Many businesses, such as car dealerships, buy and sell cars at a rapid rate, and it is simply not practical for them to go through the plate registration process at the DVLA for every car they own. This is an expensive administrative burden and the vehicles are rarely used on public roads, staying on the forecourt for the majority of the time.

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.

read comments (0)

For quite some time you could only display the number plate attached to your vehicle when you purchased it.  But the times, they are a changing.  Now you can select a personalised registration plate for your car that reflects you and your lifestyle.  The DVLA has been issuing personalised plates since 1989, and their new website allows you to search the plates already issued, ensuring your plate is still available. The DVLA registrations process is an easy one to complete.

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.

read comments (0)

With more and more people choosing to learn to drive with recognised driving schools there has been a growth in the sector over the past few years. Companies like BMS and RED have driving instructors throughout the UK and with more spaces available in driving schools in Liverpool and other major cities, the trend seems set to continue.

There are so many way to learn to drive, you can either book single or multiple lessons at a time to suit your needs and wallet or book an intensive driving course which can have you driving within a week. Driving instructors are used to teaching drivers of all levels from beginners to experienced drivers and can help you to pass your test.

If you want the best chance of passing your driving test, you should look at booking some lessons with a driving school in Liverpool or your local driving instructor.

read comments (0)

Whenever you are registering a vehicle in the UK you will have to deal with your local area DVLA office, and provide them with specific documentation that confirms your identity to complete the process.  This ensures that your identity and personal information is not only accurate but prevents the fraudulent registration of vehicles.  You will need to licence the vehicle (for tax purposes) and register it, as well as providing certain documentation and fees.

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.

read comments (0)

With the option of choosing names, initials, company names and hobbies as part of your number plates, it is not surprising that obtaining a private registration is growing more popular.

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.

read comments (0)

If a vehicle is imported into the UK from within the EU (European Union), certain HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs) forms will need to be completed in order to obtain a DVLA registrations certificate and to legally operate the vehicle.  These forms include:

Form BFG 414 – issued whenever a vehicle is “customs relieved” regardless of its age and has been acquired within the EU by personnel of British Forces Germany.

Form VAT 413 – issued by the HMRC for NMT (new means of transport) vehicles, those originating within the EU and are less than six months old or have been driven fewer than 6,000 km, and were directly notified to the HMRC rather than a local area DVLA office.

Form VAT 414 – a self-declaration form which can only be used under certain situations (see DVLA website for criteria).

Form VAT 415 – if you have acquired an NMT vehicle (see above) within another member state, this is the form that needs to be completed.  It is available at local area DVLA offices and will be forwarded upon completion to the HMRC.  You can also obtain a VAT 415 at any VAT advice centre.

NOTE:  where the terminology “member states” is concerned this refers to numerous countries within the EU effective as of 1st January, 2007, the list is available at the DVLA website.  You should contact the local area DVLA office in person, by telephone, or by visiting their website should you have any questions or need any further information regarding this issue.

read comments (0)

Before you start to learn to drive you must firstly hold a valid, provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland and make sure that any vehicle you drive is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured. When looking to learn to drive it is important to learn safe driving practice from the beginning of your driving career because you will find bad habits are hard to break. Learning to drive at a driving school in Newcastle will ensure you are taught by a qualified instructor who will make sure you do not pick up any bad habits.

If you also practice with an accompanying driver they must be over 21 years of age and must have held (and still hold) a full licence, in the relevant vehicle category, for three years, also you must display ‘L’ plates in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the vehicle you are driving. If you are choosing a driving instructor they must be registered with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), you can find a instructor at driving schools in Newcastle or where you live.

read comments (0)

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.

read comments (0)

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.

read comments (0)

When you’re ready to start learning to drive it is important to choose the right driving school. National driving schools like BMS and RED have driving instructors throughout the UK, but are mainly situated in larger towns and cities, so what if you live in a village or small town? It might to easier to search for a local driving school that can pick you up from your house or work.

Finding local driving schools in Bury St Edmunds is easy thanks to local directory sites on the internet, simply type in the town or city where you live, and put in what service you would like, you will then get a list of all the local driving schools near you with an address, phone number and website (if they have one) so you can contact them straight away.

Driving lessons can be a stressful time for new drivers and having a local instructor pick you up and drop you off will ease the pressure somewhat. Now you can relax and concentrate on what you’re supposed to be doing (learning to drive) instead of worrying how you are going to get home.

Local online directories have made it even easy to book your driving lessons with a local driving school in Bury St Edmunds or just about anywhere in the country.

read comments (0)