8 Common Misconceptions About Private Number Plates

There is no doubt that some private number plates are more expensive than others. That said, the real value of an item is what someone is prepared to pay for it. A variety of factors like the combination of letters and numbers, history, and the rarity of the registration determine how desirable the number is. While it's true that some private plates cost a lot of money, not all do. In fact, there are private plates available to suit every budget. Some private number plate suppliers allow you to spread the cost of a private plate monthly.

We wouldn’t blame you if you thought personalised registrations only belonged to celebrities and high-status individuals. People tend to associate private plates with these kinds of people as they are often seen on high-end luxury vehicles in marketing materials. However, they are definitely not limited to this exclusive group and can be purchased by anyone who wants to seamlessly modify their vehicle.

Another common misconception about private number plates is that they are difficult to obtain. This is not necessarily true. Although some plates may be more difficult to obtain than others, many can be purchased directly from the DVLA or through an authorised private number plate dealer. You just need to ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to complete the transfer to your vehicle

Personalised registrations have grown in popularity in recent years and have become a favoured car modification by many, but some dismiss them as tacky. This misconception is solely based on personal opinions and is not necessarily true. There are plenty of stylish and tasteful options available.

Some people view private plates as tacky because they assume they are a status symbol or an attempt to show off wealth. While it's true that some expensive private plates may be purchased for this reason, it's worthwhile to remember that private plates are available at a range of price points. Many people choose to purchase a private plate simply because they like the way it looks or wants to express a sense of individuality to a vehicle.

Contrary to what you may see on the roads, you cannot customise the spacing between a group of characters. This is to further highlight the spelling of a particular word or name. The BS AU 145e is a British standard that specifies the requirements for all number plates for motor vehicles, which the character font, size, spacing, grouping and positioning must meet in order to be legally compliant.

Even though a personalised number may draw more attention to your vehicle, it does not increase your insurance premium, as it is rare for a policy to actually cover the registration itself. Although, the number plate plays a key role in the calculation of an insurance quote. This is because the registration generates all the vehicle's information, including the age. Since older cars tend to be less valuable, they are generally cheaper to insure than newer cars. There are obvious exceptions to this rule in the form of vintage or collector cars. Additionally, older vehicles lack today's safety features and technology that make them more susceptible to theft and accidents. The only financial implication of a private plate is that you’d have to pay an admin fee to change your existing insurance policy.

It is not permitted to purchase a number plate to make your car seem newer than it actually is. Therefore, you are only allowed to assign a plate that is of the same age or older than the original registration. However, this rule does not apply to dateless (pre-1963) registrations, as they do not contain an age identifier and therefore can be applied to any vehicle.

Despite a few more steps, it is certainly possible to transfer a private plate to a leased car. You’ll need permission from the leasing company, which is the registered keeper of the vehicle. You should be prepared to pay an admin fee to the leasing company to help implement this change.