Personal Registration Plates: things to keep in mind when buying

Most car owners like to make their cars stand out from the crowd and so they invest in Personal Registration Plates. By adding a unique combination of letters and numbers to the number plate car owners achieve a special look for their vehicles. However, some people take this game too far and end up spending too much money, particularly when purchasing at an auction, and competing with someone else for the same number. It is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase a private number plate at affordable prices.

If you want to invest in Personal Registration Plates, then you can consider purchasing from the DVLA or from a trusted registration broker. You can also buy a private plate from a private individual, but this is not recommended as there is no guarantee that you will receive the documentation after making payment. Additionally, there is no governing body to ensure the validity of the number plate. So you ensure you are investing your money at the right place.

There are so many things you need to consider when buying Personal Registration Plates, the most important of which is staying within your budget. Always try to avoid the expensive options, and always focus on the message you are trying to create with the plate. If you do all these things right, then you will achieve a satisfactory result, and your car will stand out from the crowd for years to come, whilst your bank balance will remain in credit. Here we have made a list of dos that you should keep in mind at all times when purchasing a customized number plate.

Do’s

• Set a budget

You know that Personal Registration Plates can be expensive, and that’s why you should always set a budget at the start of the process. Setting a budget will ensure that you don’t go too overboard with your expenditure. Of course, if you are a high earner, then there is no problem in investing in something you really like. But if that’s not the case, then you should be cautious with your options and with your choice. Set a limit on how much you are comfortable with spending and then proceed on the basis that you will not exceed your budget regardless of the circumstances. You need to search online so that you can find all options that are within your pre-determined budget.

• Be flexible

As we have already mentioned, acquiring the specific number plate you would like is not always possible and you may not find you ideal number plate, regardless of how much money you are prepared to spend. There are nearly always a range of options you can explore, so ensure you keep your mind open to options not previously considered. Private numbers are hugely popular these days, and being inflexible is not really an option, and it will undoubtedly result in disappointment. One of the major drawbacks of not being flexible is that you will likely exceed your budget to get the plate you want. Auctions are renowned for driving prices up when there are competing entities chasing the same number. So have more than one option to make the process easier and less financially painful.

• Explore different styles

When searching for private number plates, you will identify many different styles. Understanding the right style can help you figure out the best option for you when trying to stay within your pre-defined budget. There are some popular styles such as current, and prefix registrations where you can make your own letter and number combinations, providing these combinations are available. The dateless styles are the most popular amongst luxury car owners. For dateless styles, there is no year identifier, and for the current style there are a multitude of similar combinations with only the year number identifier changing. Many people add their lucky number, birthday, and their name or initials to add a personal touch to their number plate. The current styles, not only look attractive with the correct combination of letters and numbers to create a name, they are also one of the most affordable options available.

• Choose something appealing

The personalized number plates will stay with you for a long time, and that’s why it is best to ensure that you choose something that is personally appealing. Most of the buyers that choose expensive private number plates do this to show their status, and you shouldn’t follow suit unless you can afford to do so. Fundamentally you need to have something that will appeal to you for the long term. Choose something that suits your personal taste and personality. Don’t blindly follow the trends because, at the end of the day, all that matters is how much you personally enjoy the plate. A private number plate should mean something to you more than just its financial value.

Final words

It is illegal to display a fake private number that is not registered to a vehicle. So make sure to only display a personalized number plate on your vehicle after its assignment has been recorded and registered by the DVLA. If you fail to register a personalized number to your vehicle through the DVLA then you are liable to be fined and you could also lose entitlement to the registration even when you have paid for it to be yours.