The Problem With Vanity Plates...
Discussion
So we have a few "cherished numbers" on our vehicles and a couple on retention certificates.
We bought a car new 18 months ago (24 registration) and had it supplied from new with a vanity plate (a 17 plate).
Change of heart, so we acquired a 24 vanity plate with my wife's initials and had a valuation on the 17 plate which is now for sale on eBay failing which it'll get listed at RegTransfers.
So the change process goes like this:
1. take the vanity plate off the car.
That's easy enough to do online, and you can immediately reassign that registration to another vehicle, as DVLA gives you the certificate number.
2. wait for the new V5 for the newly-assigned 24 plate.
Why can't they let you have the reference number for your V5 at that point? They give you a special form to print off to go and get your (spurious) number plates made up.
3. change insurance
At a cost.
4. get new number plates made up in case the V5 certificate takes a while to come through.
At a cost again.
5. When the V5 finally arrives, assign it to the same vehicle.
Easy to do online.
6. change insurance.
At a cost again.
7. Slap vanity plates on the car in lieu of the now defunct ones.
Hopefully you've already got the plates made up.
But why the palaver?
We bought a car new 18 months ago (24 registration) and had it supplied from new with a vanity plate (a 17 plate).
Change of heart, so we acquired a 24 vanity plate with my wife's initials and had a valuation on the 17 plate which is now for sale on eBay failing which it'll get listed at RegTransfers.
So the change process goes like this:
1. take the vanity plate off the car.
That's easy enough to do online, and you can immediately reassign that registration to another vehicle, as DVLA gives you the certificate number.
2. wait for the new V5 for the newly-assigned 24 plate.
Why can't they let you have the reference number for your V5 at that point? They give you a special form to print off to go and get your (spurious) number plates made up.
3. change insurance
At a cost.
4. get new number plates made up in case the V5 certificate takes a while to come through.
At a cost again.
5. When the V5 finally arrives, assign it to the same vehicle.
Easy to do online.
6. change insurance.
At a cost again.
7. Slap vanity plates on the car in lieu of the now defunct ones.
Hopefully you've already got the plates made up.
But why the palaver?
R4EVS said:
First world problem.
I can remember a time when you used to have to physically turn up at a DVLA regional office (remember them) with all the paperwork AND the car you were taking the plate off or adding it to.
Ah yes, me too. That wasn't even *that* long ago! Mid-nougties?I can remember a time when you used to have to physically turn up at a DVLA regional office (remember them) with all the paperwork AND the car you were taking the plate off or adding it to.
I had vanity plates on both of my cars: one came with it and it's very car specific, and has been on it since nearly new (now 28 years old) so as much as I'd prefer an S-registered plate, all car's history and paperwork quote the vanity plate. The second was a gift for my 21st birthday and has been on various cars. I've now taken it off the car, which has been returned to its age-correct plate, and it's on retention.
It is a pain and I've just gone through this myself. If everything could be done on the same day, you could get the dealer to do the plates for you but it's all a bit of a slog. The only way I've found to speed things up slightly is to buy the plates online in advance. For some reason, you can buy from UK metal plates online without any form of proof or reference number. You'd have to like the pressed metal plate look for that though.
valiant said:
vikingaero said:
Some insurers will do the change for no charge if it is something that can be done wholly online. If you insure with bottom feeding insurers then there will be charges.
Yep, no charge here either in fees or increased premiums. Simply done online as well in 5 mins.toon10 said:
It is a pain and I've just gone through this myself. If everything could be done on the same day, you could get the dealer to do the plates for you but it's all a bit of a slog. The only way I've found to speed things up slightly is to buy the plates online in advance. For some reason, you can buy from UK metal plates online without any form of proof or reference number. You'd have to like the pressed metal plate look for that though.
I used A1 Showplates as they're cheaper than a legit place and also don't require evidence or the reference number.It’s only really a palaver as you say if you change your plates when not actually purchasing a car.
4 of our cars have them and only changed when bought either with a straight swop or using plates held on retention.
In fairness the current 4 were all brand new so done by the dealers.
The online retention process works well.
As such have also never paid a penny for any Insurance changes as n/a.
4 of our cars have them and only changed when bought either with a straight swop or using plates held on retention.
In fairness the current 4 were all brand new so done by the dealers.
The online retention process works well.
As such have also never paid a penny for any Insurance changes as n/a.
RichardHMorris said:
3. change insurance
At a cost.
6. change insurance.
At a cost again.
stop using sAt a cost.
6. change insurance.
At a cost again.
t insurers, we changed both our cars in the last 12 months and neither insurance company charged to change the plate, both companies allowed it to be done online (and the old insurance companies didnt charge to take the plates of and put back the originals)and why would you need to buy new plates, i changed the OH's because they were 14 years old (perfectly legal) for some 3D gel ones. They were only £35 shipped for the pair
the online system is so simple and far more secure for those with valuable plates since you retain 100% control all the time
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Tuesday 12th May 16:36
GeniusOfLove said:
I wish it was easier to remove them, I hate it when I buy a car and someone has left their cheap and embarrassingly crap plate on the car!
Same here. Had two or three cars with car model plus previous owners initals on the plate.It ought to be free to relinquish the plate back to DVLA and have the cars original number reassigned.
chris1roll said:
GeniusOfLove said:
I wish it was easier to remove them, I hate it when I buy a car and someone has left their cheap and embarrassingly crap plate on the car!
Same here. Had two or three cars with car model plus previous owners initals on the plate.It ought to be free to relinquish the plate back to DVLA and have the cars original number reassigned.
Another first world problem, I have a "68" vanity plate, I cannot put it onto my 08 car, I understand in years gone by this was to stop people passing off cars as newer than they were but in the modern age where all of this is digital and proper V5s showing the cars actual manufactured date etc why can I not put my plate onto just any car, really irks me!
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