Personalised number plates

motorguy

Deleted_User said:

facade said:

venomx said:

Looking at getting a personalised plate.
There are various websites like this...
https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/

Once you have "bought" it, what happens next ? I've done some Googling but can't can't a clear answer 

One thing I do know is that you cannot make the car appear newer than it is

Here..
https://www.gov.uk/get-personalised-private-number-plate

It says to assign the plate to the vehicle,  then buy the new plate. Surely you should buy the plate first then assign it once its been delivered? 

dot gov pages are famous for errors

You buy the plate from DVLA. This gives you a certificate that is the right to use it. (machine generated, so only a few days to arrive)

You can give the certificate away, or sell it, or use it. (It expires after a few years, but you can renew it for ££ it is called having the number "on retention")

You assign the number to your car online with the number on the certificate. This updates the DVLA records and gives you a chitty to take to your motorfactor to get the numberplates made. You swap the plates over, and keep the originals safe.

You tell your insurer that you have changed the number, and they charge you an admin fee, and likely an addition to the policy cost as a personal plate attracts vandals so the risk changed. A V5 with the private number on arrives in a few days.

It is possible to assign the number at the point of purchase, in which case you won't get the certificate, but you will get that chitty to make the 'plates.

Before you sell the car, you transfer the private plate back onto a retention certificate (more ££ to the treasury) and replace the original plates that you kept safe. Then change the insurance wait for the updated V5 and you can sell the car.

Actually you can sell the car when you like, but the V5 is cancelled by the 'plate change, so you can't change the keeper. Some dealers will sort it all out for you- if you believe them.  If you transfer ownership using the V5 with the private number on, the new owner gets the number.

No chitty required with the majority of eBay plate makers.

I think they've been clamping down on that.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353775980605?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item525eb1103d:g:fSYAAOSwQRNhgDTI&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSd0ReTLyM7cxPnI6zs468EPMqrIkyRIFrqEJZ9wvlCS0YOGHtD9cJxhKn8yCgTbupah2S%252Fy8Q5g%252FVpG0axa31qbdlqkthGFgVyY5VUi7oIRgkRY44w3%252FhA69XFgXSqTAQDxeMCNBAv8HAkL6A35SdrFgKHRb8i4%252F9aw936zyp3S8gJp88kmnlyok0dTHLcaSmmbWZ2LYj2L9VK%252F05AQ3pb3K397X9W0YIBKWXRf30TruGZqbyMat0pRHjsB%252BCir0Iv5lSu0OL7xkn3UyZ4vGWLf69yF7cG1FG2ZU%252B2PJmvYF5UxcQtcLl8Zby5belvqUkICZuAbWuMgXjln9Dq0RfA0QkUxx0WJArWpsxcEdnRsvwcpk87J0BYAguWHu527OmVTptBQO2%252BChMTV%252Fo%252ByHnEqV1hm92CfQW0r5JLkZD88LeZ1KlRcEw0BpVO4GRUdxEAMwTZotpHMmi9%252F3066uzdiNoPITTX3Zyd5tGSHUNA%252BdlX22mdOwEB0BZsBssN5IY3YW6Sf7J%252BvcffhTH9wY41eK61%252FERLycVUnqQIWhw%252BbaKDygcZSZu83AVCQGa5q%252BwEgmucV2W5q8kINFsutL0RPpCOQkiTDLtRuQnb5P680ryME5%252B%252B0yfWddQEMgVRF2ngDENJUqOWjmYk%252F141%252FNYKmcgASTjWiZ7k04h95oxS2HIU8f0tt7Deo%252FsXQI8LvYkm12RcYKf8d1C9%252BJE3TClBjfPtfw8HVM83FxD8oKeUBr3cu7a3PE6yFObY26kaeirJ9k1SP1qZ5gyOs4TqJ6J%252Fkv4Z%252FCbFSBsWHNTsNPJMPHgbH%252ByV0cZNIbafVleGGqzlQ%252BvuDrL0LjdUzEczoWmhA%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBM5NnbpMBf

Documents Required:

We require one original format document from proof of identity and one original format document from proof of entitlement below. 

