For some people a number plate goes beyond the mere fun of personalised number plates, but has a deeper meaning – a true cherished possession. Some plates really mean a lot to particular individuals and once they own their cherished plate, they will most certainly never sell it!

Romantic connotations are one of the most common. Recently model and TV personality Linda Lusardi and her husband Sam Kane, the actor, sought a plate with both their names on it. After a thorough search they discovered ‘LU54 RDY’, a number plate they definitely won’t give up.

Sometimes it is necessary to compromise just a little bit on the spelling, due to the configuration and restrictions on the letters and numbers featured. Dateless plates are a little easier to work with, because they don’t require a year reference to be included in the middle, start or end of the registration plates.

Number plates representing hobbies are very popular and so are number plates that play on the car’s name and model, such as ‘BMW 3’ for the BMW M3 or ‘FRE’ for a Ferrari. Names, initials and dates of birth are also popular, but perhaps the most sought after private registration plates are ones with simple letter and number combinations. A plate with the number ‘X1’ can reach prices in the hundreds of thousand pounds, but these are exceptions.

Those people who are willing to be a little creative, may find that UK number plates offer all sorts of unique words, which may not be that expensive.

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Private number plates are ever more popular, as everyone is looking for that special, cherished number plate. For that reason the number of companies selling private plates has absolutely exploded. Advertisements on the internet and in classifieds are too many to mention, but not all of these sellers are reliable.

One of the biggest problems is that some sellers on the internet, list very rare plates at low prices. Rare plates can be incredibly expensive, ranging from £500 each to £500,000 each so the temptation to buy ‘F 1’ for your Ferrari at a cut-down price is understandable. Trouble is, having spent hundreds or thousands of pounds to ‘purchase’ the plate, many people simply don’t hear from the seller again.

It is easy for fraudulent sellers to pull this off, because a website can be run from any country and still appear ‘local’ with a ‘co.uk’ address. Since laws allowing the prosecution of fraudulent transactions differ from country to country, a website hosted in a country with a different legal system can be virtually immune to prosecution.

For buyers of private number plates the dangers are evident, and it can be very difficult to determine which sellers are genuine. One sure way is to buy directly from the DVLA Personalised Registrations website, where genuine DVLA registrations are easily searchable. It is also a good idea to look for classifieds in reputable motoring magazines, as these are likely to be vetted beforehand. Finally find out which companies participate in DVLA auctions regularly; if a company is clearly paying for plates, they are likely to offer the genuine article.

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Companies offering to register UK number plates are a dime a dozen, but they all charge a significant fee. What many potential customers don’t know is that specific, individual registration plates can be purchased directly from the DVLA.

DVLA Personalised Registration Plates have millions of number plates in a searchable database. Not only does the DVLA offer a purchasing facility through its website and over the phone, but it also has regular auctions of brand new plates – auctions that are increasingly popular with trade professionals, but also one that individuals can attend. Buying directly from DVLA Personalised Registrations costs from £250 upwards and carries a £80 assignment fee.

The DVLA Personalised Registrations website offers a number of types of car registrations including the ‘current style’ car registrations, (which consists of two letters, two figures, a space and then three letters); prefix and suffix car registrations (with a two figure identifier at the beginning and at the end of the car registration), and ‘dateless registrations’ which has a number followed by a letter and vice versa.

Once you have purchased the personalised plate from the DVLA registrations service, they will send you a Certificate of Entitlement (V750) which you need to keep safe, because you will need it to transfer your purchased number plate to the car of your choosing. You don’t need to put the plate on a car immediately – the V750 certificate can be renewed every year.

