Where to buy number plates

Buying private number plates is common these days as people are looking for new ways to make their vehicles stand out from the crowd or look more expensive. Luckily if you’re on the hunt for a new number plate, you won’t have far to look…

How to buy a number plate

No matter which way you choose to purchase a private number plate, there will be some paperwork you need to fill out and keep safe in-order to prove that you are the legal owner of the number plate. Whether you buy online or straight from the DVLA, you will receive a V750 document once the payment has been accepted which means you have the right to assign the number plate to your vehicle.

Once you have the number plate, you can apply to have it registered to your vehicle using the V750 document you received upon purchase. The quickest way to apply is online using the DVLA service. It is simple, easy and you will be able to put the new plate on the vehicle as soon as you’ve applied. Alternatively, you can apply via post, and you will be able to fix the new plate to your vehicle once the DVLA approve (usually within 2 weeks).

Once the plate has been registered to your vehicle, you will receive a new logbook (V5C). Be sure to contact your insurance company to inform them of any changes, as your insurance may be invalid if you do not tell them and an incident occurs.

Auctions

Each year the DVLA host around 5 number plate auctions across the UK and it is possible to bid either in person, online or via telephone if you aren’t able to travel. When new number plates are released twice a year, the DVLA will sell the new private number plates, so if you’re looking for a brand-new plate, this could be the best place to purchase one.

Online

Another way to buy a number plate is through online auction sites. There are websites specifically created for the buying and selling of private number plates. Often these are second-hand and therefore cheaper than buying a brand new private plate. If you visit Newreg.co.uk you can search for the number plate you’d like and it will find all of the similar plates available.

Similarly, number plates are available on regular auction and buy and sell websites. You can check eBay and other websites to see if a plate similar to the one you desire is there, although they may be a little more difficult to find. If you aren’t looking for a specific plate then regular buy and sell websites could be a cheaper option.

Other options

If you don’t want to use the internet to purchase a private number plate then there are still other options available. Often there will be a motor or local sales section in some newspapers that will have private number plates for sale. But again, if you are looking for something specific then this may prove more difficult. You could also try searching for local shops in your area of closest city

Be sure that whether you’re buying your number plate online or from someone local that they are able to provide the suitable paperwork that is necessary for buying and selling a number plate. A dealer will have to assign the number plate to you so that you are the legal owner. From here, you will have to ask then for either the V750 or V778 so that you can transfer the number plate to your vehicle. Unless this is all done, you will not legally be able to fit your new private number plate to your vehicle.