Personalised Number Plates – As Unique as You Are

Posted on January 5, 2012 by James

private number plate 96PMCar owners who have personalised number plates displayed on their vehicles all have something in common. They all want to make their cars unique so they can stand out a little from the crowd. In a world of conformity it is no fun any more just to blend in with everyone else. Some vehicle owners are constantly investigating the different options that are available to them to make sure their cars are unique and will draw attention from others. Some motorists buy rare sports cars, some motorists own standard cars but choose to paint their vehicles in outrageous colours, whilst others upgrade the wheels of their cars to make them more eye-catching. All of these methods are working towards the same goal; you just have to decide which method you feel is the most effective.

Personalised Number Plates – Subtle & Stylish

It is our opinion that personalised number plates offer the most subtle and stylish approach. It is a sort of calm, cool and collected statement being broadcast to those that are in the know. Often personalised number plates show that the driver of the car thinks very highly of themselves and maybe feels he or she deserves better than just a standard issue registration number from the DVLA. Personalised number plates could even be considered a sort of fashion accessory for your car. In the same way that some people like to dress to impress, personalised number plates allow drivers to show everyone that they are cool, with it, possibly affluent and maybe a little bit flamboyant to boot.

Highlight Your Individuality with Personalised Number Plates

The main purpose behind personalised number plates, however, is that they allow drivers to highlight their own unique traits.  Drivers are able to show off their creativity and let their imaginations run wild, so that driving down the road actually becomes fun.  Personalised number plates owners know that other drivers and passers-by are reading their plates and trying to decipher the message, as if it is something to be decoded.  Drivers often buy personalised number plates that may take some guesswork for others on the road to figure out, as well as more original options that are easier to understand and can make a clear statement. Your choices are only limited by your own imagination. You are no longer restricted and don’t have to choose your name or your initials. Some motorists prefer to go for something a little more unusual such as their pets name or even personalised number plates as a tribute to a loved one who may have passed away and is no longer with us.

Communicate Your Profession

Personalised number plates are also ideal for revealing a successful profession or much loved occupation. A driver does not need to be the manager of a bank, a film producer or the CEO of a company to show off his or her professional success.  Plates that show off any occupation are very much in demand right now. At a recent auction for desirable personalised number plates, plumbers were outbidding each other for registrations with LOO & TAP on them. The LAW combination is always a popular choice for solicitors and barristers. It also happens to be a surname so you can always rely on prices to be very high for these types of registrations due to the supply and demand equation.

Show Your Love for Your Car

Car related personalised number plates have always been popular amongst petrol heads. There are several natural three-character combinations which are perfect for enthusiasts and those loyal towards a particular brand of car. These include; BMW, GTR, VTS, CLS, 911, 355 and 458. The RED combination seems to go down well with Ferrari fanatics as does the FER variety. Other combinations of personalised number plates which are not necessarily brand specific seem to attract car enthusiasts. The TOY variation and also JET number plates always seem to capture the attention of car lovers.

The Investment Potential of Personalised Number Plates

Personalised number plates are no longer exclusive to the upper classes; even teenagers are receiving their own personalised number plates as celebration gifts when they pass their driving test. In many instances this proves to be a wise move on the buyer’s part, as personalised number plates have the potential to become great investments for the future. Indeed, some owners have been pleasantly surprised to learn that the value of their personalised number plates has increased ten-fold in as many years. It is no wonder that certain motoring commentators have suggested that money invested wisely in personalised number plates is often better than money kept on deposit in a bank or building society.

So now that you have been provided with some inspiration, what will you choose? It seems that the desire to make a car unique is getting more popular, with over a million motorists now choosing to display personalised number plates on their vehicles. You have the car, now add the finishing touch with a little bit of advice from the Personalised Number Plates 4U.co.uk website.

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Personalised Number Plates Dealer Organisations

Posted on June 14, 2011 by James

Certain personalised number plates can be quite expensive to purchase, so you have to make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer to ensure you don’t get taken for a ride, so to speak. A good way of deciding which cherished number plates supplier to buy from is to determine if they are a member of a trustworthy trade organisation. There are currently three such groups in the UK:

The Association of Personalised Registration Traders (APRT) was founded in 2008 to promote fairness and the protection of the buyer in the burgeoning personalised number plates trade. APRT members are required to adhere to the association’s code of ethics, which ensures that motorists buying from them can do so with confidence.

