Trying to buy a registration listed on various sites
Discussion
Ive seen a plate I would like to buy, however its listed on at least 3 or 4 different dealers.
I messaged Regtransfers and they said it was now sold, yet still have it listed.
Its not assigned to any car currently.
Are these just dealers trying to lure people in to buying something they do have in stock, or just chancers listing plates they have no permission to even sell in the first place?
There is no way Id want to pay anything just based on the hope of them then trying to get in touch with the owner!
The plate is a dateless NNN ABC format.
I messaged Regtransfers and they said it was now sold, yet still have it listed.
Its not assigned to any car currently.
Are these just dealers trying to lure people in to buying something they do have in stock, or just chancers listing plates they have no permission to even sell in the first place?
There is no way Id want to pay anything just based on the hope of them then trying to get in touch with the owner!
The plate is a dateless NNN ABC format.
so they probably don’t own them.The VRM will generally still.be owned by a private vendor but not always so...
The fact the number is not assigned is neither here nor there, as firstly the vendor has most likely put it on retention prior to sale, and if it has been sold it may be mid transfer or indeed the buyer will just keep it on retention
Reg Transfers are reputable. If it were me I'd telephone them (not email) with serious intention to buy..
..from what you have said, it more likely than not has sold, but worth a phone call
Their listings online cannot be relied upon as to whether it is still available
The fact the number is not assigned is neither here nor there, as firstly the vendor has most likely put it on retention prior to sale, and if it has been sold it may be mid transfer or indeed the buyer will just keep it on retention
Reg Transfers are reputable. If it were me I'd telephone them (not email) with serious intention to buy..
..from what you have said, it more likely than not has sold, but worth a phone call
Their listings online cannot be relied upon as to whether it is still available
meridian said:
The VRM will generally still.be owned by a private vendor but not always so...
The fact the number is not assigned is neither here nor there, as firstly the vendor has most likely put it on retention prior to sale, and if it has been sold it may be mid transfer or indeed the buyer will just keep it on retention
Reg Transfers are reputable. If it were me I'd telephone them (not email) with serious intention to buy..
..from what you have said, it more likely than not has sold, but worth a phone call
Their listings online cannot be relied upon as to whether it is still available
Spoke to some of their sales staff over the last couple of years , really unimpressed with their ability to tell the truth.The fact the number is not assigned is neither here nor there, as firstly the vendor has most likely put it on retention prior to sale, and if it has been sold it may be mid transfer or indeed the buyer will just keep it on retention
Reg Transfers are reputable. If it were me I'd telephone them (not email) with serious intention to buy..
..from what you have said, it more likely than not has sold, but worth a phone call
Their listings online cannot be relied upon as to whether it is still available
I should have added, I did message them and got this reply:
"Hi, the registration has been sold but still listed with a few dealers.Please call SUE at Regtransfers on 01582969397 for alternatives ?."
Also, I found that it had been sold at Brightwells Auctions in December 2025 with one winning bid.
"Hi, the registration has been sold but still listed with a few dealers.Please call SUE at Regtransfers on 01582969397 for alternatives ?."
Also, I found that it had been sold at Brightwells Auctions in December 2025 with one winning bid.
DJ-DST said:
I should have added, I did message them and got this reply:
"Hi, the registration has been sold but still listed with a few dealers.Please call SUE at Regtransfers on 01582969397 for alternatives ?."
Also, I found that it had been sold at Brightwells Auctions in December 2025 with one winning bid.
Still advertising so that you’ll hopefully phone SUE and but another plate. Nothing illegal about it."Hi, the registration has been sold but still listed with a few dealers.Please call SUE at Regtransfers on 01582969397 for alternatives ?."
Also, I found that it had been sold at Brightwells Auctions in December 2025 with one winning bid.
It's such a simple transaction, and a resulting binding contract all confirmed via email...
Honestly, not aimed at op, but with regard to other comments, if you are not capable of making a simple phone call and just dealing with something so simple, then you need to sort yourself out
There is no difficulty here in establishing whether the VRM is for sale, and if it is, then securing it
Reg Transfers are reputable and easy to deal with
Ffs Come on now !
