Question 1

What is a private plate?

Accepted Answer

A private (personalised) number plate is a number plate that you choose! It allows you to customise your car, motorcycle or other vehicle with a registration that’s personal to you.

You can select private plates that spell out specific words, names, initials, or numbers important to you. Private plates can let you express your individuality but it can also become a valuable investment over time.

The real difference is your choice. Normally, number plates are sequentially assigned by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and consist of what may seem to be random letters and numbers.

We have a ton and a half of information about private plates, form it’s history, identifiers and a “can-you-spot-the private-plate” test. To find out more about dateless (or cherished), prefix, suffix and current style (AKA millennium) plates, visit our types of Private Plates page.

With over 67 million number plates available, the possibilities are nearly endless, but there are rules and regulations to consider. For a no-nonsense guide on what you need to know before purchasing your personalised number plate check out our Private Plate Buyer’s Guide.

At Yellowhite, we’re here for one thing: to make the process of finding your private plate as easy and enjoyable as possible. Explore our selection today and start the journey of making your vehicle truly yours.

Question 2

How do I buy a private plate?

Accepted Answer

Buying a private (personalised) number plate with Yellowhite is a simple, straightforward process designed to connect you with your perfect plate quickly and effortlessly.

Explore our selection: Whether you have a specific idea in mind or you’re just browsing, our powerful search tool helps you filter through options based on your preferences. You can search by names, initials, significant numbers, or even words that mean something special to you. Or use the advanced “search current” and “search prefix” search tools to get to your perfect idea. You can quickly double check that the registration plate is suitable for your vehicle (if you’re planning to transfer the registration to your vehicle). You can do this with our our Registration plate suitability checker tool that checks the age of your vehicle using your current plate.
Check-out: Once you’ve found a plate that captures your story, it’s time to make it yours by completing your purchase. Our website guides you through this process with an easy-to-follow checkout system. For added convenience, we offer various payment methods and guiding you through the extras.
Let us handle the paperwork: Buying a private number plate involves certain legal and administrative steps to transfer the registration. The good news is, Yellowhite takes care of all the paperwork for you. Our Easy Reg Transfer Service streamlines the process, handling the transfer or retention certificate on your behalf, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
Delivery & attachment: Once everything is in order, we can print and ship your new plates directly to you. We offer a range of plate styles, including high-quality 4D options, to ensure your vehicle truly stands out.

For more detailed information on each step of the process, including tips on choosing the right plate, understanding pricing, and learning about the transfer process, visit our comprehensive our Private plate buyer’s guide.

Question 3

What documents do I need when buying a private plate?

Accepted Answer

Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the essential documents required:No documents needed!: That&#8217;s right, initially, no documents are needed if you are buying a private number plate to put on a vehicle at some later date.If you want to transfer your new private plate to a vehicle then we&#8217;ll ask you for:V5C (Logbook): And no, you don&#8217;t need to send anything to us. We will just ask you for a couple details from your logbook after you have purchased your registration plate.  MOT details: If applicable, we&#8217;ll ask you for a couple details from your last MOT too &#8211; This way, we&#8217;ll make sure your MOT and tax are transferred to your vehicle too!Our Easy Reg Transfer Service simplifies the process for all our customers. Because we know; when purchasing a private (personalised) number plate, gathering the necessary documents is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and legal transition of the plate to your vehicle.

Question 4

Can I put any private number plate on my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Yip! There&#8217;s just a couple things you need to know:Age Restriction: The main rule is that you cannot use a private number plate to make your vehicle appear newer than it actually is. This means the age identifier (if present on the plate) must not be more recent than the vehicle&#8217;s original registration date. For example, a car originally registered in 2010 cannot have a plate that suggests it was registered in 2015. You can use our Registration plate suitability checker tool.Plate needs to be BS AU 145e compliant: This is down to the number plate printer! The plate must adhere to the DVLA&#8217;s format regulations. This includes the font, size, colour and ensure it meets legal visibility and recognition standards. They cannot alter the spacing or misrepresenting characters to form words or names in a way that could confuse or deceive is prohibited. The presentation of the plate must follow the official format to be legally recognized on UK roads.All our plates are BS AU 145e compliant &#8211; so you don&#8217;t have to worry!

Question 5

How long does it take to transfer a private number plate?

Accepted Answer

99% of the time, using our Easy Reg Transfer service, the process takes about 7-10 working days from the date of order—and often even quicker!

However, for second-hand registrations on retention, the process can take longer as we need to work with hard-copy documents and coordinate with the DVLA via post. This additional processing typically takes around 3 to 4 weeks and is entirely standard across the industry.

Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated every step of the way!

Personalised plates

Buying a private plate, made easy.

Choose your private plate.

Transfer the reg to your vehicle

Or invest for the future, or gift it

Get physical plates delivered

Get your perfect personalised number plate.

Check out some of our featured number plates.

59 MAT

1981 DR

L14 RLL

H2 NFA

X28 BMW

MR07 COZ

SAM 992H

555 JAK

CL55 SYY

PON 13Y

MY16 CAT

MY16 DOG

B6 SKY

OO70 BND

XX03 SXX

DJ24 LTD

Read our news.

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Can You Put a Private Reg on a Lease or PCP Car? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Found Your Plate Listed Online? Here’s How Yellowhite Keeps You Protected

Will your dvla private plate cost you a £1,000 fine?

New DVLA Online System: Tax Your Car Easily Without Your V5C or Reminder Letter

Top 10 Most Expensive DVLA Number Plates Ever Sold and the Stories Behind Them

The Road to the DVLA: A quick history of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Can You Make Your Own Private Number Plate?

Can I Transfer My DVLA Number Plate Straight to Another Car?

The Motor Car Act of 1903: Introduction and Impact

FAQs.

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