Personalised plates are those that are created by the owner and usually reflect something to do with that person’s name, occupation or family.  For example, boxer Amir Khan has the plate “BOX IIIG” on his vehicle, while someone named Sonya might use the combination “SON 7A” to spell out her name.  By using numerals in place of letters—for example 3 for E and 5 for S—thousands of specialised words and phrases can be formed.  Several companies, along with the DVLA, offer search services so you can see if the plate you desire is available.  Plates with the middle digits of “60” are often fancied because they could substitute for the word “GO”.

Cherished plates, on the other hand, are plates with numbers that typically denote a vehicle with some history.  Owners of cherished number plates that have special, historical or significant value attached to them definitely cherish these plates.  Over time the value of these plates has increased exponentially, and many people will hang on to these plates ahead of just about anything else. 

Because of this, cherished plates can command quite a high price.  When someone does decide to sell a cherished number plate, it can fetch quite a price.  For example, back in 1989 when the previously unissued number plate 1 A was sold at auction, it fetched £160,000.  Imagine the price should it become available today!

The website at www.newreg.co.uk will allow you to search by first name, surname, as well as plates beginning with ‘Miss’ (MI55) or ‘Ms’ (M5).  If the plate you seek is not found, you’ll know immediately.  Most sites, including www.PremierPlates.co.uk, offer suggestions for other letter and number combinations if your first choice has already been taken.  Keep in mind that the new numbering scheme in effect since 2001 offers more possibilities, since there are more numbers and letters on the new plates.

Websites such as www.regtransfers.co.uk and www.carreg.co.uk also offer to handle the registration of your new plates as well – although keep in mind the new identification procedures still need to be followed.  However it’s often more convenient to have the same company issuing your plates take care of the registration at the same time.  They’ll handle the paperwork expeditiously and you’ll have your personalised number plates in a much shorter time, allowing you to place it on your vehicle and start driving legally.

Using the websites will allow you to search for the number plate you desire, avoid disappointment, and let a company with knowledge of the process take care of the DVLA proceedings. 

The section entitled “notification of sale or transfer” should be completed, detached, and then posted to the DVLA immediately (DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR).  Be aware that the new car registration certificate will not be sent out immediately. If you do not do this, you will receive inquiries as to the subsequent use of the vehicle.  You will need to provide the purchaser with the top portion of the certificate.  Should the sale of the vehicle be a private one, the DVLA must be informed as soon as possible once the purchaser takes possession of the vehicle; you should remind them of this fact to be safe.

Typically what happens once the DVLA has been informed of the sale and transfer is that you will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter within about four weeks.  This letter will confirm the sale and transfer, as well as relieve you of any further reliability for the vehicle.  Just be patient as it can take up to four weeks for this to work through the system at the DVLA.  Do not contact the DVLA before the four week waiting period has expired. 

Many websites allow you to input plate numbers and see if they’re available.  For example, input a choice of one letter, one number, and then three letters and see if they are available.  For example, the plate registration PR05 PER (prosper) would be one that would follow the current registration format and be fun to drive with, as well.

Fun registration plates are also viewed as investments by many people.  Obviously, each plate or set of registration plates must be unique, so if your registered plate is the older, suffix-model of JEN 11E, you can be assured that is the only plate of its kind on the road.  Uniqueness, of course, has always been valued.  Should you decide to part with your personalised plates, you can be sure a good price would be likely at auction.

The more unique your plate is, yet with widespread appeal, the higher the price you are likely to receive.  Cherished number plates, especially those with older origins, are valued the highest and can be sold for tens of thousands of pounds.  In many cases, the appreciation of personalised registration plates far outstrips that of many other investments. 

Also, as DVLA changes their numbering scheme, those plates with an older style will increase in value because they will no longer be issued.  Just as the original dateless number plates issued after the original 1903 Motor Car Act are highly prized, so too are today’s numbers likely to be when their style is no longer available.

In order to operate a non-EU vehicle in the UK temporarily, the driver will need to contact the HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) upon entering the UK.  It is up to the HMRC to allow a vehicle from outside of the EU to be operating on UK roads.  If the vehicle is going to remain in the UK, you must obtain a UK DVLA registrations certificate and pay the appropriate vehicle tax.

EU vehicles that are imported into the UK can be operated in the country for up to a six month period within any 12 month period.  You will not have to obtain a car registration certificate or pay the vehicle taxes provided that you can show proof that you have complied with these requirements for the vehicle’s country of origin.  It is the driver’s responsibility to provide proof of how long the vehicle has been in the UK.  Usually, ferry tickets are proof enough.

