The Retail Motor Industry Federation says the March plate change, available from Tuesday, should see a car sales lift for spring.

Matthew Carrington, RMI chief executive says: “Despite the twice-yearly number plate change introduced in 2001, many consumers still want to be the first to have a car with a new plate.

This surge will be welcomed by businesses, who may have been concerned by the slowdown in the general retail market since the last quarter of 2004.

“The market is still buoyant and adjusting to a sustainable size, following a period of unprecedented sales successes.”

2,579,050 new cars were sold in the UK in 2003 making it the best year ever. 2004's total was slightly less, reaching 2,567,269 units.