Personalised number plates
Discussion
Thinking about getting for my daughter for her birthday, but I don't know anything very much so could use some help.
The different companies that advertise them all seem to have the same number plates available . How does that work?
If I buy a plate, do I have to put it on a car? The one I'm thinking of is newer than her current car, so would need to "hold" it for a while until she gets a newer car. Is there a limit on how long it can be held?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as we go along, but any help appreciated
The different companies that advertise them all seem to have the same number plates available . How does that work?
If I buy a plate, do I have to put it on a car? The one I'm thinking of is newer than her current car, so would need to "hold" it for a while until she gets a newer car. Is there a limit on how long it can be held?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as we go along, but any help appreciated
Most of the plates you see advertised won’t actually be owned by the dealers (although they will be some as their own stock).
In some cases the plate won’t still be available- not uncommon for people selling to list them with several dealers and then not notify the rest when it’s sold by another.
In some cases the plates listed might be shown on a speculative basis. I know some of mine are listed for sale because the dealers 1) want to pad their listings; 2) know I would probably sell at the right price of someone really wanted one of them.
Whenever I’ve bought from dealers:
1) if it’s a customer’s plate they’ve transferred it straight onto a car (I assume in part because that avoids revealing the personal details of the former owner);
2) if it’s one they own, they sent me the entitlement certificate. I could have waited to assign, but put it onto a car myself.
In pretty much each case, I’ve then taken the plate off the car (and back onto a retention certificate in my name) so that I could assign it/update the retention doc at a later date.
If you’re buying an expensive one, do only by from a reputable dealer (or direct from DVLA).
In some cases the plate won’t still be available- not uncommon for people selling to list them with several dealers and then not notify the rest when it’s sold by another.
In some cases the plates listed might be shown on a speculative basis. I know some of mine are listed for sale because the dealers 1) want to pad their listings; 2) know I would probably sell at the right price of someone really wanted one of them.
Whenever I’ve bought from dealers:
1) if it’s a customer’s plate they’ve transferred it straight onto a car (I assume in part because that avoids revealing the personal details of the former owner);
2) if it’s one they own, they sent me the entitlement certificate. I could have waited to assign, but put it onto a car myself.
In pretty much each case, I’ve then taken the plate off the car (and back onto a retention certificate in my name) so that I could assign it/update the retention doc at a later date.
If you’re buying an expensive one, do only by from a reputable dealer (or direct from DVLA).
boyse7en said:
If I buy a plate, do I have to put it on a car? The one I'm thinking of is newer than her current car, so would need to "hold" it for a while until she gets a newer car. Is there a limit on how long it can be held?
No you don't have to put it on the car, you can hold it on retention indefinitely, although the retention certificate needs to be renewed every 10 years, for which there is currently no cost.boyse7en said:
Thinking about getting for my daughter for her birthday, but I don't know anything very much so could use some help.
The different companies that advertise them all seem to have the same number plates available . How does that work?
If I buy a plate, do I have to put it on a car? The one I'm thinking of is newer than her current car, so would need to "hold" it for a while until she gets a newer car. Is there a limit on how long it can be held?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as we go along, but any help appreciated
If the plate is on retention I tend to view that as a statement of intent. If it's on a vehicle I feel far less confident that it can be purchased.The different companies that advertise them all seem to have the same number plates available . How does that work?
If I buy a plate, do I have to put it on a car? The one I'm thinking of is newer than her current car, so would need to "hold" it for a while until she gets a newer car. Is there a limit on how long it can be held?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as we go along, but any help appreciated
I've asked dealers for quotes on my own plate before, only then to find my plate for sale on their sites (at multiples of their quote!)
You can often find the dealer who owns the plate by checking to see who has it advertised cheapest.
Also, I would personally never spend more money on a plate than I would be happy about losing. I have one for sale for far less than I paid for it and had no takers, because people have less money for discretionary spending now.
Also on the subject of not paying a fortune for a plate: I would not be at all surprised if the government if the government, in the future, said "you can have whatever plate you want for £x if it isn't currently in use". It would be a simple money making scheme and the fact that it devalues plates already out there will be of no concern to them.
Some states in America allow you to choose your own plate. An ideal money spinner for government.
We have 4 plates bought directly from Dvla, all L444*** with our initials, luckily all 4 were available with my wife's, kid's and my initials. Not very expensive either.
Had the two kids ones on retention until they were old enough to drive and had their own cars.
We have 4 plates bought directly from Dvla, all L444*** with our initials, luckily all 4 were available with my wife's, kid's and my initials. Not very expensive either.
Had the two kids ones on retention until they were old enough to drive and had their own cars.
