Unissued number plate - how to go direct?

[Shnozz]

I made a speculative enquiry regarding a number plate advertised with one of the large plate retailers. In response they gave a guideline price but with a caveat to say it was an unissued/unassigned plate that they might be able to source.

Is there any way of me going direct to secure the plate? It is an old plate so i see no reason why it would not have been issued back in the prefix year that applied?

[Magic919]

I've seen people say they contacted DVLA, who put it in a later batch at auction. I'm presuming it's an old dateless number.

[Balmoral]

My number was never issued back in the day. Contact the DVLA about it and they will put it into an auction. They won't sell it directly to you (or a dealer), you will have to go and bid.

[Shnozz]

Thanks guys - is there an official channel to follow? I cannot see any obvious means to request the issue via the DVLA website.

[Balmoral]

I just called the regular enquiry number, and they were great.

[Shnozz]

Thanks chap. Will give them a buzz.

[AndrewEH1]

Shnozz said:

Thanks guys - is there an official channel to follow? I cannot see any obvious means to request the issue via the DVLA website.

From DVLA Website said:

If you have a question about personalised registrations that hasn't been answered here, you can contact us in the following ways

Telephone - 0300 123 0883 Lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am - 4.30pm

Email us using the webform at - www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla

Write to us at - DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea, SA99 1DS

Best call them, they are actually pretty helpful!

[Balmoral]

IIRC, I then got involved in an email chain which kept me up to date with which auction it would be going in.

[Shnozz]

All sorted. What a delight to deal with! If only every company was like that. Friendly, attentive and done in minutes. Like my sex life.

[smithyithy]

There's an online form you can submit too to request info on (I think) up to 3 plates at a time.

I did 3 earlier this year and a reply the next day, from there you can request one to be put into an upcoming (which may not be as soon as you'd hope) auction.

They were quite helpful though.

[Balmoral]

Good luck with the bidding, and make sure you aren't bidding against the dealer you mentioned, who may be bidding on it to then sell it to you

[AndrewEH1]

Shnozz said:

All sorted. What a delight to deal with! If only every company was like that. Friendly, attentive and done in minutes. Like my sex life.

I tried to sort a minor Self Assessment tax issue on the phone yesterday, was left shouting and angry after the autobot woman hung up on me. The DVLA call centre is night and day compared to HMRC!

So are they going to put it up at an upcoming auction? Good luck and I hope you get it for a reasonable price (read the T&Cs as there is a significant buyers premium and VAT to pay!)

Edited by AndrewEH1 on Thursday 10th November 15:30

[Shnozz]

The lady was unable to say for certain whether they would be put it to auction. However, she said enquiries would be made as to whether the plate could be issued and, if it can, it will then probably be placed in the next auction and I will be notified by email.

Indeed, I expect the company that I approached may well bid against me but little I can do about that.

[ArmaghMan]

hi
There is another avenue where you will get a definite date for the auction.
if you don't hear anything re which auction email me or update this thread.
each time I used this avenue the plate was in the next auction.

[V10 SPM]

How do you know whether a particular registration is issued or not?

[Balmoral]

In my case I enquired as to whether it was in circulation? They told me that it was never issued back in 1974-75, and that as it was a valid configuration, they would issue it for me. In the old days blocks of numbers would be issued to car dealers to allocate to new cars, and unused numbers would be sent back, I guess this was one of them.

[Shaoxter]

There's a plate I'm after and enquired with the DVLA - they said that the number plate had never been issued but they can't send it to auction and won't ever be available...

What's the deal with those? Format is 2 letters and 2 numbers.

[AndrewEH1]

Shaoxter said:

There's a plate I'm after and enquired with the DVLA - they said that the number plate had never been issued but they can't send it to auction and won't ever be available...

What's the deal with those? Format is 2 letters and 2 numbers.

Unless it looks like something offensive I can't see a reason DVLA wouldn't issue it, that's really one of the main reason they stop some being unavailable.

When did you call them up about it? Maybe worth calling again. Although if it does go for auction expect strong money for a two letter two number.

[ArmaghMan]

Shaoxter said:

There's a plate I'm after and enquired with the DVLA - they said that the number plate had never been issued but they can't send it to auction and won't ever be available...

What's the deal with those? Format is 2 letters and 2 numbers.

Are any of the letters an I, Z, or Q?

[Shaoxter]

AndrewEH1 said:

Shaoxter said:

There's a plate I'm after and enquired with the DVLA - they said that the number plate had never been issued but they can't send it to auction and won't ever be available...

What's the deal with those? Format is 2 letters and 2 numbers.

Unless it looks like something offensive I can't see a reason DVLA wouldn't issue it, that's really one of the main reason they stop some being unavailable.

When did you call them up about it? Maybe worth calling again. Although if it does go for auction expect strong money for a two letter two number.

Well what do you know... I called them again just now and they've put me on the interest list (or whatever it's called) and will notify me if/when it goes to auction. Sounds a lot more promising, but I've still got another number plate request which hasn't appeared at an auction in 1.5 years so I'm not holding my breath