[Deleted User]

motorguy said:

Deleted_User said:

facade said:

venomx said:

Looking at getting a personalised plate.
There are various websites like this...
https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/

Once you have "bought" it, what happens next ? I've done some Googling but can't can't a clear answer 

One thing I do know is that you cannot make the car appear newer than it is

Here..
https://www.gov.uk/get-personalised-private-number-plate

It says to assign the plate to the vehicle,  then buy the new plate. Surely you should buy the plate first then assign it once its been delivered? 

dot gov pages are famous for errors

You buy the plate from DVLA. This gives you a certificate that is the right to use it. (machine generated, so only a few days to arrive)

You can give the certificate away, or sell it, or use it. (It expires after a few years, but you can renew it for ££ it is called having the number "on retention")

You assign the number to your car online with the number on the certificate. This updates the DVLA records and gives you a chitty to take to your motorfactor to get the numberplates made. You swap the plates over, and keep the originals safe.

You tell your insurer that you have changed the number, and they charge you an admin fee, and likely an addition to the policy cost as a personal plate attracts vandals so the risk changed. A V5 with the private number on arrives in a few days.

It is possible to assign the number at the point of purchase, in which case you won't get the certificate, but you will get that chitty to make the 'plates.

Before you sell the car, you transfer the private plate back onto a retention certificate (more ££ to the treasury) and replace the original plates that you kept safe. Then change the insurance wait for the updated V5 and you can sell the car.

Actually you can sell the car when you like, but the V5 is cancelled by the 'plate change, so you can't change the keeper. Some dealers will sort it all out for you- if you believe them.  If you transfer ownership using the V5 with the private number on, the new owner gets the number.

No chitty required with the majority of eBay plate makers.

I think they've been clamping down on that.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353775980605?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item525eb1103d:g:fSYAAOSwQRNhgDTI&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSd0ReTLyM7cxPnI6zs468EPMqrIkyRIFrqEJZ9wvlCS0YOGHtD9cJxhKn8yCgTbupah2S%252Fy8Q5g%252FVpG0axa31qbdlqkthGFgVyY5VUi7oIRgkRY44w3%252FhA69XFgXSqTAQDxeMCNBAv8HAkL6A35SdrFgKHRb8i4%252F9aw936zyp3S8gJp88kmnlyok0dTHLcaSmmbWZ2LYj2L9VK%252F05AQ3pb3K397X9W0YIBKWXRf30TruGZqbyMat0pRHjsB%252BCir0Iv5lSu0OL7xkn3UyZ4vGWLf69yF7cG1FG2ZU%252B2PJmvYF5UxcQtcLl8Zby5belvqUkICZuAbWuMgXjln9Dq0RfA0QkUxx0WJArWpsxcEdnRsvwcpk87J0BYAguWHu527OmVTptBQO2%252BChMTV%252Fo%252ByHnEqV1hm92CfQW0r5JLkZD88LeZ1KlRcEw0BpVO4GRUdxEAMwTZotpHMmi9%252F3066uzdiNoPITTX3Zyd5tGSHUNA%252BdlX22mdOwEB0BZsBssN5IY3YW6Sf7J%252BvcffhTH9wY41eK61%252FERLycVUnqQIWhw%252BbaKDygcZSZu83AVCQGa5q%252BwEgmucV2W5q8kINFsutL0RPpCOQkiTDLtRuQnb5P680ryME5%252B%252B0yfWddQEMgVRF2ngDENJUqOWjmYk%252F141%252FNYKmcgASTjWiZ7k04h95oxS2HIU8f0tt7Deo%252FsXQI8LvYkm12RcYKf8d1C9%252BJE3TClBjfPtfw8HVM83FxD8oKeUBr3cu7a3PE6yFObY26kaeirJ9k1SP1qZ5gyOs4TqJ6J%252Fkv4Z%252FCbFSBsWHNTsNPJMPHgbH%252ByV0cZNIbafVleGGqzlQ%252BvuDrL0LjdUzEczoWmhA%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBM5NnbpMBf

Documents Required:

We require one original format document from proof of identity and one original format document from proof of entitlement below. 

Maybe some are but the last time I purchased some on eBay they give a spiel about needing docs, but the plates arrived the next day before they even gave me an address to post docs to.   

hrh

Late to this party but thought I would add some info which might be helpful to someone else.

The cheapest number plate tier at DVLA is currently £250.

