THE Government is asking for fleet industry input in the establishment of the new car registration system. Roads Minister Lord Whitty has announced the start of a consultation process on a system of local identifiers which will form part of the new registration format, due to be introduced in 2001.

The new format will comprise three random letters, two numbers to show the age of the vehicle and two letters indicating where the vehicle was first registered - for example ABC 12 DE. The first two letters will be the local indicator. LE, for instance, might mean that a vehicle was registered at one of the three vehicle registration offices (VROs) in London or BE, for Birmingham.

The consultation period ends on September 15. The consultation paper is available by telephoning 01792 783254 and it is also on the DVLA internet site http:// www.open.gov.uk/dvla.htm.