DVLA Plate Auctions

[Shmee150]

Hi all, a plate I'm after has just gone in for the next DVLA Auction; Towcester in early June.

The price regtransfers have offered it at is about triple the auction reserve (which is about the most expensive in the catalogue anyway), I'm wondering whether I'm best waiting for the auction, trying to offer regtransfers down now, or if there's an alternative I'm not aware of?

Also what price should you expect to get down to from where regtransfers start you from?

All advice is much appreciated, many thanks.

[anonymous-user]

I guess it depends on how desperatly you want it.

I would try making an offer now, if they dont take that then I would wait for the auction to see if I could get a cheap deal. But then i've never seen much appeal in spending large amounts on a private plate.

[Distant]

Reg transfers don't have the plate yet, how can they if it hasn't been auctioned yet? Don't even bother talking to them before the auction, all they'll do is mark it up by 100% (if they win the auction of course) and flog it to you! Get to the auction yourself, set a figure in advance that it's worth to you and don't go over it. Good luck!

[Shmee150]

Distant said:

Reg transfers don't have the plate yet, how can they if it hasn't been auctioned yet? Don't even bother talking to them before the auction, all they'll do is mark it up by 100% (if they win the auction of course) and flog it to you! Get to the auction yourself, set a figure in advance that it's worth to you and don't go over it. Good luck!

I was wondering if maybe they have some sort of deal to obtain the plate from the DVLA before it hits the auction? They obviously can't guarantee they win the auction, and therefore I'm not sure how they can sell it at all so perhaps there's a loop hole they have.

Can you talk the DVLA into selling early?

If regtransfers can guarantee me the plate, and agree to about 20% off their original asking price, I'll buy it tomorrow morning no questions, but if there's a way to get it cheaper without the auction stress, or something I've missed then I would love to find out about it.

Thanks.

[bertelli_1]

They have no deal with the dvla, they are merely scam artists, allegedly.

[10JH]

Surely they can't own it then if it hasn't been released. Try looking up some other plates going for auction and see if they are selling those too.

[Aviz]

bertelli_1 said:

They have no deal with the dvla, they are merely scam artists, allegedly.

Yep, it will go to auction, and you could just as easily buy it as them. They are second guessing how much it will go for, and hoping you haven;t seen that it's up for auction.

It's not really that stressful you know, just put in a bid online or over the phone.

To be honest, that's how business works. If someone is willing to pay what they're asking, and they can get it for half that, then that's an exellent business deal on their part. Not really a scam as such.

I buy and sell stuff all the timne with 100% markup, does that make me a scammmer ?

Edited by Aviz on Tuesday 18th May 08:14

[apprentice]

RT are 'fishing' with a plate they don't yet own. By offering it at the inflated price they hope to 'hook' some sop prior to auction and to ensure plate purchase plus a healthy margin.

[AndrewW-G]

Easiest and cheapest option, is to register to bid online and forget about RegT, but don't forget that the hammer price doesn't include buyers fees (see DVLA site for breakdown of fees)

[Distant]

Shmee150 said:

Distant said:

Reg transfers don't have the plate yet, how can they if it hasn't been auctioned yet? Don't even bother talking to them before the auction, all they'll do is mark it up by 100% (if they win the auction of course) and flog it to you! Get to the auction yourself, set a figure in advance that it's worth to you and don't go over it. Good luck!

I was wondering if maybe they have some sort of deal to obtain the plate from the DVLA before it hits the auction? They obviously can't guarantee they win the auction, and therefore I'm not sure how they can sell it at all so perhaps there's a loop hole they have.

Can you talk the DVLA into selling early?

If regtransfers can guarantee me the plate, and agree to about 20% off their original asking price, I'll buy it tomorrow morning no questions, but if there's a way to get it cheaper without the auction stress, or something I've missed then I would love to find out about it.

Thanks.

No, there's no deal with the DVLA, they'll have to go to the auction same as everyone else. If you phone them and enquire about it, all you're doing is letting them know there's interest in it and possibly pushing the price up at the auction as they'll be keener to get it.

It's pretty standard practice for reg companies to advertise stock they don't even own.

There's no way you'll be able to get DVLA to part with it before the auction, they want to get the best price possible for it, and auction is a good way to do that. Think yourself lucky it's not sealed bids!

