Where purchasing a personalised number plate is concerned, there are basically three ways in which you can do this.  You can purchase these types of plates at an auction, through the DVLA, or privately.  Let’s consider the first option – purchasing them by way of an auction.  Purchasing a private number plate at one of the DVLA’s private auctions is a great way to acquire private number plates which are extremely exclusive or rare.

If you are an avid collector or investor, this is a great method to pursue.  However, where finances and money are concerned, you need to be very flexible.  Most of these auction lots have a reserve fee of at least £200, whereas others may fetch very high prices during the auction event.  As an example, in 2006, the plate numbered “51 NGH” sold for £254,000.  Additionally, in March of last year (2009), the personalised number plate labelled “1 D” was auctioned off at £352,000 a record for these types of auctions.

Normally, there are six auctions involving private number plates conducted every year.  They typically last three days and feature some 1,600 personalised number plates.  If you visit the DVLA website (http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/) this enables buyers to place their bids in person, by telephone, or over the internet.

Additionally, you can also bid on these plates by virtue of a “sealed bid” if a live auction intimidates you.  These bids are invisible to other bidders but carry the same amount of weight towards the final winning price in the long run.