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Private number plates from Regtransfers

The UK's biggest supplier of private number plates

Call us on: 01582 967777

Lines are open

We are here 9am - 9pm, 7 days a week

Regtransfers 16475 4.8 5 16,475 reviews

Private number plates

Regtransfers is the UK's largest private number plate supplier. Established in 1982, we have a 40-year track record in the industry and a second to none reputation.

Finding and purchasing your dream number plate is a safe and easy process. As the industry leader with more than 50 million number plates, we are perfectly placed to help you. All you need to do is enter your name, initials or favourite numbers in the search box.

We can help you sell your private registration number too. Selling is also a simple matter with our help. Start today with a free, no-obligation valuation from our team of experts.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a personal number plate, our friendly and experienced team will be here to provide you with unbeatable value and service.

Cherished number plates

Buy number plates

With our help, owning your own personalised number plate has never been easier. Whether it's for your own car, a gift for a loved one or as an investment, we offer you the best chance of finding that perfect registration from the UK's largest selection of private number plates.

Sell number plates

Sell number plates

Receive a free, no-obligation valuation today from our specialised team of experts. With 40 years of experience, we can provide you with an informed and realistic price estimate, giving you the best chance of selling your private number plate to thousands of potential buyers at the right price.

Number plate auctions

Number plate auctions

Our premium private number plate auction service offers a safe environment for both buying and selling online. As always, we make the process as easy as possible and offer you the reassurance that comes from knowing that we will oversee the whole transaction.

Cherished number plates

Cherished number plates

Own a piece of history with our range of cherished number plates. We have the largest selection of dateless private registration numbers in the UK for you to choose from. Give your vehicle the exclusive personal plate it deserves.

Irish number plates

Irish number plates

If you are looking to hide the age of your vehicle, Northern Ireland style number plates are a cost-effective way of doing it. Browse our range of dateless Irish plates today.

Finance for number plates

Finance for private number plates

We have partnered with V12 to provide you with great competitive finance options. We allow you to easily spread the cost of your personal number plate, so you can buy your private registration on your terms.

Why choose Regtransfers?

  • Established 1982
  • Secure online ordering
  • 1m+ Satisfied Customers
  • Over 50 million numbers
Our FREE latest magazine

Number plates magazine - FREE!

The latest issue of The World of Personal Number Plates. Available to order today completely free of charge.

Get your free valuation

Number plate valuation

Sell your number plate with us. See what your registration number is worth with our free valuation service.

The current format of number plate, 2001 to present.

Number plate guides

Learn about transferring registrations, how registrations came into existence, the formats and how they have changed over the years.

Important private number plates information

There are certain details to be considered when buying a private number plate. You should first make sure that the number plate you want to buy is compatible with your vehicle. It is not permitted to assign a plate that makes your car appear younger than it actually is. You will need to ensure that your personalised number plate meets DVLA's legal requirements.

When you buy a number plate from Regtransfers, you will receive the services of a specialist. We will take care of all the formalities and check the relevant details so the purchase of your registration number can be quick and seamless.


Number plate transfer

If you wish to have private number plates on your vehicle you must acquire the right to display the new number. This means having the number officially transferred to your vehicle in place of its old number. You may not change your registration number by simply buying plastic number plates bearing the number you desire. Without completing the transfer process the registration shown on the V5C registration document will not be changed. It is illegal to display a registration number other than that shown on the vehicle’s V5C.

Number plate specs

Additionally, there are strict regulations governing the display of registration numbers on number plates. Plates must conform to a set of specifications relating to colour; size; reflectivity; decoration and character size, font and spacing.

Failing to comply with display regulations can result in MOT failure, a fine and permanent loss of the registration number concerned. We provide a full explanation of the rules governing number plates display .

Number plate rules

Another consideration when purchasing personalised number plates is the compatibility of the vehicle and the registration number. It is not permitted to display a registration bearing a year code later than the vehicle’s date of original registration. So, it would not be legal to display a current-style ‘57’ number plate on a vehicle originally registered in 2002. However, displaying a registration that is older than the car - a ‘51’ registration, for example - would be permitted. Please see our full explanation of UK car registrations , date codes etc.

