How to approach someone about a personal plate

[MagicMike]

Apologies for the naivety, but how would PH'ers go about trying to purchase a specific plate, which is not listed for sale? Are there specific brokers you'd recommend, or is there a direct approach method?

[B'stard Child]

MagicMike said:

Apologies for the naivety, but how would PH'ers go about trying to purchase a specific plate, which is not listed for sale? Are there specific brokers you'd recommend, or is there a direct approach method?

Are we talking about a plate that "exists" or an imaginary one that has never been issued and isn't listed on the DVLA registrations direct website?

[Steve Maund]

Speak to DVLA, if it does not exist they will put it to auction.

[B'stard Child]

Steve Maund said:

Speak to DVLA, if it does not exist they will put it to auction.

But they may not bother to tell you if and when they do that.......... (daft but true)

[TooMany2cvs]

MagicMike said:

Apologies for the naivety, but how would PH'ers go about trying to purchase a specific plate, which is not listed for sale? Are there specific brokers you'd recommend, or is there a direct approach method?

Always assuming it's really out there, you'd need to find the owner - which is going to be difficult - then write them a very nice letter. The odds of them just binning it are high, of course.

If you had the plate, and got a letter from some Joe Random saying "I'd like to buy it, please", what would YOUR reaction be?

[FreeLitres]

Easy.

Just walk up to them with a swagger and say "Sweet plate Dawwwg - 300 cash?"

[MagicMike]

It is an existing plate according to the RAC car check, but I have no real way of approaching the registered owner, hence the ambiguity over the process.

Plus the question of value also arises, I'm assuming it's a finger in the air approach?

[B'stard Child]

MagicMike said:

It is an existing plate according to the RAC car check, but I have no real way of approaching the registered owner, hence the ambiguity over the process.

That's your biggest hurdle right there - DVLA wouldn't give you the owner details on the grounds that you'd like to buy their reg plate

[ecsrobin]

MagicMike said:

It is an existing plate according to the RAC car check, but I have no real way of approaching the registered owner, hence the ambiguity over the process.

Plus the question of value also arises, I'm assuming it's a finger in the air approach?

If I got a letter asking to buy my number plate I would bin it. If someone knocked on my door and asked I think a price of £500k seems acceptable.

I'd say give up now.

[After_Shock]

B'stard Child said:

But they may not bother to tell you if and when they do that.......... (daft but true)

Strange they kept me well informed when I requested one, gave me the date the auction and sent a reminder the week before.

[B'stard Child]

After_Shock said:

B'stard Child said:

But they may not bother to tell you if and when they do that.......... (daft but true)

Strange they kept me well informed when I requested one, gave me the date the auction and sent a reminder the week before.

I'm sure they try - just stating that in my case they acknowledged my request however the plate went to auction and I was unaware of it - which was slightly irksome.

I think the buyer has been trying to sell it ever since as I think he paid somewhere around £2500 for it.

I don't have a relevant car to put it on anyway now and I certainly wouldn't/couldn't have paid that much for it anyway

[After_Shock]

B'stard Child said:

I'm sure they try - just stating that in my case they acknowledged my request however the plate went to auction and I was unaware of it - which was slightly irksome.

I think the buyer has been trying to sell it ever since as I think he paid somewhere around £2500 for it.

I don't have a relevant car to put it on anyway now and I certainly wouldn't/couldn't have paid that much for it anyway

Worked out quite well you didn't get it then!