Have you ever considered getting a personalized registration plate for your car? If so, you are not alone; these plates have become increasingly popular over the last few decades as more and more drivers tire of the boring plates issued by the UK government’s DVLA.
Why would someone care enough to get a custom plate made when the government-issued variety would suffice? For some drivers, the opportunity to splash their own combination of numbers and letters across their car’s plates is too exciting to pass up.
Express Yourself
Set yourself apart with your registration plate. Share your passion. Express your personal views, your personal style, and your personality in a way people are not expecting. That is why most people choose a custom plate – and how you can use yours to give people a great first impression in just a few quick seconds on the road.
Memorable and Easy to Remember
Want to stand out from the crowd and give people a way to remember you quickly? Grab a custom plate and make it easy to tell which car is yours! Others can quickly tell who you are, what you are passionate about, and that you are not like every other driver.
This is also great if you want to use your plate to boost your business. Say you own a bakery, and you decide to advertise your skills by stylizing the word “baker” on your plate. It is a quick, easy, and memorable way to grab people’s attention – without being an obnoxious distraction on the road!
Potential Investment Opportunity
You might not think about a custom registration plate as an investment opportunity, but with a little forethought, it can be! Choosing a custom registration plate that may become more popular or more desirable over time can be a great purchase. Buying and holding the plate – whether on your vehicle or on a certificate that allows you to keep the plate without using it – means it is yours until you decide to sell it. Waiting to make that sale until the plate has peaked in popularity or demand means you can realize a major return on that investment!
Hiding the Age of Your Vehicle
This may sound sneaky, but remember, you cannot actually conceal your vehicle’s age from the government in the United Kingdom. Rather, using a custom plate to “hide” your vehicle’s age is about giving it a timeless look and vibe. When a standard plate is issued, it includes a combination of numbers that denote its registration date. Forgoing this in a customised plate means giving people the impression that your vehicle is timeless – a real boon for car collectors!
Celebrating Special Occasions
We all have special occasions we want to celebrate and remember forever. This might be the birth of a child, a wedding date, a career milestone, or another anniversary. Any kind of date can be used in the combination of numbers and letters used in creating your custom plate, so you can always celebrate that special day!
What to Consider Before Your Custom Number Plate Search
While getting a registration plate is fairly straightforward, there are still a few things to consider during your search:
- What plate are you looking for? Deciding what kind of plate you want can help you narrow down your buying options.
- What is your budget? Your budget should always be a consideration, especially as rarer plates will be more expensive.
- What would the resale value for your plate be? If you purchase an expensive plate, you might also want to determine whether you can resell it if your tastes or lifestyle change.
- What are the transfer rules, regulations, and processes? Understanding these processes can help streamline your search for the right plate. It can also help you be prepared for any additional fees you may incur.
- Where will you buy your custom plate?
Your custom number plate search may involve several different types of retailers. There are three primary ways to purchase custom or personalized number plates. These include:
- Direct purchase from the DVLA. Many people prefer to purchase directly from the DVLA when it comes to buying any kind of registration plate. There are two ways to do this. You can make a standard purchase or wait for an auction that offers premade, unique and potentially desirable plates. This second option is great if you want a special plate but do not know exactly what you want. Purchasing from an auction can allow you to grab a unique plate you might not have previously considered, or which you can no longer purchase directly from any retailer.
- Third-party retailers or dealers. Third-party retailers work directly with the DVLA to provide custom plates. However, they may offer special discounts, promotions, or provide special features that appeal more to customers than you might find on the DVLA’s own website.
- Private sales with a previous owner. This is more of a mixed bag, as you can only secure certain registration plate combinations if you buy them directly from the previous owner. However, if you have a very specific plate you want, this might be your best bet – and can help you develop a real relationship with both the plate and its history.
Regardless of where your number plate search takes you, getting a unique and memorable number plate can be a great way to express yourself, invest in yourself, and set yourself apart from the crowd!