Valuing suffix (dated) number plate

marinheiro

I have inherited a car with an old number plate (3 letters, followed by '1S'). I am trying to get a rough idea of the value of the number (it is not immediately meaningful to me, so it is not an obviously valuable one). I am finding that the market in numbers is anything but transparent, and there seem to be rules I am unaware of.

Firstly, there are a lot of companies offering 'free valuations'. What this seems to mean in practice is that they want a lot of personal information, after which they immediately put the number on sale, for you to remove if you want to, rather than just giving you an estimate. I am reluctant to give my phone number to several of these companies as I assume I will suffer from a lot of unwanted phone calls afterwards. Is there any way to form a rough idea bypassing these systems?

Second, when I gave in and tried to use one of these, regtransfers.co.uk they took my details then told me they did not buy (and so would not value) suffix based numbers. The only rule I am aware of is that my 'S' number cannot be used on any car older than 1977; are there other rules limiting their sale? I have seen examples of other '1S' numbers that have been sold, so I guess it must be possible.

And lastly, there seems to be no transparency about costs. Assuming the number is worth more than £80 (I guess it probably is) would I be better off putting the number on retention with the DVLA and sorting out my new number/number plates myself, or is that creating uneccessary work for myself and should I let a dealer manage this? (also, how long is a piece of string, I guess)

Thanks for any advice

facade

Unfortunately, a number plate is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

As you don't have anyone who wants it it isn't worth anything.

Since none of the companies were snatching your hand off to buy it, they don't think it is worth thousands or know someone who is looking for it either, but they will advertise it for you so there is a chance of attracting someone who wants it, and obviously take their cut.

If it is of any sentimental value, or interest to you then transfer it onto your current car, otherwise you are paying £80 to get it on retention, plus the price of new number plates for the original car, on the off-chance that you find a buyer who will give more than you have spent.

It is probably easier to let it go with the car, and try and convince potential buyers that that plate makes the car worth more.

Goudy

If the three letters are PEN it could be worth a fortune (and be suitable for a lot of drivers).

born_again

Goudy said:

If the three letters are PEN it could be worth a fortune (and be suitable for a lot of drivers).

Or DEN....

Herzlos

The only rules that would apply here are:

A. the plate can't be newer than the car (1977).

B. to transfer it to a new car / retention the car(s) need a valid MOT.

The value will vary wildly depending on what it is, less digits is better though, but something that spells a name (ish) will be worth a lot more. You can always put it on eBay and see what someone will buy it for, as long as you're clear about who pays the transfer fee (£80).

marinheiro

Herzlos said:

The only rules that would apply here are:

A. the plate can't be newer than the car (1977).

B. to transfer it to a new car / retention the car(s) need a valid MOT.

So do you have any idea why regtransfers won't buy dated plates? (@facade: they are turning me down because it is dated, not because of the particular number)

Iceweasel

What do you intend doing with the 47 year old car?
It's possibly worth more with the number it currently has.
If you put the xxx 1S number on retention for £80 DVLA will allocate it another 1997 number.
You can then put that on retention too, and get another 1997 number.
You can then put that on retention too.
Repeat aid infinitum with as many as you wish.
Some people make a living out of this kind of thing.
Others treat it as a hobby.
Some folks go large and even have a shed-full of old mopeds and motorbikes which are not too costly to keep in MOT condition.
The difficulty is finding people who have the initials matching the three letters you will have on these various 1977 plates.
This is why they are not worth much compared to dateless plates and/or Northern Ireland plates.

marinheiro

Iceweasel said:

What do you intend doing with the 47 year old car?
It's possibly worth more with the number it currently has.
If you put the xxx 1S number on retention for £80 DVLA will allocate it another 1997 number.

The car is from 2004; my father liked the number which he had in 1977 and whenever he sold a car transferred the number to it; this was the last one  So I guess I would get a nondescript new number from DVLA, not another 1977 one.

He had a personal liking for the number (the letters meant something to him as initials, but that wouldn't mean anything to anyone else) and always thought the number was worth more than the car, for no particular reason I know of. 

I have had a couple of hindi or punjabi-speaking people laugh at the number, but not tell me why - I suspect it may sound something like chuddies, though the market for cars that are pants must be pretty tiny ;-)

NBLondon

marinheiro said:

The car is from 2004; my father liked the number which he had in 1977 and whenever he sold a car transferred the number to it; this was the last one  So I guess I would get a nondescript new number from DVLA, not another 1977 one.

He had a personal liking for the number (the letters meant something to him as initials, but that wouldn't mean anything to anyone else) and always thought the number was worth more than the car, for no particular reason I know of. 

I have had a couple of hindi or punjabi-speaking people laugh at the number, but not tell me why - I suspect it may sound something like chuddies, though the market for cars that are pants must be pretty tiny ;-)

You'd get a nondescript 2004 (04 or 54) plate from DVLA not another 1977 plate.  

Like iceweasel said - it depends if anyone else out there sees a significance to the three letters.  If it's something that might reasonably be someone's initials then that improves the chances - RDC is more likely than QZJ.

marinheiro said:

So do you have any idea why regtransfers won't buy dated plates? (@facade: they are turning me down because it is dated, not because of the particular number)

Might just be limited demand when there is more choice (or less commission for them).   In the 90s, Richard David Crabtree might be tempted by RDC 1 S but now he can try and get MB24RDC or RC24RDC or many more if he has a new car.

Herzlos

marinheiro said:

Herzlos said:

The only rules that would apply here are:

A. the plate can't be newer than the car (1977).

B. to transfer it to a new car / retention the car(s) need a valid MOT.

So do you have any idea why regtransfers won't buy dated plates? (@facade: they are turning me down because it is dated, not because of the particular number)

I've no idea, I don't see any suffix or new style AB12 CDE plates on there. Maybe they specialize in the cherished/ageless/irish plates.

Mutton_Geoff

Don't they offer two services? First, they will buy it outright if interesting enough (which they've declined) or plan b, they market it for you and pay you if it sells?

Your Dad wasn't ELV1S was he?

Is it any of these?

https://www.crosswordsolver.org/solve/---is/10