On many plates you’ll see the EU Country Identifier at the far left. The identifier for Great Britain is a vertical blue band with a circle of stars on it, and beneath the circle the letters “GB” for Great Britain.  Following the Country Identifier are two letters, commonly known as the Area Code, or memory tag.  These indicate the local registration office: the first letter identifies a very broad area, and the second letter identifies the registration office within that area.   For example, plate identifiers beginning with A were issued within Anglia, those beginning with P were issued in the Preston area.  Within Preston, for example, you’ll find 18 issuing offices, each of which is indicated by the second letter.

The following two digits are the age identifier.  If the plate was originally issued between March and August of a year, the digits of that year will be displayed: 11 for plates issued between March and August of 2011.  If issued between September and February of the following year, the numbers would have 50 added to them.  So plates issued between September of 2011 and February of 2012 would display a 61. 

The two main categories of businesses that are eligible for trade license plates are motor traders and vehicle testers. Motor traders are businesses that specialise in selling, manufacturing or repairing vehicles or those who have cars in their possession solely for collection or delivery. Vehicle testers are defined as businesses that use public roads to carry out short term tests, on vehicles that belong to others.

Trade plates can only be used on vehicles, if the vehicle is temporarily in the possession of a business that has the right to use trade plates. As soon as the vehicle is transferred or sold to another party, the trade plates can no longer be used on the vehicle, unless the new owner has a similar license. Vehicles which are part of a trader’s stock are considered under temporary possession, regardless of the period of time that the vehicle spends on the forecourt.

Applying for a trade license is relatively simple and requires form VTL301 to be completed and sent to the DVLA. Licenses are however time-limited, usually lasting only six months before the application needs to be renewed.

Personalised plates are a wonderful gift for yourself or someone special in your life.  Know someone who loves dogs?  Include the combination “K9” in it.  List your nickname or the name of your spouse on the car; the variations are almost endless. 

The plates can be quite expensive, however.  Be sure to do a search on the DVLA’s website or via another provider.  You may find that the plate you desire is extremely expensive—some of them can cost into the tens of thousands of pounds!  Short plates command the highest prices, so if you cherish something like 3P or M4, be sure to do your research first. If very lucky, when checking number plates for sale in your area, you may find the one you want at a reasonable price.

Some of the most popular plates are the “Miss” plates.  Start with MI55, and then choose the last three letters as your name, nickname or shortened version of the same. “MI55 AMY” or “MI55 CDY” are just some of the options you have.  You can also create your last name on a plate: W1LC0X and others can be created with a little imagination.

Plates can be purchased as a gift as well.  Simply inform the DVLA of that at the time of purchase.  They’ll note it on a form and you can present your gift to the lucky recipient.  It’s something that will last for years to come.

There are two primary application forms required depending on the vehicle that you are registering – the V55/4 or V55/5 – both of which must be accompanied by the following three documents:

- your current motor insurance certificate
- the fee for your vehicle’s car tax or licence excise duty
- identity confirmation documents regarding your name and address

Additionally, if it is the first time that you are registering a vehicle in the UK, a first vehicle registration fee of £55 will be required.  You will need the following documents in order to pay this fee:

- any documents in your possession which relate to your vehicle
- appropriate HM Customs and Revenue form(s)
- a “declaration of newness” if it’s applicable
- documentation supporting type approval such as IVA’s (individual approval schemes), SVA’s (single vehicle approval), or enhanced SVA or motorcycle SVA
- MOT (Ministry of Transport) if one is required

Furthermore, if the vehicle has been imported into the UK you will need:

- evidence regarding the vehicles collection date
- foreign registration documents (or other documentation) relative to that vehicle.

Nowadays, the easiest way to buy a unique plate registration is via one of the many websites that sell car number plates. The better websites have search engines which allow you to try and find that perfect plate. This can be a bit of a tricky process, and often the search engine on a website will guide you in your search, by only allowing you to search within certain parameters, which is usually well explained. The only problem with searching for number plates on websites is that you may have to visit many different sellers to find your plate, because their inventories tend not to overlap. The DVLA Personalised Registrations website has a searchable database for unused plates, and the fixed purchase fee of £250 can be easily afforded.

The most interesting number plates for sale can often appear in classifieds, so look through the motoring sections of newspapers, or browse through the back pages of a car magazine. Be aware however, that these plates tend to be rather expensive, but if you want something really rare, this could be a great place to look.

Finally, the DVLA holds regular auctions whenever it releases a new range of plates. For example, in December 2009, the DVLA held an auction for the new 10-series plates that will start appearing on cars in March 2010. The benefit of buying plates at an auction is that you’re the first owner, and the value of the plate is likely to increase. It may also be your only chance to buy that exceptional plate before someone else grabs it.