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If you import a vehicle into the UK and intend to drive it on public roads, you will need to have it registered and taxed with the DVLA.  You should do this immediately upon receiving the vehicle as it cannot be legally driven or kept on any public road until this has been done.  Newer vehicles can be driven into the UK and then registered as being “new” provided that:

- You register it within 14 days (you may get an extension to one month on this during peak periods)
- The vehicle only shows what is called “reasonable delivery mileage” (driven from the pick-up point to home using the most direct route possible)
- The vehicle was not permanently registered before
- The vehicle was in storage prior to being registered and is considered a current model or one which has not been in production within the past two years

If you are planning on importing a vehicle into the UK, it is recommended that you have it transported rather than driving it from the port of entry to its primary destination.  You will also need a “certificate of conformity” from the manufacturer or supplier proving its category type.

If the vehicle is a left-hand-drive and is imported from Europe, you will need a VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) certificate listed under the Mutual Recognition scheme.  This indicates that the vehicle has been changed and will be suitable to drive on British roads.  Additionally, should you require further information about importing a vehicle into the UK, you should contact your local area DVLA office.

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There are basically three different forms for registration plates that can be involved in the sale and transfer of a vehicle here in the UK.  The V5C is one of these three and there are certain guidelines and procedures that must be followed in order for you and the purchaser to legally complete the sale and transfer of the vehicle.  Additionally, this is the only way in which the DVLA will discharge your liabilities regarding the vehicle.  Be sure that both you and the purchaser follow these directions carefully.

The first step is to complete Section 6 (“new keeper or new name/new address details”).  Next, you and the purchaser need to sign the document under Section 8.  At that point you should send this to the DVLA immediately at, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.  Make sure that the “green” section (V5C/2) has been filled out accurately, and then give this portion to the person purchasing the vehicle.

If you sell your vehicle to a “motor trader”, the definition of which is on the rear side of the V5C/3, this “yellow section” must be completed.  The motor trader’s personal details and signature must be sent to the DVLA at the address listed in the above paragraph.  The uncompleted “blue and green” sections (V5C and V5C/2) must be detached and given to the motor trader.

There are additional guidance notes (INS 160) which accompany this document.  Additionally, the tax disc should be removed so that you can apply for a vehicle tax refund for the complete months which still remain on the disc.  Keep in mind that the DVLA will not pay you this refund if they have not received notification of the sale and transfer of the vehicle.

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Whenever you are registering a vehicle in the UK you will deal with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) who deal with all motor vehicle registrations.  If your vehicle is going to be operated on public roads, the UK government requires that you register it in order for it to be legally operable.  Vehicles that have been registered are provided with an index number that is unique to the vehicle and it must be properly displayed on the specified registration plates of that vehicle.  Additionally, when you purchase a new vehicle, a “vehicle first registration fee” will be required so that it is entered onto the vehicle register.  If applicable, the current fee is £55. 

You also need to be aware of what is known as a Low Emission Zone or LEZ, which is an area that is geographically defined.  These exist to deter or restrict the operation of polluting vehicles in order to improve and maintain better air quality.  The LEZ came into effect in February of 2008, the establishment of which was announced by the Mayor of London.

Those vehicles that are classified as being non-polluting include all-electric vehicles as well as those that are labelled as “plug-in” or regular hybrids (vehicles which operate by virtue of multiple fuel and power sources).  Registration forms for LEZ vehicles can be downloaded online or can be obtained by requesting them by telephone.  Today, the largest Low Emission Zone in the world is the Greater London area.

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There are nearly 40 million private number plates currently in use here in the UK, the popularity of which is showing no signs of slowing down.  Despite the fact that these were issued by the DVLA, you can only purchase “new” private number plates which have not yet been issued to any vehicle.  This means that if you are searching for a specific combination of letters and numbers to spell out your message, you may have to contact a private dealer.  Here are a few steps that you should take and options you can pursue for purchasing private number plates from the DVLA.

Check to see if the private number plate you are looking for is available.  You can do this by visiting the DVLA website and searching their current list of permissible characters in order to find your private number plate.  Once you have found the number plate you are looking for, you have the following three options for purchasing them:

Purchase your private number plates by telephone – if you choose, you can purchase your private number plates by calling the DVLA and ordering them over the phone.

