Selling a car number plate - the hows and whys .. and getting a valuation

Norman_Castle

Get "valuations" from a few registration selling companies and choose one that suits. They will handle the transfer. Look for info on their sites. Good Luck.

DUTR

chaucer wrote: »

Okay, so it's value is still unknown and perhaps not great ... I can live with that.
So, where could I go to sell it for the 'best possible price'?
And what is the actual procedure?
And does that procedure necessitate fees to DVLA?
And do I need to synchronise the sale with a new registration to keep my car on the road?

If as you mention the car is not worth much, then it maybe easier to sell the plate with the car, or advertise the plate on ebay to see what response you get, 2 digit KFC plates are £399 on the dvla, yes you will attract fees for the transfer, have a look on the dvla site, to me a personal plate looks more personal with a single digit and the initials .

facade

I may be wrong, but I don't think they buy the number off you, (unless it is the legendary PEN 15, a snip at £75,000 at regtransfers.co.uk) they act as a broker, then if someone wants it they get in touch with you and take a cut out of the selling price.
Otherwise, how can the same number appear on more than one site?
Certainly plates4less are advertising plates that are still available at DVLA

regtransfers.co.uk offer a free valuation service, see what they reckon yours is worth.

pillock

OK, the brokers "value" the number (usually at an inflated price, to keep you keen - you're more likely to accept if they mention £1000 than £100) and they put it on their website. Often, they make you sign the contract that says they have sole rights to sell that plate.

You still drive around with it on your car, but they advertise it. If anyone wants it, they contact the company who get in touch with you and buy it from you, selling it on at a fairly large profit. Chances are for a standard three-digit prefix reg (letter at the start, and a number over 100), nobody will want it - sorry. If Keith Frank Cooper did want a numberplate, he'd just go to DVLA Select and cut out the middle man.

These brokers will often value ANY plate at £400, just to get it on their books. The majority are never sniffed at.

If the plate was actually valuable, instead of acting as a broker they'd have offered to transfer it off your car for you.

Tiddlywinks

chaucer wrote: »

it is the fact it has '118' ( 'got your number' ) & 'KFC' together that I thought was unusual

Now... the fact that you had to explain that sort of shows how 'subtle' that plate is.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

They are unrelated companies. Why would anyone pay to have that number?.

I agree with the above post... if I saw that plate then I would never think it was one that was specially chosen by the driver... I think you will struggle to achieve much for it... and after all fees are paid, is the hassle worth it?

eschaton

A personal plate with 3 numbers unless they are all the same is unlikely to have any real value, especially 118.

If you find someone born on 11th August and called Kentucky Fried Chicken or similar then you might get a buyer. The chance of someone being prepared to pay much more than the £80 transfer fee is unlikely.

The brokers that 'sell' them on your behalf are a waste of time due to commission costs bumping up the retail price of the plate even more.

Kojak12

If someone is selling a plate for you they will be incurring costs and expect to make money on the sale - which is fair enough. They have a customer base and an audience that you will not be able to replicate as a member of the public. As with anything it pays to shop around. The key is finding a reseller who is professional and up front about their fees. If you can agree a percentage of the sale price there is an incentive for the company to get a high price which you will share in.

Several plate resellers have circulation lists of traders as well as members of the public who might have registered interest about a specific letter string or number. So there is a small chance they already have someone who is looking for your plate or a trader who might know where they can sell it. Some also run their own auctions of the more interesting registrations. I would check out the companies reviews on sites like trustpilot and review center, you will soon find those companies that are not honest with their customers.

One place that offers a comprehensive range of sales options and is upfront and honest with customers is this one;
http://www.carreg.co.uk/sell-a-number-plate/
I can't recommend anywhere else but compare what these sites offer to sellers and if you can have a quick chat with a real person. There is no better way to assess the companies.