Where can I find registration records for former (pre-1978) Scottish vehicle licensing offices?
Not all the vehicle registration records still survive. Some can be found in local authority archives services and the Kithead Trust holds some records. <https://kitheadtrust.org.uk/ > [accessed 26 April 2024]. The following information is taken from Philip Riden, How to Trace the History of Your Car: a guide to motor vehicle registration records in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and The Channel Islands (Merton Priory Press, 1998). In most cases the records listed are registers, but some are the registration cards (compiled under the 1920 Roads Act). For further details see Riden
County vehicle registration records
Aberdeenshire
Records for index marks AV and SA, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Angus
Registers for index marks SR, 1903-74, are with Dundee City Archives, other records for index marks SR, 1921-48 with Kithead Trust.
Argyllshire
Registers for index marks SB, 1903-20, with Argyll & Bute Archives, other records for index marks SB, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Ayrshire
All registration records for index marks AG, CS, and SD presumed destroyed.
Banffshire
Registers for index marks SE, location unknown.
Berwickshire
Records for index marks SH, 1903-46, with Kithead Trust.
Buteshire
Registers for index marks SJ, 1903-31, with Glasgow City Archives.
Caithness
Record cards index marks SK, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust. Registers for index marks SK are believed to be in private hands. Enquiries to Highland Archive Service.
Clackmannanshire
All registration records for index marks SL presumed destroyed.
Dumfriesshire
Registers for index marks SM, 1903-70, with Dumfries & Galloway Archives, other records for index marks SM, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Dunbartonshire
Records for index marks SN, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
East Lothian
Records for index marks SS, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Fife
Records for index marks FG and SP, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Forfarshire (see Angus)
Haddingtonshire (see East Lothian).
Inverness-shire
Registers for index marks ST, 1903-75, with Highland Archive Service, other records for index marks ST, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Kincardineshire
Records for index marks SU, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Kinross-shire
Registers for index marks SV, 1904-52, with Perth & Kinross Archives. But note that SV is a popular registration because it appears to have been issued for re-registered vehicles for vehicles before 1931 (vintage) and for vehicles between 1931 and 1963. Perth & Kinross Archives do not hold information on re-registrations.
Kirkcudbrightshire
Registers for index marks SW, 1903-76, with Dumfries & Galloway Archives.
Lanarkshire
Records for index marks VA, 1922-48, and VD, 1930-48, with Kithead Trust. All records for index marks V presumed destroyed.
Linlithgowshire (see W Lothian)
Midlothian
Records for index marks SY, 1949-52, with Edinburgh City Archives.
Morayshire
Registers for index marks SO, 1903-46, with Moray Heritage Officer.
Nairnshire
All records for index marks AS presumed destroyed.
Orkney
Registers for index marks BS, 1904-76, with Orkney Archives. Other records for index marks BS, 1904-60, with Kithead Trust.
Peebleshire
All records for index marks DS presumed destroyed.
Perthshire
Records for index marks ES, c.1904-1920s, with Perth & Kinross Archives. Other records for index marks ES, 1904-45, with Kithead Trust. All records for index marks GS presumed destroyed.
Renfrewshire
Registers for index marks HS, 1903-49, with Glasgow City Archives.
Ross & Cromarty
Records for index marks JS, 1974, Highland Archive Service, other records for index marks JS, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Shetland
Registers for index marks PS, 1904-72, with Shetland Archives.
Stirlingshire
Registers for index marks MS, 1903-20, with Stirling Council Archives. All records for index marks WG presumed destroyed.
Sutherland
Registers for index marks NS, 1904-26, with Highland Archive Service, other records for index marks NS, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
West Lothian
Records for index marks SX, 1904-21 and 1934-58, with Edinburgh City Archives, other records for index marks SX, 1921-48, with Kithead Trust.
Wigtownshire
Registers, 1904-1973, are held by Stranraer Museum, The Old Town Hall, George Street, Stranraer DG9 7JP.
Burgh vehicle registration records
| Burgh (Index mark) | Surviving Dates | Location of records |
| Aberdeen (RG) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Aberdeen (RS) | Presumed Destroyed | |
| Coatbridge (XB) | Destroyed | |
| Dundee (TS) | 1904-81 | Dundee City Archives* |
| Dundee (YJ) | 1932-1964 | Dundee City Archives |
| Edinburgh (FS) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Edinburgh (S) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Edinburgh (SC) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Edinburgh (SF) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Edinburgh (SG) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (G) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (GA) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (GB) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (GD) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (GE) | 1928-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (GG) | 1930-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Glasgow (US) | 1933-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Greenock (VS) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Kirkcaldy (XA) | Destroyed | |
| Motherwell & Wishaw (GM) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
| Paisley (XS) | 1921-48 | Kithead Trust |
*Published as Dundee Motor Registrations TS1 – TS1000, ed. by J.G.L. Wright, (Friends of Dundee City Archives, 2003)