| Collecting car number plates |
3 Jun |
Car number plates, once they have outlived their legal use as unique identifiers of cars, often become collectible items. This hobby is known as car number plate, or vintage number plate, collecting. Car number plates generally date back to the early twentieth century; in the UK, the 1903 Motor Act introduced car registration as a legal requirement. There are some older examples in other countries, which, of course, are highly valued as collector items because of their age.
Other car number plates can be valued as collector items due to their colour, regional origin, shape and / or size and historical peculiarities. Particular combinations of numbers and / or letters can be valued for their rarity or special value. Personalised car number plates, also known as vanity or cherished number plates, are among the most highly valued and collectible. These can be very expensive and are usually registered index marks displayed on a vehicle being used. In all cases however, unless national licensing authorities have given specific legal consent, collected car number plates cannot be displayed on a vehicle being driven on a public road.
Collectible car number plates are often offered at auctions. Other collectors browse through old junk sales, garage sales, car scrap yards, and so on, hunting for these collectors’ items. In some countries, specific collectors’ associations have been set up, such as the Automobile Licence Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) in the US. In recent years, the number of website and social media sites devoted to collecting private number plates has grown greatly in number.
read comments (0)| DVLA number plate auctions |
30 May |
Each year the DVLA holds a number of auctions for personalised number plates, for sale at locations throughout Britain. The auctions are an enjoyable occasion and the DVLA tries to make it a fun day out, in addition to providing the opportunity to nab very exclusive personalised plates, some of which are highly distinctive.
The real atmosphere is at the auction, so bidding onsite is a great idea; however telephone and internet bidding facilities are also offered. The DVLA registrations website has a list of future auctions and has a downloadable PDF catalogue of all the number plates for sale. Once you’ve looked at the catalogue and picked a number (or numbers), you then need to choose your bidding method, complete the application to register, and return it by fax or mail.
The DVLA registrations website has a list of prices achieved at previous auctions, which will give you an idea of what you can expect to pay for a personalised plate. The great thing about these auctions is that you will be paying market price, not the price set by a third party, who may or may not be reasonable. It is also important to consider DVLA auctions, due to the number of unscrupulous sellers that charge an apparently attractive price for rare plates and later fail to deliver the plates. Because it is the DVLA selling the plates, you will have no trouble with transferring ownership after purchase.
As with any auction, remember to set a maximum price before you go to the venue, all the excitement can easily prompt you to shell out far more money than you originally intended.
| Toyota leasing offers a great car at a great price! |
23 May |
Toyota cars for lease are attracting customers who want a new car based on monthly payments, and this option seems more affordable than purchasing a new one. Toyota leasing services help make this happen.
With Toyota leasing, a customer can pay smaller monthly payments than financing a new car. The customer will have the flexibility of returning the vehicle to the leasing company at the end of the contract without any worries of selling it at the end. The Toyota lease has two aspects: the finance cost and the depreciation cost. The finance cost is the money interest that the Toyota Company has included in the customer’s car. In the depreciation cost, a part of the money is repaid through monthly payments, and the remainder is paid when the customer either returns the car or keeps it when the lease period has ended.
The company offers 24- to 60-month lease periods on brand new Toyotas and Toyota Certified Vehicles. The amount that the customer pays upon signing the lease may be lower at the start of the contract. This amount includes the first monthly payment, acquisition fee, security deposit (refundable), fees and taxes, and capitalised cost reduction, which is the same as a down payment.
At the end of the term of the lease, the customer will be charged for excessive wear and use. If the customer terminates the lease early, a termination charge will be required and this amount can be substantial.
Toyota leasing is a smart choice considering that when you lease, your payments only cover a portion of the car’s cost. Since you are paying to lease the car, you end up paying 30% to 60% less than if you were to purchase the car. If you want to drive a Toyota in an affordable way, leasing may be the right decision for you.
| Renault Scenic Review |
17 May |
The original MPV, the Renault Scenic ignited a fierce competitive battle for this corner of the market when it rolled onto the tarmac for the first time – a battle which is just as intense today as it was then. It should get three cheers and a bottle of champagne for remaining one of the best examples of its type available even today.
This car floats serenely over uneven roads and the diesel models calmly manage motorway speeds without so much as breaking into a sweat. The five-seater is lavishly spacious but whilst the seven-seater adds a degree of versatility, third row seats are cramped and suitable chiefly for children. Boot space is acceptable rather than fabulous, but the general sense of space in the car is undeniable.
