no, you can't.
You can only have plates after they are released. You can have any plate that has been previously released as long as it isn't registered on another car. (Edit) and, as you say, you can't make a car look newer than it is)

The current system uses two letters to signify the area (so all scots plates start S) and then two numbers for the year, for 6 month sections. So 02 and 52 were 2002. 12 and 62 are 2012, so 31 and 81 would be 2031.

If someone is running that plate it's probably MY51 TCH and maybe they've put screw heads in the 5 to look like an 8.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 28 Sep 2010, 11:59, Reply)