Purchase your private number plates online – the most convenient way to purchase your private number plates is by using the internet.  The price quoted should include the £80 ‘assignment fee’ and the VAT.

Purchasing a private number plate as a gift – you will have to appoint the loved one or relative that you are purchasing the private number plate as the “keeper” of that number plate and signify that you are the purchaser.

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Personalised number plates; also known as vanity number plates, prestige number plates, cherished number plates, custom number plates or private number plates, are often highly sought after types of car registration plates. The series of letters and / or numbers which can be used, which are regulated by national authorities such as the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK, often spell out personal names, initials, places of residence, professions or other connotative combinations.

In the United Kingdom, the limitations placed on personalised number plates are: any three consecutive letters have to be followed by a number, duplicated licence plates are prohibited, i.e. when a number plate is already in use, and certain connotations such as swear words are prohibited.

Searching for permissible letter and / or number combinations can be done in a variety of ways. The DVLA has a website, offices to visit, and a personalised number plate telesales department, through all of which enquiries can be made. There are also a number of private websites which offer search functions, although it is recommended in each case to check a chosen personalised number plate with the DVLA before acquisition.

Common searches are for personal names, personal initials, symbolic dates and / or places, memorable personal dates such as birthdays or marriage dates, and titles such as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Dr, Sir and Lord. Highly popular personalised plates can often be bought and sold for significant sums at private or DVLA auctions.

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The mandatory registration plates that are currently used to display a vehicle’s registration mark in the UK are referred to as vehicle registration plates.  These have been in existence since 1903 when the vehicle identification system was implemented and their display was first required by UK law.  When the Motor Car Act of 1903 came into being on New Year’s Day of 1904 it required vehicles that were used on public roads to be officially entered on a vehicle registry and to display vehicle plates, which were numbered.

The act was passed in order to easily track a specific vehicle should an accident occur that involved that vehicle.  These car registration plates are typically manufactured in a rectangular or square shape with the exact dimensions and lettering prescribed by the current motor vehicle laws.

Additionally, there are currently two numbering and registration methods which are used in the UK.  One of these methods applies to Great Britain, which the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (or DVLA) administers.  The second is the Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Agency (or DVA).  Both of these are recognised as being equal in legislative status.

The Road Vehicles Regulations of 2001 (Display of Registration Marks) mandates that car registration plates must be displayed in accordance to this legislation.  As of the 1st January 1973, vehicles manufactured after that date must display car registration plates manufactured from reflex reflecting materials using a white background on the front plate and yellow background on the rear plate.  Both of which must have black characters on the plates.

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Whenever you are considering purchasing private number plates at a DVLA auction, you need to be aware of a few aspects of the process.  Firstly, bid lots typically start with a reserve of around £200, but some have sold for many thousands.  Secondly, you have several options for bidding as follows:

- You can bid in-person at the auction
- You can bid online at the DVLA website
- You can bid over the telephone
- You can bid by virtue of submitting a “sealed bid”

Interestingly enough, and from an entertaining standpoint, we decided to include a list of the 10 most expensive private number plates to be purchased at a DVLA auction.  The following is a list of the most expensive ones auctioned off since 1989 including the rank, the number on the plate, the price it sold for at auction, and the year it happened:

#1 – 1 D – £352,411 – 2009 (the current record price)
#2 – 51 NGH – £254,000 – 2006
#3 – 1 RH – £247,000 – 2008
#4 – K1–NGS – £231,000 – 1993
#5 – 1 O – £210,242 – 2009
#6 – 1 A – £200,000 – 1989
#7 – 1 OO – £197,000 – 2006
#8 – 2 O – £142,249 – 2009
#9 – 6 B – £130,000 – 2008
#10 – 1 HRH – £113,815 – 2009

For further information regarding purchasing private number plates for your vehicle at a DVLA auction, you can search their website as well as contact them in-person or by phone with your questions.

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