How to get a private plate for less
Auctions can be a good way of getting a private plate for less
We show you where to buy a private plate, how much they cost and what’s legal.
Private registration plates are a great way of personalising your car, allowing you to have your initials or pledge your allegiance to your football team. Whether you’re buying a plate for yourself or as a present for someone else, we explain the plate buying process.
What you’ll need
Before buying a plate make sure you’ve got the following:
• Your car’s V5C document (also known as the ‘logbook’)
• Your most recent MOT certificate
• A copy of your car tax disc
Where can I buy a plate?
There are hundreds of companies which allow you to search for private plates – the DVLA offer a large selection of UK plates.
Some plates can be bought straight away – others are available through auction only. Auctions can be a good way of getting a private plate for less.
Transferring plates can be quite complicated; especially if you don't own the vehicle the number is coming from, so you may want to use a personalised plate dealer. They will have hundreds of registrations to choose from and may even do all the paperwork for you.
Check out Auto Trader's Plate Centre now.
How much do they cost?
Price varies from hundreds to thousands of pounds, but the cost of a plate usually depends on how popular it is.
You'll need to pay a transfer fee (plus an extra cost of £25 per year if the plate isn’t going to be placed on your car straight away). It's worth noting if a VAT-registered company sells the plate then VAT will be added to the price.
How do I fix a new plate to my car?
The rules surrounding the transfer of plates between cars are strict. This is because UK traffic enforcement relies on cars’ registration numbers, so the integrity of any transfer has to be closely monitored.
1. Find a plate
2. Complete payment – including VAT and any assignment fees
3. Sign section 4 of the certificate of entitlement (V750), which you’ll receive in the post
4. Apply to your local DVLA office by post or in person
Contact the DVLA to find your nearest local office or if your vehicle is unregistered.
It's illegal to make a car look newer than it is. For example it's illegal to transfer an ‘07’ plate to an ‘06’-registered car.
You can however transfer a number plate from a bike to car, or vice versa. To transfer a registration from one vehicle to another you’ll need to complete a ‘Transferring a Vehicle Registration Number’ form (V317). The cost of transfer is £80.
How long does it take?
The whole process of transferring a plate to a car should take somewhere between two to five weeks.
Video: DVLA plate auctions
Watch this footage of a DVLA plate auction:
For more buying advice visit our car buying hub.
For more information on private plates visit Auto Trader's Plate Centre or the DVLA website.
Have you got a private number plate? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog
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