Honestly, not aimed at op, but with regard to other comments, if you are not capable of making a simple phone call and just dealing with something so simple, then you need to sort yourself out
There is no difficulty here in establishing whether the VRM is for sale, and if it is, then securing it
Reg Transfers are reputable and easy to deal with
Ffs Come on now !
DJ-DST said:
Ive seen a plate I would like to buy, however its listed on at least 3 or 4 different dealers.
I messaged Regtransfers and they said it was now sold, yet still have it listed.
Its not assigned to any car currently.
Are these just dealers trying to lure people in to buying something they do have in stock, or just chancers listing plates they have no permission to even sell in the first place?
There is no way Id want to pay anything just based on the hope of them then trying to get in touch with the owner!
The plate is a dateless NNN ABC format.
I have dealt with a lot of plate dealers and most are....how can I put this diplomatically... lying scumbags.I messaged Regtransfers and they said it was now sold, yet still have it listed.
Its not assigned to any car currently.
Are these just dealers trying to lure people in to buying something they do have in stock, or just chancers listing plates they have no permission to even sell in the first place?
There is no way Id want to pay anything just based on the hope of them then trying to get in touch with the owner!
The plate is a dateless NNN ABC format.
If I were you, I would verify what you were told. A dealer that may or may not be the same one accidentally told me a plate was sold, when it was one one they didn't own, in order to sell me one that they did. In the end I bought the one they owned, at a big discount, and also the one they said was sold, via another dealer.
Usually the dealer with the plate for sale cheapest is worth a call. They either own the plate or are being less greedy.
If a plate is on retention you stand half a chance. If it's on a car already things become immediately less certain There is a reasonable chance that the owner doesn't REALLY want to sell it. They just spoke to a dealer and lo and behold their plate becomes advertised, whether they agreed to it or not. The MO is that, if you're interested, the dealer will call the owner and try to persuade them to sell. I rarely bother with plates that are already asigned.
But if you want to make plate dealers appear paragons of integrity, advertise that you want a particular sort of plate. Sit back and watch the show.
Search the plate on RegHistory.com it will tell you if it’s on retention or not. It will also list dealers that have it for sale (usually) and as has been said, the cheapest is usually the one who has it.
You can also get notifications from that website if it’s ever listed for sale or auction again, or spotted, retained or assigned. It helps with knowing where you stand.
You can also get notifications from that website if it’s ever listed for sale or auction again, or spotted, retained or assigned. It helps with knowing where you stand.
DJ-DST said:
Yes of course I get that. With it being listed on multiple sites I'd kind of hope the owner was actually trying to sell!
How on earth are you meant to know what's actually available to buy without being messed around
Generally one dealer will have it up for sale and a few other dealers will take leads from the original dealerHow on earth are you meant to know what's actually available to buy without being messed around
Furbo said:
There is a reasonable chance that the owner doesn't REALLY want to sell it. They just spoke to a dealer and lo and behold their plate becomes advertised, whether they agreed to it or not.
That’s what happened to me. I think my plate’s still being advertised though I don’t particularly want to sell. rich1888 said:
Search the plate on RegHistory.com it will tell you if it s on retention or not. It will also list dealers that have it for sale (usually) and as has been said, the cheapest is usually the one who has it.
You can also get notifications from that website if it s ever listed for sale or auction again, or spotted, retained or assigned. It helps with knowing where you stand.
Excellent, thanks! I wasn't aware of this site, and its given me all the info I need.You can also get notifications from that website if it s ever listed for sale or auction again, or spotted, retained or assigned. It helps with knowing where you stand.
Funnily enough, since I last checked on DVLA its now showing on a Land Rover, and is also listed on datelessregistrations.co.uk
It was only transferred onto there in April, so I doubt it would be for sale any way.
The hunt goes on!
Hi
Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren’t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren’t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
datelessregistrations said:
Hi
Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
Thanks, that explains a lot about how the system works.Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
datelessregistrations said:
Hi
Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
Thanks, Ive emailed you Dealers get lists of numbers for sale from other dealers and clients etc
But often you aren t informed if a number has sold and so it will remain advertised
But that may only come to light if someone calls about it, we call the seller and then it comes to light it sold and then it would be removed.
Hope that helps
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