Advice on buying private number plates

geek84

Hi Folks

I am thinking of buying private number plates for my car. However, there seems to be quite a variety of them around.

Can someone be kind enough to explain the different types and where I could get a good deal?

For example, some private number plates have 3 letters followed by 3 numbers. Are they legal in the UK? Also, some drivers rearrange the spacing of the letters so that it spells a name. Is that legal? If not, would they get fined?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Three letters three numbers is legal. Messing with the spacing is not.

verityboo

I think the only restiction is that you cannot put a plate on the car which makes it look newer - i.e. a 61 reg plate on a 2009 car

spiro

1) Plates can have a varying combination of letters and numbers depending on the age of the plate.
2) You can not change the spacing doing so can lead to fines and eventually the DVLA taking the plate off you (with no refund).
3) Plate must always be as old or older that the car it is going on i.e. you cant put a 57 plate on a 53 car.

lisawood78

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Three letters three numbers is legal. Messing with the spacing is not.

AFAIK this is illegal, as is messing with the fonts, adding extra 'screw holes' to make letters look different etc.

The one that really get on my nerves is the trend to make your number plate look german. WHY?!

s_b

geek84 wrote: »

Hi Folks

I am thinking of buying private number plates for my car. However, there seems to be quite a variety of them around.

Can someone be kind enough to explain the different types and where I could get a good deal?

.

keep your god shut and dont let them know you want a particular plate or you are meat on a plate to these wise guys
ok mrs ma iiz:D etc

fivetide

Remember the Viz top tip?

simply change your name to AB 12 XYZ and hey presto! a perfectly legal plate with your name on it.

Depending what you actually want in terms of year/pricing etc the DVLA are generally the best place to go. Notice all these companies advertise the same plates? That's because they don't actually own them most of the time, they just register a purchase with the DVLA so do make sure you look around.

5t.

Enemy_2

On a side note, something that I have had to deal with in the past is people mistakenly thinking they 'own' the Vehicle Registration Mark (otherwise known as VRM or Registration Number).

You purchase to right to assign it to a vehicle, you don't actually 'own' anything except perhaps the physical plate the VRM is printed on. As already highlighted, they can choose to take the VRM back at their discretion, especially when you use strange fonts or spacing.

But I have had the misfortune of highlighting to foolish people that returned/sold their vehicle without first placing the VRM on Retention, that they no longer have any legal claim to it. One such VRM was reportedly worth £20,000+. Ouch.

andygb

Why, why, why?
What is the f*****g point?

poppasmurf_bewdley

andygb wrote: »

Why, why, why?
What is the f*****g point?

Some people (like me) enjoy them. Others (evidently like you) don't.

I personally think all people with the name Andy should be sent to Transylvania by horse and left tied up in a large barn with no windows! I presume you would not agree!

Yer pays yer money and takes yer choice. It's called freedom.

geek84

Hi Folks
Many thanks for your replies so far.
Has anybody else got any other suggestions on my original query -

I am thinking of buying private number plates for my car. However, there seems to be quite a variety of them around.

Can someone be kind enough to explain the different types and where I could get a good deal?

For example, some private number plates have 3 letters followed by 3 numbers. Are they legal in the UK? Also, some drivers rearrange the spacing of the letters so that it spells a name. Is that legal? If not, would they get fined?

Thanks in advance for your response.