The Cherished Numbers Dealers Association (CNDA) has been in existence since 1971, and it represents responsible personalised number plates dealers while protecting the interests of their customers. They are affiliated with the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF).

The Members of the Institute of Registration Agents and Dealers (MIRAD) is a governing body of traders in personalised number plates who are subject to regular supervision by the group to ensure that their practices adhere to their code.

The personalised number plates supplier you deal with should be a member of one or more of these organisations to ensure their trustworthiness as well as your protection. If you are unsure, you can visit the websites of any of these groups and search their members list to see if your chosen personalised plates supplier is included.

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DVLA Personalised Number Plate Fees Explained

Posted on March 5, 2011 by James

There are fees to pay to DVLA for carrying out particular tasks relating to personalised number plate ownership. Here is a brief summary of the various types of fees and what they cover. All DVLA fees are correct at the time of writing.

Placing a Personalised Registration on Retention – fee of £105

This is simply when you wish to separate your personalised registration from a vehicle and keep it on a DVLA document, rather than transferring it to another vehicle. The DVLA form to complete for this task is called a V317 – Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number. Read more about how to retain a personalised number plate.

Transferring a Personalised Registration – fee of £80

This is when you want to transfer a personalised registration, typically direct from your old car to your new car. The DVLA form to complete is the V317 – Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number.

Extending a Retention Document (V778) or Certificate of Entitlement (V750) – fee £25

If you already have a Retention Document or Certificate of Entitlement you will be aware it is valid for one year. During the 28 days before your document is due to expire you can apply to extend the entitlement for a further 12 months. This article explains the difference between a V750 and a V778.

Adding or Changing a Nominee – fee £25

When you are ready to assign or transfer a personalised registration to a car, the name on the DVLA Document (either Grantee or Nominee) must match the name of the registered keeper of the vehicle. If it does not you need to add a nominee by completing the necessary section on your DVLA Certificate. Grantee and Nominee explained.

Some of the terms used within the personalised number plates industry are not used in everyday conversation and can sometimes be a little confusing. If you have any further questions you can visit your nearest DVLA Local Office for advice, or contact the DVLA vehicle enquiries helpline on 0300 790 6802.

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DVLA 11 Registrations – Advice

Posted on January 6, 2011 by James

As predicted, the DVLA website could not cope with demand for the 11 series launch. The DVLA website spent most of the day offline leaving eager purchasers angry and frustrated. When the DVLA Personalised Registrations website eventually returned to normal, many customers were disappointed to discover the personalised registrations they wanted had been bought by someone else. Here is some basic advice for anyone looking for information about a particular 11 series registration.

All 11 series registrations are owned by the DVLA at launch. If the registration you are looking for is showing as available on the DVLA Personalised Registrations website then buy it. Some potential purchasers are ringing round private number plates dealers thinking they can negotiate a better price. Whilst some dealer websites try to make you think differently, you cannot get an 11 series registration cheaper than buying it direct from the DVLA.

The price quoted on the DVLA Personalised Registrations website is fully inclusive. Your only additional cost is for a set of number plates (approx. £20) from your local motor spares retailer. Some dealers advertise prices which do not include the £80 transfer fee or v.a.t., which is why the price may appear cheaper. Some dealers also insist you buy a set of number plates from them with your purchase which pushes up the price to more than buying direct from DVLA.

One particular dealer that we are aware of is employing what we consider to be unfair tactics. When a customer rings up to enquire about a specific DVLA Personalised Registration the dealer is claiming to have already bought it for stock. The dealer is simply clicking on the ‘buy’ button on the DVLA website. This reserves a registration for eleven minutes to allow time to make the purchase. If anyone else looks at the DVLA website for the next eleven minutes they will not see the registration and may believe it has been sold. The dealer is then offering the registration to the interested customer with a £100 premium added to the original price.

