Advice on buying private number plates

poppasmurf_bewdley

geek84 wrote: »

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.

To answer some of your queries:

Number plates with three letters and up to three numbers are pre-1963 and are still legal. You can buy them from the DVLA auctions which are held every couple of months throughout the country, or from the many websites available, or from newspaper advertisements.

It is ILLEGAL to mess with the spacing on number plates, or to misrepresent letters or numbers. For example, I know someone who uses a very stretched out J to represent an S. He's risking a fine.

My own number plate spells my surname with a 5 representing an E but I haven't changed anything about the letter and there is still a gap between the 5 and the next letter so it's perfectly legal, ie A5 BCD.

Hope this helps. Good luck and I hope you join the number plate game soon!

LandyAndy

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

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!

.

:mad: Watch it, you blue freak.:mad:

verityboo

This page on Wiki shows the history

Plates with just 3 (or less) numbers and letters are old and from a time when they did not have an age identifier. They can be put on a modern car

The size, font and spacing is precisely set out and if you mess around with the spacing you may be stopped. Also using fixing screws with black covers in a way to change the appearence is also not allowed (i.e. putting a screw between 11 to make an H)

markelock

if you live near me, you can get away with just having a rear numberplate (every time I see the car it drives me mad) which will save you some money at halfords.

or just save the money and buy something useful?

forgotmyname

I would rather spend the money on a better turbo, Or a remap or anything really.

I would rather wash my car than waste money on a private plate.

Mates got an old suzuki, He paid more for the plate than he did for the car. Mental i thought when his car was off the road whilst he waited for a 2nd hand part at the right price because he couldnt afford a new one.

I had to think if you had not bought that plate you could have easily taken the car to the main dealer and come out with change.

poppasmurf_bewdley

forgotmyname wrote: »

I would rather spend the money on a better turbo, Or a remap or anything really.

I would rather wash my car than waste money on a private plate.

Mates got an old suzuki, He paid more for the plate than he did for the car. Mental i thought when his car was off the road whilst he waited for a 2nd hand part at the right price because he couldnt afford a new one.

I had to think if you had not bought that plate you could have easily taken the car to the main dealer and come out with change.

That's because, as you admit, you are a tight git! :rotfl:

joannaspanner

fivetide wrote: »

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.

Haha, I was reading my Viz Top Tip annual last night and saw this and chuckled!

joannaspanner

markelock wrote: »

if you live near me, you can get away with just having a rear numberplate (every time I see the car it drives me mad) which will save you some money at halfords.

or just save the money and buy something useful?

not related to the topic but just had to say, I love your random Milhouse signature quote !

geek84

Hi Folks

Many thanks indeed for your replies.

This may sound like a silly question, but when considering buying a number plate, is it possible to find out if I am paying too much for it?

Also, as happytohelp kindly pointed out, there are various types of plates. Can you suggest which one I should buy? Or, what types of plates are popular with motorists?

Thanks in advance.

poppasmurf_bewdley

geek84 wrote: »

Hi Folks

Many thanks indeed for your replies.

This may sound like a silly question, but when considering buying a number plate, is it possible to find out if I am paying too much for it?

Also, as happytohelp kindly pointed out, there are various types of plates. Can you suggest which one I should buy? Or, what types of plates are popular with motorists?

Thanks in advance.

It's not a silly question. You will have to look up all the various selling sites and the DVLA site to see what prices are quoted, and then make a subjective decision.

As regards the different types of plate, these are a matter of personal preference and what you want from a number plate.

Speaking for myself, I couldn't get my plate that spells my name except in the Prefix series (A1BCD), but I could get my initials (as could most people) in the pre-63 two letter and four number types (AB 1234).

It really is a case of 'you pays your money and you makes your choice.'

I paid £250 for my plate 10 years ago and I have been offered £3.5k for it, although I would never sell it. So it CAN be a profitable little hobby. Don't let the moaning minnie's and the "I don't know what you see in them" types put you off. Most are only jealous that they can't get a plate that suits them (eg C**TIN or A**OLE).