Car Plate Checker Singapore: Find the Checksum Letter
Type the letters and number. Add the last letter too and we'll check whether the plate is valid.
How the letter is worked out
Prefix letters become numbers (A = 1), the number is padded to four digits, then each is weighted.
B
2
x 9
18
S
19
x 4
76
9
9
x 5
45
8
8
x 4
32
8
8
x 3
24
9
9
x 2
18
This only does the checksum maths in your browser. It does not search any register and cannot show who owns a vehicle; owner details are not public. Vehicle owners can see their own vehicle records on OneMotoring with Singpass.
Checksum letter
U
- Letters used
- BS
- Weighted sum
- 213
- Remainder (sum ÷ 19)
- 4
- Checksum letter
- U
How this works
The last letter on a Singapore number plate is a checksum, calculated from the letters and digits in front of it. Each prefix letter becomes a number (A = 1 to Z = 26). Only the last two letters of a three-letter prefix are used; a one-letter prefix takes the second position, with 0 in the first. The number is padded to four digits with leading zeros.
The six values are multiplied by 9, 4, 5, 4, 3 and 2, added up and divided by 19. The remainder picks the letter from this sequence: A, Z, Y, X, U, T, S, R, P, M, L, K, J, H, G, E, D, C, B (remainder 0 is A, 1 is Z and so on). That is why F, I, N, O, Q, V and W never appear as the last letter.
Example: SBS 9889 uses B, S, 9, 8, 8, 9, which is 2 x 9 + 19 x 4 + 9 x 5 + 8 x 4 + 8 x 3 + 9 x 2 = 213. 213 divided by 19 leaves 4, so the checksum is U. Special government and event vehicles have no checksum letter.
This tool only does the arithmetic in your browser. It does not search any register and cannot tell you who owns a vehicle: LTA does not publish owner details. Vehicle owners can see their own vehicle's records on OneMotoring by logging in with Singpass.
FAQs
How is the last letter of a Singapore car plate calculated?
It is a checksum: convert the last two prefix letters to numbers (A = 1), pad the number to four digits, multiply the six values by 9, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, add them, and divide by 19. The remainder maps to A, Z, Y, X, U, T, S, R, P, M, L, K, J, H, G, E, D, C, B. SBS 9889 gives a remainder of 4, so its letter is U.
What is the checksum letter for SBS 3229?
P. B and S are 2 and 19, and the digits are 3, 2, 2, 9: 18 + 76 + 15 + 8 + 6 + 18 = 141, and 141 divided by 19 leaves 8, which is the ninth letter in the sequence, P.
Can I check who owns a car from its plate number?
No. Number plate owner details are not public in Singapore, and this checker does not look anything up. If you were in an accident, exchange particulars with the other driver and make a report; vehicle owners can view their own vehicle records on OneMotoring with Singpass.
Which letters are never used as the checksum?
Seven letters never appear as the last letter of a Singapore plate: F, I, N, O, Q, V and W. The checksum has 19 possible values, so only 19 letters are used.