When you buy direct from DVLA not only do you save money, you also get the Certificate of Entitlement (DVLA Document) in your name. This is vital when it comes to renewing your Document or adding a nominee. If you buy via a dealer the DVLA Document will be in the name of the Dealer. This means even though you have paid for your registration, the dealer has full legal power over the Document.

Several years ago a North-West based dealer went out of business. All customers who had DVLA Documents which were bought via this particular dealer were unable to extend or add nominees to their Documents. Due to Data Protection DVLA refused to enter into correspondence with anyone but the named purchaser on the DVLA Document. The Dealer was named on the Document but the company no longer existed. This spelled disaster for lots of customers who had paid out hard earned money for registrations which are now effectively worthless pieces of paper.

This advice applies to anyone who holds a personalised registration on a DVLA Document (V750/V778) which does not show their name as the Purchaser or the Grantee. Get it assigned or transferred to a vehicle in your name as quickly as possible. At the point of assignment or transfer, legal title passes to the registered keeper of the vehicle and the Document no longer exists. Whilst ever you hold a registration on a DVLA Document which is not in your name, you are taking a huge unnecessary risk.

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DVLA Release New 11 Series Registrations

Posted on November 26, 2010 by James

The DVLA will soon release one of the most exciting registrations series for a long time. The 11 series, suitable for cars registered on or after the 1st of March 2011 goes on sale from 8.30am on Tuesday 7th December 2010.

There is already a lot of chatter ahead of the release of the 11 series registrations. One of the most common discussions going on in the motoring forums and amongst number plate dealers right now is; Will the DVLA Personalised Registrations website be able to cope with the demand on launch day?

As pointed out in a previous blog post, the DVLA has now closed its telesales operations. The only option available to anyone who wants to buy a personalised registration direct from the DVLA is to purchase via the DVLA website.

There is always a huge spike in buying activity whenever the DVLA releases a new series of registrations for sale. The 11 series throws up so many potential word and name combinations that it is expected to be one of the busiest launches yet. Previously the large number of customers and dealers eager to buy on launch day has been spread between the telesales lines and the DVLA website. For the first time ever, all of the demand will be funnelled directly towards the DVLA website.

We are not technology experts here at the personalised number plates 4u.co.uk blog, but even we can see there may be issues with regards to the stability of the DVLA website on the morning of the 7th of December. Some dealers are also questioning the timing of the decision by the DVLA to close its telesales lines ahead of this special launch.

So here is the official pre-launch advice from the DVLA for anyone who is interested in securing a new 11 series registration:

“You may wish to set up an online account on our website prior to the release to save you time on the day”

There you have it folks, make sure you are registered ahead of the launch and hopefully everything will be okay. The 11 series registrations are available to view at the DVLA website with prices starting from £399. We wish you the very best of luck from everyone at the Personalised Number Plates 4U Blog.

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DVLA Personalised Registrations Telesales Lines to Close

Posted on October 28, 2010 by James

The DVLA has announced the closure of its telesales operation. The move follows the fall in demand for the telephone based sales service since the introduction of the online purchasing facility.

Up until the end of this week if you want to buy a DVLA personalised registration you can call the sales line and speak to an advisor. The advisor can assist you in completing your purchase, take payment by card, or hold a registration until your payment by cheque arrives. Starting from Monday 1st November you will only be able to buy direct from DVLA using the online purchasing method. The payment by cheque facility will also be discontinued.

If you prefer to speak to a human being when buying a DVLA registration, several of the independent number plate dealers will be happy to help. Most independent number plate dealers offer DVLA personalised registrations for sale and some will even handle the transfer for you. The handling of the transfer is something that the DVLA has never offered. DVLA simply posts out the V750 Certificate of Entitlement to the purchaser.

Naturally you will pay a small premium for the added service offered by the independent number plate dealer. Your decision comes down to what level of service you require. You can buy online, direct from the DVLA Personalised Registrations website and get the best possible price. Or you can use the services of one of the Cherished Number Dealers, speak to a friendly sales advisor and have the paperwork handled on your behalf.

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How to Buy a Set of Front & Rear Number Plates

Posted on September 11, 2010 by James

Today we are focusing on how to buy a set of front and rear number plates. A few years ago it was possible to walk into a motor accessories shop and simply request a set of number plates. The rules were tightened to prevent people obtaining number plates which they had no right to display. Often these ‘false’ registrations were linked to criminal activity.

