Finding Your Perfect Plate

 

So, I’ve always fancied the idea of having a personalised number plate on my car. It just adds that little bit of individuality, you know? Recently, I finally decided to take the plunge and get one with my initials and letters that match my car model. The whole process seemed a bit daunting at first, but it turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. I thought I’d share my experience, step-by-step, in case you’re thinking of doing the same. This is a guide on how to find, buy, and assign a personalised registration plate in the UK, based on my recent journey.

The first thing I did was head to the DVLA registrations website. You can find it easily by searching for “DVLA number plates” on any search engine. Once there, it’s pretty intuitive. There’s a big search box where you can type in any combination of letters or numbers you’re looking for. I typed in my initials and “XK” (because I have an XK, obviously!)

The search results gave me a few different categories: “current style” registrations (the ones used since September 2001), “prefix” registrations (used between 1983 and August 2001), and even some that would be available in future auctions. I found it helpful to click on “View more like this” to see a broader range of options within each category.

Browsing and Choosing

This brought up a list of all the available plates that matched my search, along with their prices. It’s a good idea to scroll through and see what catches your eye. I used the “preview” option to see what each plate would actually look like on a car. You can even select the vehicle type, make, and model to get a really accurate representation. It’s a nice touch!


Buying Your Chosen Registration

Once I’d found the perfect plate, I clicked “Buy Now.” Importantly, the price you see is the final price. It includes VAT and all the transfer fees, so there are no nasty surprises later on. The DVLA also clearly states what age of vehicle the registration is suitable for. You obviously can’t put a newer plate on an older car, so it’s important to check this. I ticked the box to confirm I understood this and proceeded.

Creating an Account and Paying

If you’ve used the DVLA site before, you can just sign in. I hadn’t, so I had to create an account. This was simple enough – just a case of creating a user ID, entering my email address, and providing my name. Then, it was on to payment details and my address. Once that was all done, I got a confirmation that my account had been created.

The next step was to provide the details of the person the plate was for (me, in this case!). Then, there’s a page with the Terms & Conditions. I always make a point of reading these, even though they can be a bit lengthy. Once I was happy, I ticked the box and clicked “Next.”

Final Checks and Confirmation

Before finalising the purchase, I double-checked all the details on the purchase summary page, including my address. Everything looked correct, so I entered the three-digit security code from the back of my card and clicked “Pay Now.”

And that was it! I got a purchase confirmation on screen, and I also received an email with all the details. The DVLA also sends a Certificate of Entitlement (V750) in the post. This includes a receipt and the actual V750 certificate, which is really important for the next step.

Assigning the Registration to Your Vehicle

Now for the exciting part – actually getting the plate onto my car! The V750 certificate tells you exactly where to go online to do this. It’s a specific section on the DVLA website. The service is only available between 7 am and 7 pm, so keep that in mind.

On the website, I had to enter the new registration number, select whether I was the vehicle keeper or had the right to the registration, and then provide my vehicle’s current registration number. I also needed the V5C reference number (from my logbook), the V750 certificate number, and my postcode.

Confirmation and Getting Your Plates Made

After entering all the details, the website confirmed that the registration could be assigned to my vehicle. I chose to receive email confirmation, and then… that was it! The application was successful, and I could legally put the new plates on my car straight away.

You can either wait for your new V5C logbook to arrive or download a Number Plate Authorisation Certificate (eV948). I downloaded the eV948, as I needed to take it to a registered number plate supplier to get the physical plates made. This certificate proves you’re legally allowed to have the plates made.

Fitting and Enjoying!

Once I had my new plates, I fitted them to my car. It was a really satisfying moment, seeing my personalised registration finally on my XK! The whole process, from searching to fitting, was much easier than I anticipated.

Overall, getting a personalised number plate was a really positive experience. It felt like a little upgrade to my car, and it definitely makes it feel more *mine*. If you’re on the fence about it, I’d say go for it! Just follow the steps I’ve outlined, and you should find it a smooth and relatively quick process. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off for a drive to show off my new plates!

Don’t forget to head over to our store once you have chosen your registration as we can have them to you the same day, and with our great range on 3D Gel plates, your new registration number plate will really look the part.