Number plates

Number plate related stories

2025: The year in number plates

06 February 2026

2025 was a busy year in the world of private plates. We have compiled a retrospective of the year's most important events and developments.

DVLA auction, January 2026

23 January 2026

DVLA's January auction of private number plates was an online event. Read our report on the prices paid and the most interesting plates.

Scottish Pride on the Road: History, Heritage, and the Saltire

16 January 2026

Scotland uses the standard GB registration system but maintains a distinct identity through "S" prefixes and the optional use of the Saltire flag, which can be legally displayed on any UK plate. From historic investments like "S 1" to creative themed plates, these registrations allow drivers across Great Britain to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture.

Number plates news around the world: January 2026

15 January 2026

The latest news from the world of number plates. Plates for China's autonomous cars; Oklahoma's censored plates; Ghana's radio number plates hit a snag; Pakistan to auction special plates, and more...

UK's flawed number plates system "a threat to national security"

09 January 2026

Gloomy lifestyle snapshot of a car and an indistinguishable number plate

A cross-party parliamentary report criticises the UK's number plates system as insecure. We look at the issues and the suggestions regarding how to fix them

First
<
2
3
4
5
>
Last

Number plate guides

Displaying your registration

Learn more about Acrylic number plates.

Success stories

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 personalised number plates and is listed on the DVLA Personalised 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 to the DVLA or DVLA Personalised Registrations. Regtransfers is a recognised reseller of DVLA registrations.

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.