ever be created? No. The original system under which these were issued no longer exists. The local authorities that issued registrations were abolished or reorganised decades ago, and the DVLA now administers all UK registrations centrally. The eight that exist are the complete set.
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Plateworth is the UK's private number plate valuation and intelligence platform. We track auction results, dealer prices, and market trends across the full spectrum of UK registrations.
