Archive for July, 2009

Number Plate Auction

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

The appeal of personalised number plates is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. We have recently reported details from a recent number plate auction in India and are please to expand the news to include a sale last month in New South Wales.

The number plates were sold in a special number plate auction held by Shannon’s on behalf of the RTA, New South Wales equivalent of the DVLA. The revenue generated from the private number plates that were sold scooped a whopping $2.4 Million and surpassed all expectations. The top private number plate fetched $115,000 for a three number combination, 215. The same bidder also secured private number plate 214, a mere snip at $110,000.

The purely numeric format obviously makes it harder to make a personal number plate compared to our own DVLA number plates, that said presumably 214 & 215 had significance to the buyer if he parted with $225,000.

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Personal Number Plate Auction

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

An Indian business man has forked out 415,000 Indian rupees for personal number plate CH-04-K-0001. In India this is a ton of cash, converted to British Pounds it is about £5,243.00 which although a lot of money, it’s a pretty unremarkable figure in UK personal number plates terms.

The new owner, Harjinder Singh Pannu, bought this personal number plate for his Audi on Wednesday at the auction held by the Registering and Licenseing Authority (RLA). India’s equivalent to our very own Driver and vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). There were 36 personal number plates entered in the auction which is reported to have raised 1,763,000 rupees.

The desirability of the personal number plates entered in this auction no doubt creates a stir in India. Honestly speaking they look pretty naff to me, not the quality we are used to seeing at the DVLA auctions. The quantity of personal number plates offered is minute compared to our auctions. The next DVLA auction has 1600 car registration numbers entered with private number plates like 4 O entered in it.

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DVLA Auction Countdown

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

There is only a few weeks remaining until the next dvla auction of personalised number plates. The auction is going to take place at the RBS F1 Conference centre in Wantage Oxfordshire. Perspective bidders need to start thinking about how to make their bids, as time to register is running out.

It is not necessary to attend the dvla auction personally to bid for a personalised number plate. There are a variety of ways to submit a bid. The auctioneers can accept telephone bids during the auction subject to available slots. You can also submit a written bid in advance of the dvla auction.

If you can’t attend the auction personally and wish to have a truly independent representation, most personalised number plate dealers offer an auction bidding service. The dealer will represent you and will bid on your behalf. Obviously there is a fee for their DVLA auction bidding service, but when you offset that against travelling time, expenses and possibly having to use your annual leave to attend yourself. The fee is likely to be good value.

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Private Number Plates – Changing Cars

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is, What Happens to my private number plate when I change my car. It really all depends on what you wish do with your private number plate.

Basically you have two choices; can either place the private number plate on a DVLA retention certificate, V317 which keeps it safe for you. Alternatively you can transfer the registration number to your new vehicle; this can now be done using a V317 application form.

The important thing to remember is not to part with your vehicle or its documents until you have transferred your private number plate, otherwise the new keeper of you vehicle will have entitlement to the registration number.

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DVLA to help out

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

The demand for NHS direct has reached unprecedented levels due to the Swine Flu outbreak. The Government is expected to announce plans to draft in 1000’s of public sector staff to help with the surge in calls.

DVLA, Driver Vehicle & Licensing Authority, call centre staff have been earmarked as a resource that could be quickly trained & deployed to the new National Pandemic Flu Service which the department of health hopes will go live from the end of next week. The DVLA staff currently have call centre experience and deal with private number plate transfer queries, Driving licence queries etc.

We hope that the transfer of private number plates will not be affected during this period as cover for DVLA number plate transfers is inevitably likely to be reduced. The demand for private number plates remains high throughout the current economic issues.

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Prefix Personal Number Plates

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

The term prefix when used to describe personal number plates refers to the first alpha character. This Character was originally used as the year identifier for car registration numbers with the first being “A” issued in August 1983. At that time there was just one new registration series issued each year.

The prefix series of car registration numbers are now popular as personal number plates. The prefix personal number plates tend to be more affordable than their dateless registration number forerunners. The availability of unissued prefix number plates is now limited as there are literally hundreds being purchased every day and have been for many years.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVLA, have recently declared there intention to release some remaining prefix numbers over the next five years. The first of the proposed rollouts is scheduled for October 2010 and will be the extended R prefix range. We will post more information when we have it here.

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DVLA number plates sealed Bid Sale

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

The third DVLA number plates sealed bid sale has now concluded and the successful bidders have had the happy news. Although there were several lots unsold, the overall feel of the results is that the popularity of DVLA number plates continues to thrive despite the economic downturn.

The top prices achieved were for lot 995, car registration number YUL 1A, reached £10,110 that was equalled only by Lot 131, 121 CHE £10,110. Other notable lots were 906, UBA 1D sold for £7,000, lot 649, NAG 1K £5200.

The next DVLA number plates sale will be the auction of 1600 car registration numbers which is to be held on the 4th,5th & 6th of August at the RBS Williams Conference Centre, Wantage, Oxfordshire

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DVLA Number Plates & Write off’s ?

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

If you car has been evolved in a serious accident and the insurance company are likely to settle the claim as a total loss i.e. it isn’t economically viable to repair the vehicle. The private number plate is officially part of the vehicle. Therefore Unless you arrange with the insurance company to transfer the DVLA number plates or retain it on a V317 retention certificate, the number may be lost.

If the car registration number is lost you could write to the DVLA explaining the situation together with a letter from your insurance company stating they have no interest or claim in the DVLA number plates. They may take a sympaphetic view and let you have it back, our advice would be not to take that chance and have the number removed from the one being written off.

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Thinking of Buying A Car Registration Number?

Friday, July 10th, 2009

When thinking about buying a car registration number for the first time it can seem like a bit of a minefield. No doubt there will be countless questions you want answering, like:

There are websites everywhere which one do you choose ?
What about the Department of Transport Process ?
How do I update my tax disk ?
Which private number plate should I choose?
What can I can’t I have on my car?
Is it a good investment?
What happens when I sell my vehicle?

We would say go to platinum plates – but then that’s what you would expect us to say, isn’t it ! We have over 35 million private number plates available, we will take car of the legal side of the process on your behalf and even supply you with new number plates and offer lifetime support.

Rather than use this post as a sales plug for us we would recommend that if you have never transferred a car registration number before you take some advice before parting with any cash. The process can take a few weeks and if you buy from a dealer that is a member of M.I.R.A.D you can rest assured that they follow a predetermined code of ethics. I believe the same is true of CNDA members. If you buy car registration numbers privately that is obviously not the case.

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Personalised Number Plates on TV

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

On Friday there was a programme on channel four that covered some personalised number plates and their owners. The documentary style story discussed some high value private registration numbers as well as covering some cheaper alternatives. The main focus of the programme was to demonstrate how sought after personalised number plates are.

There were several car registration numbers featured with the main focus being around N1 GEL owned by an Essex business man and took pride of place on his yellow lambo. The only thing that came close to this fellas, quality personalised number plate and superb car, was his “thunderbirds” style hidden garage under his drive, you have to see it, the ultimate boyz toy.

Three other Nigel’s that had private number plates, albeit they all conceded they would rather have N1 GEL. They each had to make do with personalised number plates N2 GEL that was an account referred to as Nigel 2 and AU 1 which was a gold bullion dealer in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery quarter, and BL03 JOB was a chap from Tewkesbury

The AU 1 number plate shares the alpha combination for the periodic table of elements for Gold (AU 79) and apparently featured in the James Bond film Gold finger.

You can see the full personalised number plates episode below: Personalised Number Plates Channel 4 First Cut

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