Key facts- ✓ Personalised plates are available from the DVLA, auctions, and licensed dealers
- ✓ Prices start from around £250 and extend to hundreds of thousands for premium combinations
- ✓ A £80 DVLA assignment fee applies when transferring a plate to your vehicle
- ✓ You do not need to own a vehicle to buy — a V750 certificate holds the plate for up to 10 years
- ✓ Plates cannot make a vehicle appear newer than it actually is
- ✓ New Reg has guided buyers through this process since 1991
At New Reg, with over 30 years of experience in the number plate industry, we have guided thousands of customers through this process. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of buying and assigning a personalised registration to your vehicle, including format choices, what to check before buying, and a worked example of the full journey.
Choosing the Right Format: Dateless, Prefix, or Current
Before selecting a registration, it is worth understanding the three main formats and how they differ — both in appearance and in the rules that govern them.
Dateless plates
Issued before 1963, dateless plates contain no age identifier. This makes them age-neutral: you can display a dateless plate on any vehicle regardless of when it was registered, including brand-new cars. They are the most prestigious format and typically the most expensive. Short combinations — one letter, one number, or two letters and one digit — are especially sought after. See our dateless number plates guide for more.
Prefix format (1983–2001)
Prefix plates begin with a letter denoting the year (A for 1983–84, B for 1984–85, and so on) followed by up to three digits and three letters. They can only be displayed on a vehicle registered in the same year or later — never on a car older than the plate. Popular for name and word spellers.
Current format (2001–present)
The current two-letter, two-digit, three-letter format changes every March and September. As with prefix plates, you cannot display a current-format plate on a vehicle registered before its age identifier. New DVLA releases go straight to auction or dealer inventory at each new issue.
The key rule for all formats: a registration must never make a vehicle appear newer than it is. Breaking this rule is illegal and can result in fines and the plate being revoked. See the full number plate rules guide for detail.
Things to Check Before Buying
Not every plate you see listed is straightforwardly available. Before committing, verify the following:
- Age compatibility: Confirm the plate's age identifier does not post-date your vehicle's registration year.
- Banned combinations: The DVLA maintains a list of offensive or sensitive combinations it will not issue. If you are purchasing privately, check the combination is not on this list — a plate on the banned list cannot be legally displayed.
- Valid title: The seller should hold a valid V750 or V778 certificate. Confirm this is in their name and that no nominee arrangement is incomplete.
- No outstanding assignment issues: If buying a plate still assigned to a vehicle, confirm retention has been completed (V778 issued) before the sale proceeds.
- Format legality: Ensure any physical plates you order comply with BS AU 145e: correct font, sizing, and materials. Non-compliant plates are illegal. Our guide to illegal number plates in the UK covers the key violations.
Step-by-Step Buying Process with New Reg
Buying through New Reg is designed to be straightforward. Here is how the process works from first search to plate on your vehicle.
Step 1: Search
Use our search tool to enter a name, initials, or combination you have in mind. Results show matching registrations across all available formats with current pricing. You can filter by format, price range, and character count.
Step 2: Purchase
Select your chosen registration and complete the purchase online or by phone. New Reg handles all DVLA documentation on your behalf. You receive confirmation of your purchase and details of the next steps.
Step 3: V750 issued
The DVLA issues a V750 Certificate of Entitlement confirming your ownership of the registration. This document is sent to you (or held by New Reg as nominee) within a few days of the transaction completing. The V750 is valid for 10 years.
Step 4: Assign to your vehicle
To display the plate on a vehicle, you (or New Reg on your behalf) submit an assignment application to the DVLA online or by post using the V317 form. The £80 DVLA fee applies. Online applications are typically processed within a few working days; postal applications take 2–3 weeks.
Step 5: Plates made
Once assignment is confirmed and your new V5C arrives, order physical plates from any DVLA-registered supplier. Present the V5C and proof of identity. Plates must display your name and postcode and comply with BS AU 145e standards. Fit the plates and notify your insurer of the new registration.
Worked Example: Buying Online and Assigning
To make this concrete, here is how a typical New Reg customer journey unfolds:
Jon wants a plate using his initials and a personal number. He searches "JT 25" and finds a prefix-format plate that fits his car (registered in 2019 — the plate predates this, so it qualifies). He purchases online for £1,200. New Reg files the DVLA paperwork the same day. Three days later Jon receives email confirmation that his V750 has been issued. He submits the online assignment form via the DVLA website, paying the £80 fee. Five days later his new V5C arrives in the post showing the new registration. He orders plates from a local supplier using the V5C, and within the week the plate is fitted. Total elapsed time: 12 days.
Understanding Your Personalised Number Plate Options
Beyond format, registrations are available through three main channels: the DVLA's own portal (new releases at fixed prices from around £250), DVLA auctions (approximately 8–10 per year, competitive bidding, often premium selections), and licensed dealers like New Reg (the largest inventory, including rare previously owned combinations unavailable through DVLA directly).
Working with an experienced dealer provides access to the widest range of options and removes the complexity of navigating DVLA processes directly. If you later want to move the plate to a different car or store it between vehicles, our guide to how to transfer a number plate walks through the full process, and the DVLA retention guide covers keeping a plate safe between vehicles.
Why Choose New Reg?
With over three decades of experience since 1991, New Reg offers unparalleled expertise in helping customers find and acquire their perfect personalised number plates. Our comprehensive inventory, competitive pricing, and expert guidance ensure a smooth experience from initial search through to final fitting. Ready to find your perfect registration? Browse our full selection or contact our team for personalised assistance.
