Private number plate guides

Clear, practical advice for buying, selling, transferring and understanding UK private registrations. Choose a guide below to get straightforward answers and the steps you need.

All guides and articles

Browse advice by topic, from your first search through to completing a transfer.

Selling

How to sell a private number plate

From checking ownership and value to creating a listing, agreeing a sale and completing the transfer.

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Buying

How to buy a private number plate

Where to look, how to judge a fair price, what to check and how the registration gets onto your vehicle.

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Transfers

How to transfer a number plate

Assign a registration to a vehicle, move it between vehicles or transfer it to a buyer.

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Selling

Can I sell my number plate to DVLA?

The honest answer, plus how the transfer actually works and what it costs.

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Selling

Where can I sell my number plate fast?

Marketplace, auction or dealer compared, and what really makes a sale quick.

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Transfers

Number plate retention explained

What retention means, when you need it and how V778 and V750 documents are used.

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Auctions

DVLA number plate auctions explained

Understand auction formats, bidding, fees and what happens after a successful bid.

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Plate types

What are dateless number plates?

Learn how dateless registrations work, why they are desirable and what can affect their value.

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Plate types

The rarest number plates in the UK

Short dateless regs, single letters and digits, name plates, and the record sales that show how scarce they really are.

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Plate types

Celebrity number plates

Famous UK registrations and the stars associated with them, from MAG 1C to AMS 1, and why personalised plates appeal to public figures.

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Useful number plate tools