How to buy a personalised number plate.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a private number plate – also known as a private number plate – is more than just a transaction,  It’s a way to express yourself, stand out on the road, and even invest in something truly unique. At Yellowhite, we make the whole process smooth, exciting, and hassle-free. Here’s your step-by-step guide to securing the perfect plate.

Step 01
Find your perfect registration.

Yes, with 70,138,960 registrations in our database, finding the right one might feel overwhelming — but don’t worry, we’ve made it simple!

Start your search.

Type anything meaningful into our search bar:

  • Your name, initials, or pet’s name.
  • A special date or a clever phrase.
  • Even your favourite sports team!

Search your initials, name, pet's name, anything!

1. Enter letters

2. Select number

3. Enter letters

1. Letter

2. Select number

3. Enter letters

Our advanced system will show you options across new style, prefix, suffix, and dateless plates.

Step 02
Check your vehicle’s age.

Before buying, ensure the plate can legally be assigned to your car. DVLA rules are clear.

“You can’t use a registration number to make your vehicle appear younger than it actually is.”

How to check.

  • Use our free reg age checker tool to verify your vehicle’s age.
  • Look for the registration year listed with every plate on our site — you’ll always know if it’s a match.
Type in the number plate of your existing vehicle to check it’s age.
 

Step 03
Make it yours at checkout.

Found your perfect plate? Let’s lock it in!

Optional Extra 01
Use our easy reg transfer service.

Assigning your plate doesn’t have to be complicated. With our Easy Reg Transfer Service, we take care of everything for you.

How our reg transfer works

  1. Add the service during checkout.
  2. We’ll handle the DVLA transfer process and ensure it’s legally assigned to your car.
  3. Once approved, you’ll receive confirmation — so you can display your new plates with pride.
No stress, no forms, no hassle.

Optional Extra 02
Let us print your plates.

Save time and money by letting us print your new plates. Fully compliant with BS AU 145e standards, our plates are durable, stylish, and ready to go.

Choose your style.

premium acrylic private plate on car - plate printers

Premium Acrylic.

A modern classic! Premium quality acrylic, expert printing and hand finished. You can add a non-reflective border or a national emblem for a personal touch.

4D laser cut private plate on car - plate printers

Laser Cut 4D Plates.

Opt. for our premium 4D plates featuring lazer cut 3mm raised letters for a bold, stylish look that truly stands out. You can also add a border or a national emblem.

Your plates will be printed and shipped within 1 business day, hassle-free!

Final Step
Install your plates

Once you’ve received your printed plates, wait for confirmation from us, or the DVLA, that the transfer is complete. Then, attach your new plates to your car and hit the road in style!

FAQs.

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.

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Here’s a breakdown of the essential documents required:

  1. No documents needed!: That’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’ll ask you for:

  1. V5C (Logbook): And no, you don’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.  
  2. MOT details: If applicable, we’ll ask you for a couple details from your last MOT too – This way, we’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. 

Yip! There’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’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’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 – so you don’t have to worry!

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!

Your story.

Your plates.

PayPal Logo

Pay in 3 interest-free payments

Available for purchases of £30 to £2,000. No sign-up fees or late fees.
PayPal Finance Circle representing Monthly Finance (month 1)

Today

PayPal Finance Circle representing Monthly Finance (month 2)

1 month

PayPal Finance Circle representing Monthly Finance (month 3)

2 months

  1. Choose PayPal at checkout to pay later with Pay in 3.
  2. Complete your purchase with the first payment today.
  3. Remaining payments are taken automatically.

Pay in 3 is an unregulated credit agreement, so you will have fewer protections under this agreement than you would under a regulated credit agreement. Carefully consider whether the purchase is affordable and how you will make the repayments. Be aware of the possible impact of using Pay in 3 and of missing payments, including making other borrowing more difficult or more expensive. Pay in 3 eligibility is subject to status and approval. 18+ UK residents only. Available for purchases of £30 to £2,000. Terms and conditions apply. PayPal Pay in 3 is a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH.

Learn more about Pay in 3

50% off your plates 🎉
Sign up and receive a discount code for 50% standard plates.