DVLA Number Plates
All you need to know about buying DVLA registration plates
Nowadays, many people wish to be the owner of a private number plate / Private reg plate. And there is some good news – they no longer cost a fortune which means that a great many members of the public can afford them.
But once you have made the decision to buy, what do you do next? Buying a private plate is very exciting but what are the legal requirements and where should you go to buy? If you are dreaming of having your very own unique number plate very soon, we are here to help.
What are personalised plates?
Unique number plates, such as those purchased from DVLA, are personalised to suit you. You pay extra money to choose the best combination of letters and number that means something special. They may depict your name, business or simply something that you are interested in. Whatever the phrase or slogan you opt for, you know that it will look great when you have it fitted to your car.
What is the DVLA Cherished Transfer Scheme?
This is a scheme that was created by DVLA in order to provide motorists with a choice of special plates that would enable them to personalise their vehicle. Prices vary according to the details of the plate that you purchase. Most of the time you can expect to pay in the region of £250 upwards. The main thing is that plates purchased from DVLA should not cost a fortune, unless sold via brokers which can be enormously expensive. Buying at auction is also risky as you may have many bidders also wanting the same registration number. To give an example, in 2014 a number plate bought by a Ferrari dealer went for more than £500,000. This was definitely not a DVLA purchase! In general, the less characters on your plate, the more it will cost. A well-known football club owner paid £285,000 for a plate showing ‘VIP 1’!
What sorts of personalised plates are available?
You will find four styles of car registration plates in the UK. They are as follows:
- Current – this is the style used for registrations currently and it is made up of seven characters. Two letters show the region, two numbers the age and it ends with three randomly generated letters.
- Prefix – this plate was used between the years of 1983 and 2001. It is called prefix because it has a letter at the front which shown the age of the vehicle.
- Suffix – this plate was used between 1963 and 1983 and begins with the letter ‘A’, ending with the letter to show the age.
- Dateless – used before 1963, these plates can be any combination at all of four numbers and three letters. As they do not show the age, they are very popular.
Buying DVLA private number plates
When you choose your DVLA number plate, they are sold subject to availability and in line with the necessary regulations and terms and conditions. Some private plates may have VAT added so do check this before you commit to purchase.
Do not confuse DVLA number plates with other cherished plates. Those issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency normally cost no more than a few hundred pounds whereas rare cherished plates can cost thousands.
The history of DVLA plates
DVLA put their first batch of car number plates on sale in 1990, coming with the ‘H’ prefix. They were so popular that DVLA then launched the ‘A’ prefix range in 1991. Because they limited the combinations, thousands were sold, creating a great demand. This prefix continued to be sold until 2000 with more combinations of number added. The new style DVLA plate then came into being, consisting of two letters, two numbers and three letters. These will continue until 2050, at which point another system will need to be put in place.
Searching for DVLA number plates
Believe it or not, there are millions of DVLA number plates available for you to search from, including unissued plates, those from private sellers and British Car Registrations own stock. With more than 50 million to choose between, you are sure to find the perfect plate for you at the right price. If you are not sure what sort of plate you are looking for, try a simple search with your initials or part of your name and see what comes up; you can then compare prices until you find the most suitable option.
Purchasing your DVLA plate
Choose to purchase your car number plates from DVLA on a 10 year retention basis, with a certificate enabling you to put them aside until you are ready to fit or we can transfer them to your vehicle within 7 days. When your car means so much to you and it is something that you care for and cherish, it makes sense to add DVLA private plates. With literally millions to choose from, listed at the best prices, you cannot go wrong.
DVLA private plate types
The DVLA plates that you will find at British Car Registrations consists mainly of the prefix and current style. However, if you are looking for a specific registration, let us know and we will do our best to locate it for you, providing it at the best price possible. If you need to carry out a DVLA number plate check, it will provide you with all of the information that you could need pertaining to the particular registration number in question.
Give a DVLA personalised plate as a present
Buying gifts to commemorate special occasions can be difficult, particular when the event is a memorable one. If you are struggling to come up with something different, a personalised DVLA plate is sure to put a smile on someone’s face. Ideal for a wedding, birthday or landmark occasion, if the recipient has a car or is getting one soon, the number does not have to be transferred immediately. The number plate can be held on certificate for a set period of time until it is ready to be assigned and fitted. Purchasing a personalised plate is not difficult and when the plates come from DVLA, it is certainly affordable.
All you need to do is go onto the website selling the plates, such as https://britishcarregistrations.co.uk/ and tap in a few combinations of letters and numbers to suit the recipient. It might comprise part of their name (or names if a marriage), birthday, wedding date or even a cute message. You don’t need vehicle details at the time of purchase as these are only required when the plates are transferred. This can be done at a later date by the car owner/present receiver. You will receive a certificate showing you name as the purchaser and the receiver’s name as the ‘nominee’. It can be delivered to any address of your choosing.
Ideas for personalised plates gift ideas
How about purchasing DVLA registration plates for a specific occasions such as these?
- Birthday – private plates are great at any time but even more so if they are just getting their driving licence. Choose a combination of letters and numbers that will add personality to their vehicle, making them proud to be seen in it.
- Anniversary – this is a real milestone occasion and the personalised plates can be a gift between partners or from someone else.
- Wedding – this is a time when a couple are looking at starting a new life together so a DVLA personalised number is a great gift idea, maybe showing a combination of initials.
Ensuring that your number plate is legal
Whichever combination of letters and numbers you choose, it is important to follow the rules with regard to legal number plates in the UK. All DVLA car registration plates provided on the British Car Registrations site comply with the UK law and all relevant regulations so you do not need to worry about this.
Buying your DVLA plate from British Car Registrations
When you buy from us, you can be absolutely sure of receiving a professional and convenient service. As experts in the field of registration purchase and transfer, we will be by your side the whole of the time, ensuring that the cherished number is assigned quickly and easily. We do all of the hard work so that you don’t have to worry, liaising with DVLA to make sure that all paperwork is completed accurately and efficiently. With so many DVLA registrations, private car number plates, dateless number plates and even cherished number plates to choose from, you are certain not to leave the site without the ideal number plate located.
When you purchase your DVLA personalised number plates online from https://britishcarregistrations.co.uk/ you will not only receive a discount but will also be able to track progress at all times, 24/7. We understand that purchasing a DVLA number plate is very important so we will do all possible to ensure speedy progress of your purchase.
