Personalised number plates: all you need to know
Number plates: all vehicles have and need them – but there are ways to make your car stand out from the crowd. Personalised number plates allow motorists to customise their car with a combination of letters and numbers, however, these private number plates can be expensive.
So, with that in mind, are personalised number plates worth it? We’ve taken a look at some of the perks, disadvantages, and ways to get a personalised registration plate.
Should I get a personalised number plate?
Depending on which way you look at it, a personalised plate can be a pretty savvy investment, but certain factors do put some car owners off. To help you identify whether or not your investment is sound, we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons:
Pros
- It's great for personalisation - Marking an occasion or looking for a very special gift? A personalised number plate is a one-of-a-kind present.
- Branding - A personalised number plate can act as a medium of advertising your business to onlookers who may be interested in your services.
- It can increase in value - If you get your hands on a sought after private number plate, chances are that its value is eventually going to go up. Indeed, some individuals invest and collect personalised number plates and trade them like stock.
- It can help an older car to appear newer - If you own an older vehicle that’s in good condition, a personalised number plate can belie the true age of the car as well as improving it aesthetically.
- Appeal - A personalised plate can be especially useful if an owner is attempting to sell their vehicle, in which case the plate can attract more potential buyers.
- Gifting - Personalised number plates make a great gift for any occasion, whether it's to commemorate a special birthday, anniversary or a celebration.
Cons
- It can attract the wrong attention - As we touched upon above, investing wisely is always an important factor when purchasing a personalised number plate. Some plates may be deemed offensive or juvenile by other road users, in which case, the chances of you selling it on are slim.
- There are lots of rules - There’s plenty of dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s to do, so you need to be sure that all this extra effort is going to be worth it.
- The plate must be deemed legal - This includes being clear and easy to read, printed in a standard size font and using the same colour reflective background as standard number plates.
- They can be expensive - Lastly, as we mentioned at the start of our guide, private number plates can be expensive… Very expensive. The more common the subject of your plate, the more money you’re going to have to pay to get a letter and number combo that lands closest to the true spelling.
How much are personalised number plates?
Well that depends. The most expensive number plate in the UKsold for a staggering £518,480 back in 2012. So if you're looking for something very specific then be prepared to fork out a small fortune. However, prices start from as little as £250 and you can buy them from various places, so do shop around. Which leads us on to...Where to buy a personalised number plate
If you’re after a private reg but you’re not sure where to head, there are a few different options for buying a personalised number plate in the UK:
- DVLA - Perhaps the most popular, quickest and easiest way to obtain private plates is to use the DVLA registration website. A place where you can buy and bid, here prices start at £250, and you’re able to search for a potential new plate and its price-tag with ease.
- Private companies - There are various companies from which you can buy and sell plates, and although the quality may vary, many choose to use a private website as prices start much, much lower – some will even competitively price match.
With more insight into the pros and cons of private number plates as well as a pointer towards where to purchase, your brand new (or used) personalised number plate could be just a few clicks away.
Looking for more up-to-date motoring information and advice? Explore our vehicle check website and blog page.