Be careful of other number plate sites which may look cheaper for the same reg. The prices they initially display don’t include transfer fee, delivery etc whereas the DVLA price is all inclusive.

When you buy from DVLA you’ll get a certificate of entitlement (V750) with the reg on it. Never post or share the serial number of the document as it can lead to the reg being stolen. The paper certificate in itself is worthless, the information on it is what’s valuable.

The certificate (V750) is valid for 10 years from purchase, so even if you don’t have a vehicle to put the reg on, you can just keep the reg on the certificate. It’s free to renew the certificate for an additional 10 years before expiry. This is also true for the retention certificate (V778) which is issued when you take a reg off of a car.

I’ve always ordered my plates on line without identification either through ebay, amazon or other websites. These are sold as show plates (with legal font and spacing requested) and usually don’t have the company name and postcode printed on which is a legal requirement. I personally prefer them clean without company details and I’ve never had an issue with police or MOT’s in the 10+ years I’ve had a private plate. Just had an MOT done last week and no issues.

A reg can either live on a car or on a certificate. If your personalised reg is on a car and you want to keep it before you sell or trade in a car, make sure you put it on retention (search take a number plate off a vehicle on the gov website). You’ll need your vehicle logbook V5C and It costs £80 to retain a number plate which covers you assigning it to the next vehicle (aka assignment fee).

The fastest and simplest way to assign or remove a number plate is using the online service on the gov website. The service is only available between 7am - 7pm daily. I recently came across an instance where I was not able to assign a personalised plate to a new vehicle using the online service because the vehicle was not eligible. In this instance you’ll need to send relevant documents by post as directed.

Always handle your number plate transfer yourself and don’t entrust a car salesman or the new buyer to do it  on your behalf. When deciding you want to sell your vehicle, retain your reg at least 2 weeks before you list, trade in or sell so as to allow for the new logbook to come through.

Also when you put a personalised number on a vehicle, don’t throw away the original white and yellow plates that came with the vehicle. When you come to retaining your personalised reg, the car usually reverts to that original reg. You also don’t have to put the original reg on the vehicle on retention unless of course it’s coincidentally a significant reg which has value to you. In which case it will cost £80 to retain.

DB1904

Deleted_User said:

motorguy said:

Deleted_User said:

facade said:

venomx said:

Looking at getting a personalised plate.
There are various websites like this...
https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/

Once you have "bought" it, what happens next ? I've done some Googling but can't can't a clear answer 

One thing I do know is that you cannot make the car appear newer than it is

Here..
https://www.gov.uk/get-personalised-private-number-plate

It says to assign the plate to the vehicle,  then buy the new plate. Surely you should buy the plate first then assign it once its been delivered? 

dot gov pages are famous for errors

You buy the plate from DVLA. This gives you a certificate that is the right to use it. (machine generated, so only a few days to arrive)

You can give the certificate away, or sell it, or use it. (It expires after a few years, but you can renew it for ££ it is called having the number "on retention")

You assign the number to your car online with the number on the certificate. This updates the DVLA records and gives you a chitty to take to your motorfactor to get the numberplates made. You swap the plates over, and keep the originals safe.

You tell your insurer that you have changed the number, and they charge you an admin fee, and likely an addition to the policy cost as a personal plate attracts vandals so the risk changed. A V5 with the private number on arrives in a few days.

It is possible to assign the number at the point of purchase, in which case you won't get the certificate, but you will get that chitty to make the 'plates.

Before you sell the car, you transfer the private plate back onto a retention certificate (more ££ to the treasury) and replace the original plates that you kept safe. Then change the insurance wait for the updated V5 and you can sell the car.

Actually you can sell the car when you like, but the V5 is cancelled by the 'plate change, so you can't change the keeper. Some dealers will sort it all out for you- if you believe them.  If you transfer ownership using the V5 with the private number on, the new owner gets the number.

No chitty required with the majority of eBay plate makers.