In order to purchase a set of number plates from a reputable supplier registered with the DVLA, you must provide both proof of your identity and proof that you are entitled to the actual number plates. It is necessary to provide at least one document from each list.

The following list details acceptable original documents which must be produced to first of all prove your identity:

Driving Licence
Recent Utility Bill
Recent Bank/Building Society Statement
Passport

The following list details acceptable original documents which must be produced to prove your entitlement to the actual registration on the number plates:

V5c Vehicle Registration Certificate (log book)
V948 Number Plate Authorisation Certificate
Authorisation letter from lease or hire company quoting Document Reference Number from the V5c

Where to buy your new set of number plates

You can buy your number plates from the parts department of your local motor dealership, or from any reputable car parts and accessories supplier. All legal number plates must display the name of the company who actually made the number plates up, plus the post code part of their address.

If you have any further questions related to getting your number plates made, please leave a comment.

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Grantee and Nominee Explained

Posted on August 20, 2010 by James

The DVLA uses the terms Grantee and Nominee on both the V750 Certificate of Entitlement (pink) and the V778 Retention Document (green). These terms are not used in everyday conversation and are a cause of great confusion to owners of personalised number plates.

In this blog post we will attempt to explain in plain English what the terms Grantee and Nominee actually mean and how they affect you in relation to your personalised registration.

At the top left hand-side of the V750 and V778 is the word Grantee or Purchaser. For the purpose of this explanation we will use the term Grantee (which covers both the Grantee or Purchaser). Underneath is a name and address. It could be a company name or the name of an individual. In simple terms, the company or person named as the Grantee holds power of authority over the document.

Only the Grantee can sign the document and the DVLA will only release information to the Grantee*.

The purpose of a V750 or V778 is to hold on to or retain a cherished number plate when it is not registered to a vehicle. There are only a few tasks that are associated with these documents:

Assigning or transferring the registration to a vehicle
Adding or changing a Nominee
Renewing or extending the document for one, two or three years
Changing the address of the Grantee
Applying for a refund of the £80 transfer fee

Just to reiterate only the Grantee has the power to carry out these tasks.

So who or what is a Nominee? The Nominee information appears on the document at the left hand-side underneath the vehicle registration number and the expiry date. You will either have the words ‘NOT APPLICABLE’ showing, or you will be able to see a name or company name.

The Nominee comes into play when it is time to transfer or assign the personalised registration to a vehicle. The easiest way to explain this is to use an example. Stephen Gill has the personalised registration 97 SG held on a DVLA document. Stephen Gill is the Grantee, his name and address is shown on the document.

Stephen has now retired and is moving to Spain. He sells his registration 97 SG to Sarah Greening. As it stands the registration 97 SG can only be transferred or assigned to a vehicle in the name of Stephen Gill. He is the Grantee and the Nominee section states ‘not applicable’. To be able to transfer or assign the registration to Sarah’s vehicle, Stephen must add Sarah as the Nominee on the document.

By adding the Nominee ‘Sarah Greening’ to the document (£25 fee payable to DVLA) the registration 97 SG can be assigned to a vehicle registered to either the Grantee ‘Stephen Gill’ or the Nominee ‘Sarah Greening’. When we talk about a vehicle being registered to a person, this is the name of the Registered Keeper on the V5c log book for the vehicle.

As soon as 97 SG is transferred or assigned to Sarah’s car, Stephen loses his rights, or power of authority over the registration. The document no longer exists in the eyes of the DVLA as 97 SG is now registered to Sarah’s car.

The Grantee name can not be changed on either the V750 Certificate of Entitlement or the V778 Retention Document. Ownership of the document itself can not pass from one person to another. The Grantee will remain the Grantee until the registration is assigned or transferred to a vehicle.

The Nominee has no rights to the Document or the Registration number. What if Stephen added Sarah as a nominee but she then backed out of the deal? Stephen would be a bit miffed but he has nothing to worry about with regards to ownership of the document. The Grantee has the authority; the nominee has no rights whatsoever. I could get my name engraved on a nice piece of wood and attach it to the front door of your house. I do not own your house just because my name appears on the front door.

