Recent increase in Trade License Plates

[Greenmantle]

Over the last couple of months seen an unusual increase in Trade License Plates.
Placement (stuck in the window) and usage of vehicle (car full of family) both contravening terms of usage.
Is this just a slippery slope?

[vikingaero]

Oud artt urrr 'and.

Everyone is a trader flipping cars these days or on a "side hustle". Even my local kebab shop owner will walk in halfway through the evening holding his trade plates after collecting a car from somewhere..

[Mr Miata]

A few months ago were looking at buying a new car, naturally before we pulled the trigger we wanted a test drive.

We turn upto the nearest dealership on a Friday and amazingly they couldn’t find their demonstrator! After the staff had a frantic chat in the back office it turned out one of the Salesmen had driven off with it and took it home. Insert unbelievable excuse why he did.

We were told to come back after the weekend to test drive the car. However when we returned both the demonstrator and Salesman were both AWOL.

Turns out the Salemen was using the dealership stock for their own personal use. I was starting to think this dealership was a bunch of clowns who can’t be trusted. They lost a new car sale that weekend.

[Sebring440]

Mr Miata said:

Turns out the Salemen was using the dealership stock for their own personal use.

That's the way it works. The salemens' cars are the demonstrators.

If you hadn't booked an appointment for the test drive, then it was just bad luck that the model you were after was not available.

If you had booked an appointment to drive that actual car, then it was due to incompetence by the dealership staff.

[Countdown]

Greenmantle said:

Over the last couple of months seen an unusual increase in Trade License Plates.
Placement (stuck in the window) and usage of vehicle (car full of family) both contravening terms of usage.
Is this just a slippery slope?

Isn't it also a handy way of covering all the family's cars on a single Trade Policy?

[reggie747]

Countdown said:

Greenmantle said:

Isn't it also a handy way of covering all the family's cars on a single Trade Policy?

I'm guessing a traders policy commands a bit of wallet waft so probably not ?

[Countdown]

reggie747 said:

Countdown said:

Isn't it also a handy way of covering all the family's cars on a single Trade Policy?

I'm guessing a traders policy commands a bit of wallet waft so probably not ?

I believe from a somewhat dodgy ex-neighbour that it was in the region of £3.5k per annum. That enabled him and any of his siblings (or indeed any of his "employees") to drive a range of cars they owned. From memory (this was a long time ago) their fleet included an Evo VII, a C63, an X5 and a Cayenne.

That being said I believe that Insurance Companies now expect to see you filing accounts to confirm that you're a genuine trader and not just pretending to be one.

[QBee]

reggie747 said:

Countdown said:

Greenmantle said:

Isn't it also a handy way of covering all the family's cars on a single Trade Policy?

I'm guessing a traders policy commands a bit of wallet waft so probably not ?

The trade plate just covers road tax and costs £165 a year.
You need to have a Motor Trade Insurance to apply for them.
The plate itself doesn't have insurance with it.
I don't know what proportion of the annual premium is for driving cars on the road, but the last renewal I saw of a Motor Trader policy was between £3000 and £4000.

[Dan W.]

Mr Miata said:

A few months ago were looking at buying a new car, naturally before we pulled the trigger we wanted a test drive.

We turn upto the nearest dealership on a Friday and amazingly they couldn’t find their demonstrator! After the staff had a frantic chat in the back office it turned out one of the Salesmen had driven off with it and took it home. Insert unbelievable excuse why he did.

We were told to come back after the weekend to test drive the car. However when we returned both the demonstrator and Salesman were both AWOL.

Turns out the Salemen was using the dealership stock for their own personal use. I was starting to think this dealership was a bunch of clowns who can’t be trusted. They lost a new car sale that weekend.

What has this got to do with trade plates ?

Just sounds like sales man was in his company car demo and off when you came in.

Unless you mean a salesman was using company trade plates and taking random stock home over the weekend, Which just wouldnt happen dealers and managers would not allow that to happen.

[Jeremy-75qq8]

My dad was in the trade and for many years I was on his policy.

I was told I could only claim if it was massive ! Fortunately I never needed to

[BertBert]

Greenmantle said:

Over the last couple of months seen an unusual increase in Trade License Plates.
Placement (stuck in the window) and usage of vehicle (car full of family) both contravening terms of usage.
Is this just a slippery slope?

I haven't

[P2KKA]

Lots and lots of cars get moved about the country between dealerships and car places like BCA. Lots of them aren't transported but driven, by trade plate drivers. Remote selling of cars has taken off MASSIVELY in recent years. Maybe a a site has opened near you recently?

These drivers often just have a 'personal' trade plate assigned to them, and an app that tells them where to pick up and collect from. They get the train home or to the next job and claim it back.

[KTMsm]

It certainly rare to see them

I never display mine - to legally display them on a range of cars is nigh on impossible

"Red and white, stop on sight"

So it's easier to just chuck them on the floor

I haven't been stopped in 25+ years but I keep paying for them to save a walk home although as I'm typing this I wonder why I bother

[guitarcarfanatic]

Currently on a motorbike tour up north and today saw a camper van pulling out of a campsite car park, with a whole family on board…with trade plates clearly displayed in the window!

[Greenmantle]

guitarcarfanatic said:

Currently on a motorbike tour up north and today saw a camper van pulling out of a campsite car park, with a whole family on board…with trade plates clearly displayed in the window!

This is what I'm referring to. At the end of the day it comes down to money.
They have worked out that for £3-£4k they can insure any motor under the sun it makes perfect sense for those that have several vehicles.
Have several sets of plates (what's the likelihood of an accident at the same time) and let the good times roll!