[Shmee150]

I have now spoken to Regtransfers and of course from that and the posts here, understand the process better so many thanks all for the advice.

I think the best way to do it is to ignore regtransfers who can make absolutely no guarantees that they'll get the plate, and put in an absentee bid to the auction of whatever my maximum price in. Seems that it then will go up in small increments "ebay style" to win it if you offer enough without paying your maximum. I'll probably place the same figure regtransfers offered, but without their fee I expect I'll be more likely to win it, and then it's just a gamble what happens, the delights of an auction!

It'll be a very anxious day, but I can't let my perfect plate go by without trying.

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Distant]

Where abouts are you Shmee150? Is there no way you can get to the auction at all, you really could save yourself a load of cash.

[Shmee150]

Distant said:

Where abouts are you Shmee150? Is there no way you can get to the auction at all, you really could save yourself a load of cash.

I'm thinking absentee bid or perhaps telephone could be done, there will be a way.

Fingers crossed regt will ring back at some point trying to push me to buy it and I'll be able to say that I'm not interested any more as the price is too high (which to be quite honest it really is!). Fortunately if this skips by me, they'll be another one at some point...

Edited by Shmee150 on Tuesday 18th May 10:58

[Scamper]

You can bid over the phone...register with them as a telephone bidder, they will phone you 10 minutes before the reg is up and talk you through the process then they will bid for you asking if you want to continue, etc

RT will just double the price they paid for it knowing that they have a buyer willing to part with their cash....

If you cant spare half an hour to save yourself potentially a couple of grand then you must have more money than sense....

[A911DOM]

I assume that you have requested an auction catalogue and a bidding card in that case.

I bought my plate direct from a DVLA auction a few years back...

Register for a phone bid, they call you 5 minutes before, you get to hear the auction going on in the background and the lady bidding on my behalf was very calm, very helpful, and very direct about the amounts being bid as and when I wanted to.

Its the obvious way to do it, you get the nervous tension of course, but thats half the buzz of auctions - I, like you, spotted the plate that I wanted and on the day only had 1 bid against me...

But yes, dont forget the additional fees on top of the hammer price!

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

[Shmee150]

Scamper said:

You can bid over the phone...register with them as a telephone bidder, they will phone you 10 minutes before the reg is up and talk you through the process then they will bid for you asking if you want to continue, etc

RT will just double the price they paid for it knowing that they have a buyer willing to part with their cash....

If you cant spare half an hour to save yourself potentially a couple of grand then you must have more money than sense....

I don't have more money than sense, and will be doing that! I must have somehow given the wrong impression, my apologies.

Unfortunately RT will know that I am interested, although I was offering below their asking price and on any future correspondence will keep it that way, and they are very unlikely to get anything else from me anyway.

Edited by Shmee150 on Tuesday 18th May 11:12

[Shmee150]

A911DOM said:

I assume that you have requested an auction catalogue and a bidding card in that case.

I bought my plate direct from a DVLA auction a few years back...

Register for a phone bid, they call you 5 minutes before, you get to hear the auction going on in the background and the lady bidding on my behalf was very calm, very helpful, and very direct about the amounts being bid as and when I wanted to.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I only saw the plate was up for auction last night, but will do that asap, and get myself registered for the phone bid, I should be available at the right time, and if not everything else will have to stop!

I'll be sure to post back whether I get it too

Thanks!

[Roo]

Just fill out and fax back your information and maximum bid to DVLA.

[A911DOM]

Shmee150 said:

A911DOM said:

I assume that you have requested an auction catalogue and a bidding card in that case.

I bought my plate direct from a DVLA auction a few years back...

Register for a phone bid, they call you 5 minutes before, you get to hear the auction going on in the background and the lady bidding on my behalf was very calm, very helpful, and very direct about the amounts being bid as and when I wanted to.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I only saw the plate was up for auction last night, but will do that asap, and get myself registered for the phone bid, I should be available at the right time, and if not everything else will have to stop!

I'll be sure to post back whether I get it too

Thanks!

I very nearly missed out becuase of this, I wouldnt have been able to bid had I not bought the catalogue and therefore effectively registered my interest to take part in proceedings - Things may have changed now of course!

Its a real buzz, hope you get it!

[Primo]

I'm there on the Friday - let me know if I can help you in any way.

Cheers