*The exception to this rule is if a Power of Attorney has been issued. A Power of Attorney is a legal document often issued by a solicitor. The Power of Attorney gives another person, usually a friend or relative the power to sign or conduct business on behalf of someone else. The most common reason for issue of a Power of Attorney is if a person has died or is deemed by the authorities to be incapable of making their own decisions.

Hopefully this information has cleared up any confusion surrounding the Grantee and the Nominee. The Grantee has the rights, the Nominee exists to allow the Grantee ability to assign or transfer the registration to a different vehicle.

If you have any questions leave a comment and I will help in any way that I can.

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Replacement Vehicle Registration Numbers

Posted on August 9, 2010 by James

In the last blog post we covered how to apply to retain a personalised registration. It prompted a number of questions concerning replacement registration numbers. Some people were asking if they had to buy a registration number from the DVLA.

When you apply to retain your personalised registration the DVLA will automatically issue a replacement registration for your vehicle. It is generally an age related plate and is non-transferable.

The best way to explain the procedure is to use an example. I own a VW Touran which has the personalised number plates JDR 6. If I went to the DVLA Local Office to apply to transfer or retain JDR 6, the DVLA would issue an appropriate replacement registration number for the VW Touran as part of the process.

As the vehicle was first registered in June 2006, the DVLA would issue a ’56′ registration as a replacement. It is highly likely that the Touran would be reunited with its original registration; FL56 XOY.

There are no additional fees to pay to the DVLA for your replacement registration. You will receive a replacement tax disc with the same expiry date, a replacement MOT Certificate and a new V5c Registration Certificate (log book).

You will also receive DVLA form V948 – Number Plate Authorisation Certificate. This allows you to buy a set of replacement number plates for your vehicle. You should fit the new number plates to your car and at the same time display the tax disc with a matching registration. The only other task is to contact your motor insurance provider to notify them of the vehicle’s new number plates.

I hope this clears up any confusion surrounding replacement registration numbers when applying to retain a Personalised Number Plate.

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Retention of a Personalised Registration Plate

Posted on July 24, 2010 by James

There are occasions when you may need to separate your personalised registration from your car. The usual reason is because the car is going to be sold and you don’t want lose the rights to display your personalised plates.

There are two options available when removing a registration from a vehicle. You can either transfer a registration to another vehicle, or you can apply to retain it. In this post we are going to be focussing on the latter of the two. This is often referred to as the DVLA Retention Scheme.

Applying to retain a personalised registration number is a fairly straightforward process. It is simply a case of making sure you have the required vehicle documents and correctly completing DVLA form V317 – Applying to Transfer or Retain a Vehicle Registration Number.

Please note the information contained within this post is correct at the time of writing. There were a few changes made to the Retention Scheme just over a year ago. The previous DVLA form was known as a V778/1. This has now been replaced by the V317.

To apply for retention of a personalised registration you need to have:

The V5c Registration Certificate – often referred to as a log book

The MOT Test Certificate – only applies to vehicles over three years old

The DVLA form V317 signed by the registered keeper of the vehicle

The appropriate fee – it currently costs £105 to retain a registration number

The vehicle should also be taxed although it is important not to enclose the actual tax disc with your application. The offence is ‘failure to display’ not failure to buy. If the tax disc is not correctly displayed you risk getting fined and having your vehicle crushed if it is on the road.

Your application can either be posted or taken in person to your nearest DVLA Local Office. I strongly recommend you go in person.

To find your nearest DVLA Local Office go to Google or one of the popular search engines and enter ‘find a local DVLA office’ into the search box. Even if you are not sure how to complete the actual DVLA form, take the correct documents with you and the DVLA staff will assist you. The DVLA Local Offices have V317 forms available so even if you have made a mistake you can complete a new form.

Finally, it can take between two and four weeks for you to receive your replacement V5c Registration Certificate and V778 Retention Document from DVLA Swansea. If the reason you are applying to retain your personalised registration plates is because you are selling your vehicle, it is definitely wise to plan ahead.

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