Number plate formats

The Motor Car Act of 1903 introduced number plates to the UK. Since then, there have been several number plate formats created to accommodate the growing number of vehicles on the road. The scheme started with dateless plates, which did not feature an age identifier. In 1963, the dateless format was replaced by the suffix-style number plates. The prefix format was released in 1983 when suffix combinations ran short. This led to the year character moving to the beginning of the registration number. The current style of number plate has been in place since 2001 and has been designed to be operable until 2050.

Dateless 1903 - 1962

This format was used from 1904 to 1962

Early number plates were simple; the letter region code and a unique number to identify the vehicle.

Suffix 1962 - 1982

The Suffix format was used from 1963 to 1982

The Suffix format contains the area code (letters), three random numbers and an age identifier.

Prefix 1983 - 2001

The Prefix format was used from 1982 to 2001

The Prefix format contains an age identifier, three random numbers and an area code.

Current 2001 - present

The Infix format is currently in use

The Infix format contains a Local Memory Tag, an age identifier and a series of random letters.

About Regtransfers

Private plates for all

We are Regtransfers, the UK's largest independent private number plates specialist. The company was established in 1982 and our headquarters are in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. We are registered with the DVLA as a supplier of both personalised registrations and acrylic number plates. We buy and sell private registrations for our own stock and on behalf of clients throughout the UK.

Read more about us

Featured in

  • Autocar
  • Autotrader
  • Car Magazine
  • Classic And Sports Car Magazine
  • Country Life magazine
  • Daily Mail
  • Daily Telegraph
  • Easyjet
  • Google
  • Sunday Times
  • Top Gear Magazine

Our accreditations

Your online safety is very important to us. We use the highest levels of encryption to protect your sensitive data. Our PCI compliance ensures that every transaction made online or over the phone is secure.

  • Members of the Federation of Small Business
  • Members Institute of Registration Agents and Dealers
  • Members of the Retail Motor Industry Federation
  • Secured by Thawte
  • PCI certified
  • Cyber Essentials certified

Learn more about how we're proudly paranoid about cyber security.

Reviews

We value customer satisfaction above all else, so we are very proud to have served over a million satisfied customers in our 40 years of business.

Number plate FAQs

Got additional questions? Get them answered with our full frequently asked questions page.

Need to contact us?

Getting in contact with us couldn't be easier. We are open 9 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week so you can call us anytime on 01582 967777. Alternatively, you can contact us through our social media channels or with our contact form.

Social media

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. Our social media channels offer yet another way to contact us.

contact by phone

Phone

Our lines are open for you between 9 am and 9 pm, 7 days a week. Our highly trained staff are ready to guide you through the process of buying or selling your own private number plate.

contact form

Contact form

Our contact form is a convenient way to get in touch. You can simply fill out the form and we will have the relevant information we need to assist you.

The role of DVLA

Car registrations and number plates, including personalised number plates, in the UK, are the responsibility of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, usually known as the DVLA. It issues new registrations twice a year and also maintains the central database that records details of all vehicles licensed to drive on UK roads, along with their keeper and registration information.

Regtransfers works closely with DVLA to complete registration transfers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Regtransfers is a DVLA-registered supplier of personal car registrations and number plates and is listed on the DVLA Registrations website. All number plates supplied by Regtransfers comply with DVLA's prescribed standards and regulations.

DVLA administers all UK registration transfers and issues updated registration documents when the registration number of a car is changed, or when a registration is removed from a vehicle and placed on a retention document in accordance with the DVLA Retention Scheme.

DVLA is a registered trade mark of the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency. Regtransfers is not affiliated with the DVLA or DVLA Personalised Registrations. Regtransfers is a recognised reseller of unissued Government stock.

Number plate regulations

When a car is on the road, it is an offence to display number plates bearing any number other than the vehicle's officially recorded registration number. If you purchase a private registration, learn how to transfer private plates before displaying the new number.

All registration number plates displayed on UK vehicles must comply with the official number plate regulations. DVLA oversees enforcement of number plates display regulations and maintains a register of approved manufacturers and retailers of vehicle number plates.

Regtransfers is not part of, and is not formally affiliated with DVLA.

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