I think they've been clamping down on that.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353775980605?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item525eb1103d:g:fSYAAOSwQRNhgDTI&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSd0ReTLyM7cxPnI6zs468EPMqrIkyRIFrqEJZ9wvlCS0YOGHtD9cJxhKn8yCgTbupah2S%252Fy8Q5g%252FVpG0axa31qbdlqkthGFgVyY5VUi7oIRgkRY44w3%252FhA69XFgXSqTAQDxeMCNBAv8HAkL6A35SdrFgKHRb8i4%252F9aw936zyp3S8gJp88kmnlyok0dTHLcaSmmbWZ2LYj2L9VK%252F05AQ3pb3K397X9W0YIBKWXRf30TruGZqbyMat0pRHjsB%252BCir0Iv5lSu0OL7xkn3UyZ4vGWLf69yF7cG1FG2ZU%252B2PJmvYF5UxcQtcLl8Zby5belvqUkICZuAbWuMgXjln9Dq0RfA0QkUxx0WJArWpsxcEdnRsvwcpk87J0BYAguWHu527OmVTptBQO2%252BChMTV%252Fo%252ByHnEqV1hm92CfQW0r5JLkZD88LeZ1KlRcEw0BpVO4GRUdxEAMwTZotpHMmi9%252F3066uzdiNoPITTX3Zyd5tGSHUNA%252BdlX22mdOwEB0BZsBssN5IY3YW6Sf7J%252BvcffhTH9wY41eK61%252FERLycVUnqQIWhw%252BbaKDygcZSZu83AVCQGa5q%252BwEgmucV2W5q8kINFsutL0RPpCOQkiTDLtRuQnb5P680ryME5%252B%252B0yfWddQEMgVRF2ngDENJUqOWjmYk%252F141%252FNYKmcgASTjWiZ7k04h95oxS2HIU8f0tt7Deo%252FsXQI8LvYkm12RcYKf8d1C9%252BJE3TClBjfPtfw8HVM83FxD8oKeUBr3cu7a3PE6yFObY26kaeirJ9k1SP1qZ5gyOs4TqJ6J%252Fkv4Z%252FCbFSBsWHNTsNPJMPHgbH%252ByV0cZNIbafVleGGqzlQ%252BvuDrL0LjdUzEczoWmhA%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBM5NnbpMBf

Documents Required:

We require one original format document from proof of identity and one original format document from proof of entitlement below. 

Maybe some are but the last time I purchased some on eBay they give a spiel about needing docs, but the plates arrived the next day before they even gave me an address to post docs to.   

Same here.

Abbafan1972

born_again said:

[Removed by Forum Team].

All depends on the plate.

Many are just personal to the owner. No one else would know that is any different from any other plate.

So AB71AXE is the same price as AB71AXN
Both are personalised plates. While the 1st I can understand, the 2nd?

I don't understand either one I'm afraid!

Hubby has a personalised plate - one that he had wanted for years.  It spells his surname and first initial.

I do find it annoying when people have a personalised plate and they slant letters/put screw heads in random places to make the letters look like something else.  

I have seen a lot of cars now where the plates have a very dark background or tiny letters.  I doubt if ANPR cameras can read them (I suppose that's why they do it).  Also, I have seen a lot of cars lately completely missing a front plate and it hasn't fallen off either!

Ebe_Scrooge

Abbafan1972 said:

I do find it annoying when people have a personalised plate and they slant letters/put screw heads in random places to make the letters look like something else.  

I have seen a lot of cars now where the plates have a very dark background or tiny letters.  I doubt if ANPR cameras can read them (I suppose that's why they do it).  Also, I have seen a lot of cars lately completely missing a front plate and it hasn't fallen off either!

These kind of plates are, strictly speaking, illegal.  You could be fined if you're stopped by the police, and it's an MOT failure : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/0-identification-of-the-vehicle

Years ago a mate of mine had a plate where he'd squished the letters up to make it spell his name.  He reckoned he always swapped it for one that had the letters spaced correctly when it went in for MOT, then swapped it straight back again afterwards.

I do remember once seeing a car stopped at the side of the road, covered in mud.  The guy was wiping the numberplate clean with his sleeve while a PC stood watching him.  I can only assume he'd been stopped because the plate was illegible, and the copper was feeling charitable and let him off if he cleaned it there and then.

So yeah, a plate that is illegible, incorrectly spaced or "altered" by the cunning use of fixing screws can land you with a fine if you're stopped.  But we've all seen enough of them driving around to surmise that the number who actually get stopped must be pretty small.