Private Registrations

The Mad Rapper · 19 Sep 2011 at 10:43

My wife and I have seen a private plate on the DVLA web site which is perfect for our car. I guess I have 2 questions really:

1. Is it considered 'chavvy' to have a private plate?

2. What is the actual process of swapping to the new registration once I've bought it?

TIA.

paradigm · 19 Sep 2011 at 10:51

Velo Rapide said:
1. Is it considered 'chavvy' to have a private plate?

Depends entirely on the plate in question.

Velo Rapide said:
2. What is the actual process of swapping to the new registration once I've bought it?

Depends on how you buy it. I'd advise buying directly from the DVLA, that way the fees are paid up front. You'll receive your V750 form through the post, then you need to fill it out and take it with you to your nearest DVLA office (you can do it by post, but it takes an age as opposed to same day while you wait). You'll need to take a photocopy of your current tax disc (ie with the old mark on it), and the documents listed on the V750 (I forget which). Took about 15 minutes (including waiting times) for them to process my swap and issue me with my new tax disc. You then obviously need to inform your insurers of the reg change.

I got the plates made up before hand, using the V750, so that once I had been to the DVLA office, I could fit them there and then.

alchemistkevin · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:03

1. Not chavvy at all.
2. Same as above, I went personally and had everything done at the DVLA office, not sure if post is even an option as they might ask to see the car it's going on to.

alchemistkevin · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:04

1. Not chavvy at all.
2. Same as above, I went personally and had everything done at the DVLA office, not sure if post is even an option as they might ask to see the car it's going on to.

Vince · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:12

I wouldn't say its chavvy but that depends on the plate.

Process goes something like this, buy plate, wait for form, go to dvla office with log book, tax disk and moneys. DVLA will write a new tax disk and work some other magic then you can go outside the dvla offices to the numberplate place across the road give them the forms the dvla gave you and proof of who you are. They will make up numberplates then you secure them to the car, job done.

The Mad Rapper · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:38

We've bought an XC90 D5 SE. The registration we're interested in is 'D5 XXX' where 'XXX' equals a letter for each of our Christian names and Surname. Not too bad I hope

Thanks for the advice.

crinkleshoes · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:55

Not meaning to start any form of flame war... genuine question... can someone explain to me the point of private number plates? The need to waste money on an un-important identifier illudes me :confused:

monkey_boy · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:56

That'll be a nice plate, and tidy up to look of the car and hide the age.

EDIT-

The need to waste money on an un-important identifier illudes me

As does the spell checker

[TW]Fox · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:59

Velo Rapide said:
We've bought an XC90 D5 SE. The registration we're interested in is 'D5 XXX' where 'XXX' equals a letter for each of our Christian names and Surname. Not too bad I hope

The best type when looking at sensible money plates to be honest - clean simple and short.

Meatball · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:00

Velo Rapide said:
We've bought an XC90 D5 SE. The registration we're interested in is 'D5 XXX' where 'XXX' equals a letter for each of our Christian names and Surname. Not too bad I hope

Thanks for the advice.

The only thing is if you sell the car and buy something different the 'D5' will become meaningless but I'm sure you've figured that out.

I got N19 (November 19th, my bday) WMH (My initials)

That way it'll always be relevant to me no matter what car I own

.

crinkleshoes · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:01

monkey_boy said:
That'll be a nice plate, and tidy up to look of the car and hide the age.

EDIT-
As does the spell checker

It's fun to take the **** out of the dyslexic

PMKeates · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:02

Meatball said:
The only thing is if you sell the car and buy something different the 'D5' will become meaningless but I'm sure you've figured that out.

Exactly this. I saw a new S4 the other day with a V8 xxx plate. He probably had an S4 before, a V8 one. Now he has a V6 and looks silly

paradigm · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:05

crinkleshoes said:
Not meaning to start any form of flame war... genuine question... can someone explain to me the point of private number plates? The need to waste money on an un-important identifier illudes me

For me, the reason was 3-fold.

Firstly, I had deemed that the car was "good enough" to warrant a personalised plate.

Secondly, I wanted to own a plate that would "follow" me for life, and have personal meaning (an important date and my initials). I never need remember another registration again.

Thirdly (and I suppose as a benefit, rather than something I bought it for initially), it hides the fact that it's a 57 plate (even though the car is an '08 build).

[TW]Fox · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:05

PMKeates said:
Exactly this. I saw a new S4 the other day with a V8 xxx plate. He probably had an S4 before, a V8 one. Now he has a V6 and looks silly

I see a lot of M3 XXX threads on recent model 118d/318d's. I always feel a bit sorry for them as they obviously used to have an M3 and now have a 118d

MeEsH BaKkA · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:05

Not chavvy.
I would not get a car specific one though, as mentioned when you come to sell the car it will be a bit pointless. Unless you have a love of D5 engines.

Mine for example has next to no meaning but does tend to get some laughs especially on a euro trip.

alchemistkevin · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:06

crinkleshoes said:
Not meaning to start any form of flame war... genuine question... can someone explain to me the point of private number plates? The need to waste money on an un-important identifier illudes me

It's the same as changing the wallpaper on your desktop or putting a picture of your loved ones on your work desk.

It's just another way to personalize your immediate environment ...

Mucky_Pup · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:08

Depends on the car, the plate, and if you're going to illegally modify the plate, then it becomes chavy.

[TW]Fox · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:08

alchemistkevin said:
It's the same as changing the wallpaper on your desktop or putting a picture of your loved ones on your work desk.

It's just another way to personalize your immediate environment ...

Plus in this country we have the most ridiculous numberplate system in the entire world and therefore a nice simple LN LLL (L=Letter, N=Number) plate looks much nicer than the age-obsessed rubbish we currently have. I always think something like say a Ferrari F430 looks a bit weird on a 56 plate..

MeEsH BaKkA · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:09

Mucky_Pup said:
Depends on the car, the plate, and if you're going to illegally modify the plate, then it becomes chavy.

Not so much the car, but a Definite +1 on the no illegal modifying of a plate. You end up looking like a ***.

Vince · 19 Sep 2011 at 12:15

[TW]Fox;20102660 said:
Plus in this country we have the most ridiculous numberplate system in the entire world and therefore a nice simple LN LLL (L=Letter, N=Number) plate looks much nicer than the age-obsessed rubbish we currently have. I always think something like say a Ferrari F430 looks a bit weird on a 56 plate..

You see this is what I think the old style LN LLL plates just look better... It just so happens that my surname is 5 letters and can be spelt on the plate... only the absolutly correct spelling is going for 15k+ so my one is close enough and will have to do, at least until I have a spare 15-20k... might be a long time if ever tbh.