Why do you want a number plate?

This question isn't essential but will help you greatly when deciding the number plate combination you want and how much you are willing to spend.

There are a multitude of reasons why one would want a personalised number plate - below we have outlined some of the main reasons:

• Mask the age of your vehicle- Irish numberplates are a cheap and effective way of disguising the age of your car.

 

• Stand out- sometimes it's just nice to be different and not have similar number plates to everyone else on the roads. Number plates are also used in advertising businesses.

• Show off- If you have the money and can find a great combination then a lot of people buy plates to draw attention to themselves and show off.

 

• A special reminder / gift - Weddings, birthdays and other special occasions can now be commemorated with a personalised number plate- a constant and lasting memory.

• Accessorise your car - Those who are really into their cars and partake in owners clubs and meets will find personalised number plates the perfect finishing touch to their pride and joy.

 

• Investment - If the combination is a good one- then some people do buy plates with the intention of selling them for a future profit. Numberplate investment also means you can use and enjoy the plate without affecting its value.

What is your budget?

Think very carefully when buying numberplates as the variation in price can be massive. At the cheaper end of the scale, Irish number plates can be purchased for as little as £100 and DVLA select number plates for as little as £250 with nothing more to pay.

If you buy a number plate it's worth remembering that some dealers will add the VAT and DVLA fees on to the asking price- so a £1000 plate could cost you about £1300 once all is said and done.

If you buy your number plate privately and deal directly with the seller than you can negotiate the best deal and get the most out of your budget.

Up to £1000

DVLA Select will be a good first port of call. With most Prefix plates starting at £250 with nothing more to pay and some new style plates priced from £499 upwards your money will go a lot further purchasing directly from the DVLA.

£1000 - £10,000

At this level, good quality dateless number plates and superb quality prefix or suffix number plates can be obtained- DVLA auctions are usually a great place to pick up a bargain in this price range.

Over £10,000

The sky is the limit! From J4MES to F1 to K1NGS it would seem there are plenty of ultimate numberplate combinations out there reaching well into 5 and 6 figures.

The Sunday Times motoring section often plays host to such ultimate number plates with prices reaching as far as the eye can see (!)

What do you have in mind?

Clearly when buying a number plate you may well have something in mind already; your name, a hobby or the make of your car.

Car number plates
Hobby number plates
Name number plates

 

Alternatives

In the event your ideal combination(s) are unavailable for purchase you will need you consider possible alternatives.

This is where Autonumerology and number plate phonetics will prove themselves valuable.
By replacing letters with numbers and vice versa a new selection of number plates which are possibly cheaper and easier to obtain will become viable.

Our advice? Sit down with a dictionary or thesaurus and the internet- there are so many great ideas and combinations to be had- invest time in your choice and you'll be rewarded with a great number plate.

Baffled by Jargon? Try our number plate glossary

© 2008 Smashing Plates | Which number plate to buy?