Personalised plates

Introduction

Love 'em or loathe 'em, personalised number plates are big business and hugely popular.

Whether you want to tell the world your name is S4 MMY or you want hide the age of your car with a non-specific plate, it's all out there.

There are hundreds of companies offering number plates from less than a hundred quid to tens of thousands.

But remember - any number plate is only worth what you are prepared to pay for it, so don't pay over the odds.

The process of buying a personalised number plate is very simple, so follow our step-by-step guide.

How to buy a number plate

It's not as simple as having the plates made up in Halfords and bolting them to your car.

Follow these steps to make sure you register your new number correctly:

STEP 1
First off, you need a registration number to attach to your car, whether it's a new or used car. Registration numbers can be bought from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), which is the government's body that keeps a record of all registration numbers in the UK. You can also buy from specialist dealers, who sell all sorts of different configurations.

STEP 2
When you've picked the perfect number for you, you must obtain legal ownership of the number. This requires a V750 Certificate of Entitlement form, which is available from your local DVLA office. When this has been issued, you can transfer the personalised registration to your car.


STEP 3
You can keep the personal registration on retention for an additional fee. Or, the V750 Certificate of Entitlement form allows you a fixed period before you must either use the number to register a car or lose the number.


STEP 4
To register your car with the personalised number, contact your local DVLA office, either by post or in person.


STEP 5
You will need a registration document and the V750 form to attach the number to a new car. To change the number of an existing car, you will need an insurance certificate, Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), an MoT certificate if applicable and the V750 form. You will also need to complete a V317 form to transfer your chosen registration onto a previously registered car. In both cases an assignment fee will be charged by the DVLA.


STEP 6
Registering a car with a new, personalised number plate takes about four days from start to finish. In this time, it is illegal to use the car on public roads as it is not yet registered.

The law

You're nearly there - just make sure you don't fall foul of the myriad number plate laws.

Here's an overview of the common must-dos:

Your new registration may mean something very personal to you, such as your birthday or wife's name, but the police take a very dim view of number plates where the characters have been moved around to make a spelling more obvious

At best, this will earn you a stern warning and you'll be told to get it changed pronto. At worst, you can end up being fined and having your license endorsed

Using swoopy characters on a number plate to give it what you might think is a bit of style can also land you in hot water. The police can view this as obstructing the law if the number is difficult to read and this can result in a stint before the local beak

The law allows you to display a national flag as part of the number plate design, but other symbols such as football team badges or the car's maker's badge are forbidden

Cars registered before 1 January 1973 can use silver on black or white on black number plates. Cars registered after this date must use black on white plates at the front and black on yellow plates at the rear

Stick on number plates are illegal as the number plate must be flat and easily legible

If you are unsure of which company to use to buy your personalised registration, contact MIRAD, the Institute of Registration Agents and Dealers, who have a list of members that adhere to their code of practice (www.mirad.co.uk).