Over the years Private number plates have become more and more popular, with people keen to add that personal touch to their vehicles.
Finding the best private number plate for you can be a daunting task, especially for those who are new to the process and never owned one before. Below, we will outline some things to consider when looking for a private plate that suits you the best.
Your budget
Starting from just a few hundred pounds, going up to tens of thousands of pounds, it’s important to know your budget before searching for your personalised number plates as once you start looking you will see the vast variation of different combinations of letters and numbers and their value. Less is more £££’s in the personalised number plates world.
Getting personal You need to consider what level of personalisation you want your private number plate to contain. Do you want a plate that simply incorporates your initials or a special date, or would you prefer one that resembles a name or word? Also, is the plate going onto your business vehicle and needs to reflect the business name or the trade you’re in? Or maybe you want it to match the make or model vehicle it is going on? Once you start looking the different options available will vary.
Styles
There are 4 different styles that are currently available in the personalised number plates UK, they are as follows:
Dateless – when number plates first started back in 1903 in the UK, they were a simple combination of letters and numbers that were non-date specific. These plates tend to be the most sought after they do hold a higher premium. These were issued between 1903 and 1963.
Suffix – issued between 1963 and 1983, these plates feature a letter at the end to signify the year it was registered. The last 2 letters are the area code in which the plate was registered. To avoid any confusion, the letters I, O, Q, U and Z have never been issued as year identifiers: I because of its similarity to the numeral 1; O and Q because of similarity to a zero; U because of similarity to the letter V; and Z because of similarity to the numeral 2. The use of I and Z was confined to Ireland, while Q was reserved for temporary imports. Moreover, single-letter codes were omitted to avoid duplication of existing two-letter codes. Although this scheme was later adopted by the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the latter still uses it.
Prefix - started in 1983 and this style is the reverse of suffix having the letter at the beginning of the plate rather than the end.
Current – at the beginning of the millennium authorities reformatted the plates and decided to shift the area code to the beginning, immediately followed by a date identifier and the three randomly selected letters. This style will run until 2050.
Area codes on number plates are primarily used by the authorities to make tracking vehicles easier.
To learn more about where your car was registered see our Area Code Guide
A reputable dealer
When purchasing a personalised number plate, it is important to use a reputable private dealer such as us here at Moonstone Plates, as this will ensure that the transfer is completed correctly and that all the necessary documentation is in order. Not being familiar with the buying/transferring & assigning process could leave you considerably out of pocket if not done correctly. We can also assist you in finding the perfect plate that fits your budget and preferences.
Tips for finding the perfect private number plate
It is crucial that you think outside the box and be creative when deciding on the personalised number plate you want.
Getting the right combination of letters and numbers to make a private licence plate stand out can be quite tricky as there are only so many combinations to come up with. You could use the mandatory numbers in a licence plate to stand in for other letters or vice versa (see below), but this can have its challenges.
With more than 45 million personalised number plates uk in circulation, most of the obvious and easiest personal plate options have already been taken. This means you can either buy an existing plate or come up with something completely original that no one has thought of before (with only seven characters (max) to work with, it’s not as easy as you think)
Many people use the numbers on their registration plates as stand-ins for letters, which can make it easier to create a particular phrase or word.
Since only two numbers are used in modern plates, you could use the final two numbers of your birth year, such as 90, 01 or 98, (or 63, 72, 85 for the older generations!!!)
If you want the full date, you could use letters as numbers, such as IP94 for 1994 or ZO02 for 2002.
Lots of people want to display their initials or nickname when getting a private plate and this can be an excellent way to bypass the possible issues around using numbers as letters.
Plates that hold your initials can be much easier to find or generate than plates that have words, names or phrases.
It can sometimes be harder to switch letters for numbers, but it can be done using things like E for 3, I or L for one, 2 for S and Z and so on (See below).
Including Roman numerals are an excellent way to make your car stand out. It can also be an excellent way to display a date or number, given the restrictions caused by only having two numbers on the plate. You could use things like I, II, III and so on, as well as higher value numbers like V (five), X (ten), L (50), C (100) and M (1000). This can be an excellent way to show larger numbers like birth years and have them take up the entire plate rather than using filler letters.
You could choose anything – your birthday, a child’s birthday, an anniversary or a special date are all popular choices.
The best thing about commemorating a special day or date is that it won’t change in years to come or become something you outgrow, as the love you have for a private plate today may seem very cringy in years to come, for example S44 SSY. There’s nothing wrong with getting a tongue-in-cheek message like that, and it can be a fun and playful way to personalise your vehicle, but you should keep in mind that your tastes may change over the years.
This is why many people choose to stick with things like birthdays, names and nicknames that won’t feel dated in a few years’ time.
However, if there is a specific plate you have your heart set on, you may need to find if it already exists first and then if it is actually for sale. It is not just the plates with the right letters that can be more expensive, but the best numbers are also highly in demand.
You’ll need to decide for yourself how much a personalised number plate is worth to you.
Don't rush your decision. Take the time to consider all your options and ensure that the plate you choose is the perfect fit for you.
In conclusion, to make your own private number plate requires careful consideration of your budget, personalisation preferences, availability, following these factors and tips, you can be sure to find a plate that not only fits your preferences but also adds a unique touch to your vehicle.
Character & Number Substitutions:
0 = O or D
1 = I or L
2 = R or Z
3 = E
4 = A
5 = S
6 = C, G, B or O
7 = F, T or Y
8 = B, O or A
9 = G or O
11 = H, N or U
12 = R
13 = B
1V = N
V = U
VV = W
Keep It PC
One crucial thing to get right when you make your own registration plate is how it will be perceived by others – the DVLA will not allow any number that looks like it contains swearing, sexual references, or political or religious phrases. Even if you buy a plate fair and square, you could still find yourself having to give it up if the DVLA finds that it could cause offence to others.
We hope you found this useful, but if you do have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to help.
Looking to buy a private number plate?
Take a look on our website at the thousands and thousands of private number plates to suit all budgets with prices starting at just £275, it is a perfect & unique gift for everybody.
Click the link www.moonstoneplates.com/buy or press our logo to go back to the home page to begin your number plate journey!
Or if you would like to speak to someone you can call our team Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm at 01995 213112 or click here to contact us!
Looking to sell a private number plate?
Alternatively, if you have a registration plate and are looking to sell or know someone who might you can click here to go to our sell page or give our team a call on 01995 213112.
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