Buying a Private Number Plate? Here’s the Do’s and the Don’ts!

When you are planning to purchase a new number plate for your car you need to be aware of a few things. It is always advisable that you follow a few steps to ensure you don’t lose out or fall foul of the regulations. We have a list of the do-s and the don’t-s that you need to follow to get the best private number plates at the most reasonable prices.

Set a Budget before You Buy

It is important to have a budget for the number plate that you are planning to purchase. Personalised number plates are available at a wide range of prices. It is important to find the right kind of plate within a price range that you can afford. This will prevent you from purchasing a number plate, which is too expensive and beyond your reach, whilst ensuring you maximise your satisfaction from your purchase.

Have a Clear Idea of the Style You Want to Purchase

There are different styles of car registration.

These include:

=>Prefix style car registrations

=>Suffix style car registrations

=>Current style car registrations

=>Dateless style car registrations

It is important to choose the right style of car registration for your car whilst remembering that the age of your vehicle may limit your choice.

When purchasing the number plate it needs to be registered in your name. . So, it is essential that you have all vehicle documents to hand when making your purchase.

Be Flexible

You might have set a budget for purchasing a personalised number plate. But when you enquire with a registration broker you may find that the number plate that you finally like comes at an increased cost, which slightly surpasses your budget. However, it is still affordable to you.

If you remain inflexible and focus entirely on your budget you are likely to lose the opportunity to purchase your ideal number plate as they tend to increase in price with time.

Don’t Forget the Agency Fee

When you are purchasing a private number plate, you will need to make a payment to the authorising body which in the UK is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DOT fee associated with the transfer of a personalised registration to your vehicle is £80 and this needs to be borne in mind when establishing the cost of purchasing a number plate.

Use Recognised Brokers

Always buy a private plate from a DVLA recognised broker so that you have the confidence that the process will be managed in accordance with the Cherished Numbers Transfer Rules. Reputable brokers with over 10 years market experience are a good starting point as there are a large number of inexperienced companies in the market place.