Private plates – also known as personalised or cherished plates – are a popular way of making your car stand out from the crowd and adding personality to your vehicle. Read on for everything you need to know about private number plates, from buying and assigning one, to understanding the rules around transfers, legal requirements and how they work on financed and second-hand cars.
How do private number plates work?
Getting private number plates is a way of personalising your car – of making it more individual. Perhaps you’d like your initials, or a word, phrase or slogan that’s meaningful to you – or maybe you’re just after a quirky combo of letters and numbers.
Because they differ from standard-issue DVLA licence plates (that are free of charge), you’ll have to pay extra for personalised plates. You’ll need to apply to the DVLA and make sure your new registration meets legal display requirements.
There are four different styles of personalised plates available in the UK:
Prefix – originally running from 1983 to 2001, these plates follow the format of one letter (the year of issue) and a number followed by three letters (often initials), e.g. B123 ABC.
Suffix – this style of plate ran from 1963 to 1982 and begins and ends with a letter. The year identifier letter comes at the end, for example: ABC 321A.
Current – introduced in 2001, this is the style used for new vehicle registrations today. The format includes two letters (indicating the region in which the car was registered), two numbers (when the car was registered) and three random letters, e.g. WP25 ABC.
Dateless – dateless plates were in use up to 1963 and comprise a simple letter region code and a number, for example: AG 1. They can have a variety of formats and today they are highly desirable (and the most expensive kind of private reg) because they don’t contain an age identifier and can be assigned to any vehicle. Due to their rarity they can appreciate in value, making them an appealing investment opportunity for some.
Did you know… that you won’t own the private number plate permanently? You pay for the right to use it, and usage can be retained (for up to ten years and then renewed) or transferred.
DVLA auctions and direct sales: You can buy a personalised plate from the DVLA online – this is generally the cheapest method – with over 45 million registrations you can browse and buy directly. The DVLA also holds number-plate auctions several times a year, where you can bid in person, over the phone, online or by post. Prices for DVLA plates range from £250 to many thousands of pounds.
Dealers: Lots of private dealers specialise in buying or selling plates. Buying from a number-plate dealer is usually a pricier option, but you will be able to access rarer or discontinued plates that you won’t find on the DVLA database.
Private seller: You can also buy directly from someone who already owns the plate. Private plates from private sellers (businesses or individuals) are usually rarer still and expensive. The fewer the characters the more you will pay.
Assigning a private number plate to your car is straightforward. You can do it online through the DVLA or by post. Once you’ve chosen and paid for your new reg, the DVLA will then send you a certificate of entitlement (V750) which legally permits you to put the new plates on your car. If you are transferring your private plates from one car to another, you’ll be sent something called a V778 retention document.
Once you’ve received your V750 you’ll need to take it to your nearest registered number plate supplier, along with some photo ID (your passport or driving licence) and your V5C. The supplier will then make the plate up for you and fit it to your car.
The whole assigning process can take anything from a few minutes to several weeks depending on whether you applied online or by post and on whether the car needs an inspection.
If you’re selling or scrapping your car and you want to keep your personalised plates or transfer them to a new car, you need to apply to the DVLA (online or by post) using form V317. You’ll be asked to pay an £80 fee.
If you’ve applied to keep your plates, the DVLA will send you a V778 retention document (valid for ten years) which allows you to assign it to another vehicle at a later date.
If you’re transferring the plate from one car to another, you’ll need to supply the V5C for both cars along with your application. You’ll be sent a new V5C for the car the plate is being transferred to, plus a V778 retention form if the original plate is being temporarily retained. Both vehicles must be available for inspection by the DVLA if requested.
You must be the registered keeper of the car to retain or transfer a number plate online. If you’re not the registered keeper, you can apply by post.
How much do private number plates cost?
Prices can vary, starting from £250 on the DVLA registrations database for less desirable personalised registration plates, rising to hundreds of thousands of pounds for highly sought-after combinations. Prices usually include VAT, but transfer fees (£80) may apply.
In general, the fewer the characters a personalised reg has and the more popular the initials, words or numbers it contains, the more expensive it will be.
The most expensive private number plate ever bought in the UK is the reg ‘25 O’, which sold at auction for a staggering £518,000 in 2014, and is now estimated to be worth around £750,000.
There are strict rules surrounding private number plates and their display. They must:
Be made from reflective material
Display black characters on a white background (front plate)
Display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
Have no pattern in the background
Not make your car appear younger than it is
Be marked to show who supplied the plate
Display a British Standard number
You must tell your insurance company, and update any automatic payment accounts linked to your reg.
The DVLA will automatically deactivate your original age-related plate when you register a new private plate.
If you display the wrong plates at any time, you could be fined up to £1,000 and your car will fail its MOT.
Can I put private plates on a financed car?
Yes, you can – but you will need to get permission from the finance company first. With traditional car finance, such as hire purchase (HP) and personal contract purchase (PCP), the finance provider owns the car for the duration of the agreement, so they’ll need to approve the change.
However, if you borrowed a personal car loan to finance your car, then you don’t have to ask permission from the lender because you’ll own the car outright. (This also means that, as the registered keeper, you can apply to the DVLA online.)
If you have a HP or PCP finance agreement, once you’ve received consent from your lender you can proceed with your application to the DVLA. As the finance provider is usually the registered keeper, you might not be able to complete the whole process online, and you may need to involve the finance provider in the transfer process.
Be aware that if you return the car to the lender at the end of your finance agreement, you’ll likely need to remove the plate and revert to the original reg first.
Always read the terms and conditions of your finance agreement carefully so you are clear about any potential fees or rules associated with transferring a private plate onto a financed car.
Read more about how to put private plates on a financed car in our dedicated Guide.
Private plates can be assigned to used cars in exactly the same way as new cars. As long as the car is registered to you (or you are a nominee), you can apply.
If you’re buying a second-hand car that has a personalised number plate, be sure to check if the plate is included in the sale.
Final thoughts: is a private number plate worth it?
A private number plate can be more than just a stylish touch – it can be a great conversation starter, a thoughtful gift or even a sound financial investment.
Whether you’re driving a brand-new electric car on finance or a beloved second-hand hatchback, if you’re ready to hit the road in style, personalising your car is more accessible than you might think.
