To some people car number plates are simply a means of identifying a vehicle or its owner. This rather simple description however is rapidly becoming extinct as more and more people buy car number plates to add a personal touch to their vehicles and make them stand out in the crowd. From city slickers to rural farmers, people from all over the UK are finding and buying their very own private registration.

The growth of the internet has changed the face of the number plate world. In past times there were only a handful of number plate dealers operating in the UK. Finding a number plate involved trawling threw lists thousands of registrations advertised in the press. Nowadays there are many more reputable dealers selling car number plates who provide the ability to search millions of registration online in a matter of seconds. With so many car registrations to choose from the first time buyer may be overwhelmed. However by deciding on the type or registration you want and your budget the perfect car registration can be found with ease.

When you are buying car number plates you will notice a range of prices for the registration numbers. From as little as £99 to over £100000, there is a number plate to suit every budget. The price of a number plate is dependant several factors include the age, rarity and popularity of the registration. An £80 DVLA transfer fee is applicable to all number plate purchases and VAT is applicable to most sales.

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If you want to buy cheap number plates search the prefix style range of registrations for your initials. In many cases you will be able to buy number plates with your initials for under £300 including VAT and transfer fee. Irish number plates are also a cost effective option if you want to buy car registrations. These include the letters I and Z so car registrations with names such as WIL, GIL and CAZ can be found at cheap prices.

For more prestigious registrations search for dateless and cherished number plates. Dateless car registrations have no age identifier and can be assigned to age vehicle regardless of age. Examples of dateless registrations are A 99, 95 PR, TMB 213 and JJ 3461. The most desirable car registrations are number plates with low numbers or the exclusive number 1.

When you buy car registration numbers from number plate dealers such as Cape Plates you will have two options. The first is to have the car registration number assigned to your vehicle. This can be done free of charge. You will need to send the dealer your V5 logbook, MOT certificate (if applicable) and a photocopy of your tax disc. In return you will receive a new tax disc displaying your new car registration number and an updated MOT. The V5 logbook showing the private registration will follow from DVLA Swansea.

The second option is to buy the registration number on certificate. Certificates are valid for 12 months and can be renewed annually. Buying a registration on certificate is a great option if the private number plate is a gift or you wish to assign the number plate at a later date. A DVLA number plate certificate enables you to buy car registration numbers even if you do not have a car to put it onto yet.

When you have a new registration number assigned to your vehicle you must remember to inform your insurance company. Once assigned to your car there are no other costs involved with owning a personal number plate so you are free to hit the road and show other drivers what they are missing.