Can I make the DVLA an offer for a personalised number plate?

In summer 2019, I registered interest in half a dozen personalised number plates all at the same time on the DVLA website which says I will be alerted when any of these are auctioned off.

I presumed at least one of them would be available by now but they haven’t been. I was wondering if there is a rough timeframe for these things and whether the pandemic had pushed any of these auctions back?

I also wondered if there was anyway of approaching the DVLA and coming up with a fair price for any of them?

The DVLA holds nine auctions every year. Its next auction, which includes 2500 registrations, will be held online between 12 and 18 May.

Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: It’s a good question and worth pointing out that that there is no indication that any auctions have been pushed back due to the pandemic.

In fact, the past year has seen more personalised registrations sold by the DVLA than ever before.

In the eleven months between 1 April 2020 and 28 February 2021 there were 548,998 personalised registrations sold by the DVLA compared to 408,336 sold in the 12 months preceding it. 

The next auction will be held online between 12 and 18 May and will include 2,500 registration plates – so it is possible one might now be available.

Information about the registrations on offer, their starting prices and details on how to register and submit a bid can be found on the DVLA website.

We contacted the DVLA to try and secure some further clarity on the matter.

A spokesperson for the DVLA replies: The DVLA holds nine auctions every year and the eventual selling price of a registration will depend upon demand on the given day.

There are also more than 50million fixed price registrations available for sale on our website, with almost endless possibilities of combinations to suit a person’s taste, interests and budget, with prices starting at just £250.

It may be helpful to explain that we don’t accept offers on registrations sold through auction.

While the DVLA retains income to recover the costs in administering personalised registrations services, the remaining balance is paid to HM Treasury

Each registration has a starting price where bidding will start and it will be sold to the highest bidder.

Where a customer requests a particular registration, we try and make this available for sale at auction at the soonest opportunity.

There is considerable demand for certain styles of registration, meaning that some of the more popular requests may take longer than others. 

What not to forget after your purchase? 

Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: Once you purchase a new registration number, don’t forget to inform your insurance company of the change.

Also, you’ll need to update your registration number for any automatic payment accounts you have set up for your current registration number.

For example, the Congestion Charge, the ultra-low emissions zone charge, and the Dartford tunnel charge among others.

Otherwise, you risk getting hit by a fine if you do not update your registration details when entering one of these zones.

Also, if you have one, don’t forget to update your on-street parking permit with the new registration number.

All these things may seem obvious, but can be equally forgettable and costly.