Buying a Private Number Plate

Private number plates have traditionally been associated with the rich and the famous or anyone wanting to show the world how successful they have become. However in today’s motoring world the popularity of personal number plates has moved into the fast lane with ever more of them being spotted on our roads. Private number plates are being enjoyed by people from all walks of life and give their owners vehicles a truly unique and distinctive mark.

There are millions of private number plates to choose from so finding one to suit you will not be hard. For some inspiration you can search your name or birthday or for a cost effective solution why not try and find your initials? When purchasing your new car registration number you will need to provide what is known as a nominee name. This is the name that appears in the V5 logbook for the vehicle the number will be assigned to. If you are purchasing a personal car registration as a gift be sure to check this name is correct when ordering.

There are certain things to bear in mind when choosing your own private number plates however the main question you must ask yourself is can the personal number plate go on your vehicle? The law states that a vehicle can be made to look older than it is but can never appear newer. For example, if you own a “55” reg car you could assign a “51” reg number plate or even a prefix or suffix registration such as a “P” reg however you could not assign a newer “56” registration number to your car. Private number plates can also be assigned to motorbikes, providing they follow this golden rule.

When you purchase a private number plate an £80 transfer fee must be paid. This money is a fix fee set by the DVLA to cover the cost and administration of assigning the number plate to your vehicle. This fee is also payable if you decide to transfer the registration from vehicle to vehicle. The current fee for putting a registration number on retention is £105 which is made up of the £80 assignment fee and £25 retention fee. The retention facility enables a registration number to be taken off a vehicle and held on a certificate pending assignment at a later date. Private number plates can be held indefinitely on certificates but must be renewed annually for £25.

Assigning you new number plate to your vehicle couldn’t be simpler and full instructions will be found on the reverse of you registrations certificate of entitlement. Applications can be made by post however a better option is to apply in person at your local DVLA where the transfer is completed as you wait. You will need you V5 Logbook, a photocopy of your tax disc and a copy of your MOT if applicable when assigning your registration and in return you will receive an updated tax disc and MOT (if applicable) showing your new registration number. An updated V5 log book will be sent later from DVLA Swansea. All that would be left to do is have your acrylic number plates produced and fix them to your vehicle. You are then ready to display you new number plate with pride!