CRA1G said:
If you do buy one thats on a vehicle you could put it on retention which lasts 10 years.
The current holder of the plate can put it on retention. The certificate would be in their name. It would not be without risk for a purchaser to simply take that certificate and do nothing with it for an extended period - which is why, to control access to the certificate number and allow the retention certificate to be extended, I always transfer on to one of my cars and back off again.
Even that is not risk free and I did once have DVLA come back around later to reclaim a high value plate that had seemingly been stolen from the former owner. The dealer was an absolute gentleman and offered, and made, repayment in full. It is for this reason that I’d only ever buy from a well regarded dealer or direct fro, DVLA
Muck Dodge said:
Good info above, especially the last paragraph. Most number plate companies advertise plates which you can buy direct from the DVLA. Search DVLA registration numbers, they have their own search function for the different plate styles.
That’s what I found. Saved £100 by buying direct from DVLA for plate I saw in a dealers ad, though about 8 years ago now.Personalised plates can be a real drag, man.
I have one on my Mustang which I've had for 19 years. LV51FER from the DVLA site back in the early 2000s. Most clever ones have gone a long time ago.
I bought a car and didn't like the plate, a dull one with the letter U in it so went to the DVLA site and played round with my initials to find a combination I liked ( in my case S111 "Three Initials" for £250).
The nuisance comes when changing the plate and the drawbacks are:
1. Some insurance companies charge a fee to change the plate but some are free or can be done online.
2. Every time you change your car, you have to pay £80 to retain the plate and either keep it on a retention certificate or reassign to your new car.
3. In the case of newer cars with online servicing records, you have to send off a photo of the logbook to update their records.
I now have that plate on retention as the new car has a decent plate. I could have let it go and saved 80 quid but you never know when you might need it.
I have one on my Mustang which I've had for 19 years. LV51FER from the DVLA site back in the early 2000s. Most clever ones have gone a long time ago.
I bought a car and didn't like the plate, a dull one with the letter U in it so went to the DVLA site and played round with my initials to find a combination I liked ( in my case S111 "Three Initials" for £250).
The nuisance comes when changing the plate and the drawbacks are:
1. Some insurance companies charge a fee to change the plate but some are free or can be done online.
2. Every time you change your car, you have to pay £80 to retain the plate and either keep it on a retention certificate or reassign to your new car.
3. In the case of newer cars with online servicing records, you have to send off a photo of the logbook to update their records.
I now have that plate on retention as the new car has a decent plate. I could have let it go and saved 80 quid but you never know when you might need it.
Bobupndown said:
Some states in America allow you to choose your own plate. An ideal money spinner for government.
.
Same in Canada. .
$200 and you keep the plate for life. No resale and very simple to transfer from car to car. Thus there is no market for unique plates. I have a dozen or so,.
Thanks for all the info guys, very helpful.
I've decided to go for it, as it is a good plate for her as it spells her name (as long as you think an 8 looks a bit like like an S).
Buying it directly from DVLA so should all be legit.
Also , as mentioned above, if it doesn't work out we can afford to lose the £399 it's costing.
Then she can start saving up for a 2018 or newer car
I've decided to go for it, as it is a good plate for her as it spells her name (as long as you think an 8 looks a bit like like an S).
Buying it directly from DVLA so should all be legit.
Also , as mentioned above, if it doesn't work out we can afford to lose the £399 it's costing.
Then she can start saving up for a 2018 or newer car
Bobupndown said:
Sounds like it will make an appearance on the "what crappy plates" thread......
Not if it is correctly spaced and the otherwise correct. I recently one one at auction that nearly spells my name bought off DVLA auctions, not sure it was worth the price but someone was bidding against me so there is demand out there, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. lost in espace said:
Bobupndown said:
Sounds like it will make an appearance on the "what crappy plates" thread......
Not if it is correctly spaced and the otherwise correct. I recently one one at auction that nearly spells my name bought off DVLA auctions, not sure it was worth the price but someone was bidding against me so there is demand out there, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Bobupndown said:
Some states in America allow you to choose your own plate. An ideal money spinner for government.
We have 4 plates bought directly from Dvla, all L444*** with our initials, luckily all 4 were available with my wife's, kid's and my initials. Not very expensive either.
Had the two kids ones on retention until they were old enough to drive and had their own cars.
Yes I’ve heard about the American situation. It may be an urban myth, but often claimed, that an elderly farmer has EI EI 0We have 4 plates bought directly from Dvla, all L444*** with our initials, luckily all 4 were available with my wife's, kid's and my initials. Not very expensive either.
Had the two kids ones on retention until they were old enough to drive and had their own cars.
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