We Talk Personalised Number Plates

If you’ve got your eye on an immaculate new car that suits you down to the ground (you’ll no doubt be looking at the Carlingo range, if so), you might also be thinking about the ultimate finishing touch; a personalised number plate. 

Whether you’re looking to transfer your cherished plate from your existing car, or you’re new to putting your own stamp on your daily driver, we’ve gathered the rules and regulations of personalised number plates into one place for you. There’s enough to think about when you’re buying a new car; there’s no need for the personalised plate process to be anything but exciting… 

Where can you buy a personalised number plate? 

You have some options for the initial purchase of your plate: buy direct from the DVLA, or from a private broker or dealer. They will vary in price, and you’ll usually find shorter, more unique plate combinations come with a higher price tag attached.

In most cases, you're buying the right to use that specific number plate; you won’t actually have a physical number plate delivered to you.

How can I put a personalised number plate on my car? 

Once you’ve purchased your personalised number plate, you’ll need to ensure that it is assigned correctly to your vehicle - you’ll be able to do this using the V750 certificate of entitlement you should have received as part of the purchase. 

Then, you need to find a registered number plate supplier, who can make up the plates; this is a DVLA stipulation, as they’ll be able to work within the strict number plate rules (more on those shortly).

If you get them made up at a service centre, they’ll usually be able to fit them to your car too. Don’t forget to inform relevant parties, such as your insurance provider, that your car now goes by a personalised plate.  

What are the personalised number plate rules? 

• Characters must be displayed in a standard font; that’s a big no to italics. However, the letters and numbers can be 3D or 4D, provided the correct font has been used.
• Characters must measure 79mm high and 50mm wide, apart from the number 1, or the letter ‘l’
• Bolt fixtures cannot be used to change how any letters or numbers appear
• Letters and numbers should always be black
• The stroke of each character on the number plate must be 14mm 
• The space between each character needs to be 11mm, and the margins around them need to be 11mm too 
• The number plate must not suggest that the vehicle is younger than it really is
• You must display a white plate at the front, and a yellow one at the back, and both need to be reflective
• You can have a border (providing it doesn’t interfere with the characters), but no background pattern

Can you transfer a personalised plate to a new car? 

It’s good news - for a fee of £80, you’re able to transfer your existing private plate to your upgrade by reassigning it, making it feel completely yours from the off. 

Personalised plates don’t need to be made up straight away, so even if you’ve simply got the usage of a private plate but haven’t got the car to put it on yet, you can still get the ball rolling.

Ready to find a car to match the plate?

If you’re all set on the plate but yet to find the perfect used car, your search ends at Carlingo. Whether you pick from our wide online selection, or you visit our state-of-the-art dealership in Harrogate, we’ll steer you towards the right car. You’ll get an beautiful car for a fair price, ready for your plate update. 

Start browsing online today, or get directions to our Harrogate dealership.