Avoid the numberplate rip-off !

The numberplate market in the UK has grown to a level where many thousands of plates are sold each year privately- and many millions are transferred- a market this large has developed some pitfalls and loopholes that could cost you money- here we look at what to avoid when buying selling or transferring numberplates.

Buying a numberplate

If you are buying a numberplate then once you have found the combination you require it's worth checking the marketplace- some numberplates are available cheaper from the DVLA directly at dvlaregistrations.co.uk. If you are buying a plate that's not available here then it's worth checking amongst the other dealers as you can find the same plates as many dealers with different asking prices- check out our numberplate dealer directory.

Be wary of "make your own" combinations as these in most cases are numberplates which are sold on behalf of the DVLA via a DVLA reseller at a premium- you could save money buying directly from the DVLA.

Selling a numberplate

When the time comes to sell your numberplate using a numberplate dealer is the widely accepted route- and they provide a great service. It's worth noting that as numberplate dealers charge a commission for their services you may not get as much for your plate as you wish and it may also be advertised at a higher price to accommodate the commission. As with selling anything you will generally get more money back for your plate if you sell it privately via a classified advert. numberplateclassifieds.co.uk - owned by Smashing Plates Ltd is one of the best places to advertise your plate on the internet.

If you are unsure about anything when buying or selling a numberplate- then please contact us for advice - we are always happy to help.