Today’s Scenics are vastly better in quality than their original ancestors. Interior plastics are soft to the touch and convey a strong sense of high-tech, stylish opulence. When it comes to the driving experience, its height and weight inevitably generate a slight tendency to ‘feel the roll’ when cornering, but the chassis is sturdy and firm and the road grip excellent.
You won’t get many votes for having the coolest car on the block, but you’ll get admiring looks from young and old all the same.
| UK display rules for car registration plates |
12 May |
Since the start of the twenty first century, UK rules for the display and appearance of car registration plates have been altered by the national licensing agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The rules came into effect from 1 September 2001.
UK car number plates, from 1 September 2001, have to display the combination of letters and numbers making up the unique registration number in a sans serif font. This was introduced in order to enhance the reading capabilities of automatic number plate recognition systems (ANPR), as well as with the human eye.
The size of the letters and numbers is regulated to be between 50 and 79 millimetres high, with the width set at 14 millimetres. A space in between letters / numbers is 11 millimetres, and the space between a grouped set of letters / numbers is 33 millimetres. Legally allowed car number plates decorations or accessories include national symbols such as flags or national denotation symbols such as GB for Great Britain, SCO for Scotland and so on.
UK car number plates are required to be white at the front of the vehicle, and yellow at the back. On the car number plate itself, other than the series of unique letters / numbers and unobtrusive national symbols, nothing else is allowed. For antique or other vintage cars, some exceptions to the rules are made. Black plates, which used to be in circulation, are still allowed on older cars, providing they are legible.
| What you need before taking a driving lesson |
10 May |
Once you hit 17 years old you will probably want to gain some independence and start learning to drive. Before you book your lessons with a driving school in Birmingham, you must have a provisional driving licence. To get this you must fill in the D750 licence application form; this can be obtained at any main post office.
Once you have filled in your application form and paid any fees applicable, you will receive your provisional licence in the post; you can then start your driving lessons. It is also recommended that you buy a copy of the Highway Code as these questions will come up when you take your theory test.
You do not have to take your theory test before having driving lessons as the practical experience of driving a car will help you during the test.
So, once you have your provisional licence you can start taking your driving lessons. Why not book your lessons with your local driving schools in Birmingham today and start gaining you independence, you won’t regret it!
| Preserving Number Plate Rights |
2 May |
The primary difference between vehicles and car number plates is that you do not own the latter in the same way in which you own your vehicle. You can fork out hundreds or even thousands of pounds when purchasing your car number plate and it won’t matter because you can only own the rights to use its allotted index mark. What this means is that you can lose those rights as well as the money spent to purchase them. This is an all too common event as most individuals here in the UK are not very knowledgeable of registration rules and typically have no clue what they have actually paid for.
In the UK, there are two ways in which you can protect the rights to your plate registration. You can have your number plate registered to a specific vehicle or you can retain that number by virtue of what is referred to as a “retention” certificate. When you have completed the purchase of your number plate, it is imperative that you protect your rights as being the registered owner.
The V5 document (or logbook) is your proof of ownership and contains your name. If the number plate is held by retention certificate your name typically appears at the top of that document. Retention certificates have a one year lifespan, although you will need to have it renewed (for a £25 fee) within 28 days of the certificate’s expiration date. If you fail to pay the fee, you could lose the number completely.
| DVLA Car Registrations – Registering an “Old” Vehicle under Its Original Number |
29 Apr |
If by some chance you want to register an old vehicle under its original number plate because the 1983 deadline for this was missed, you are going to need to complete DVLA Form V765 at your nearest local DVLA office, or by downloading the form off the internet at the DVLA website. These types of original registration mark applications typically relate to classic vehicle enthusiasts. The DVLA Booklet V765/1 details the procedure for correctly handling this. You can download these or visit your local area DVLA office in order to complete the procedure.
In order to apply for this type of car registration, you need to:
- Complete DVLA Form V55/5 which is available at your local DVLA office
- Complete DVLA Form V765
- Provide the DVLA with the most current photograph of the vehicle in your possession as well as all related documentary evidence. This includes the original V5 log book, a MOT certificate, or a pre-1983 tax disc. Any of these must link the vehicle to its original car registration number.
You should then send the application to either a relevant authorised enthusiasts club, or owners club, and have them endorse the document. They will not obligate you to join their club. However, they will most likely charge you a fee for the service. Additionally, the club may request that they have the opportunity to inspect your vehicle before completing this procedure. In any event, your local area DVLA office will have the latest information regarding this.
| How to Purchase Private Number Plates from a Private Dealer |
12 Apr |
Along with purchasing personalised number plates at the DVLA or at an official DVLA auction, you also have the option of buying them from a private dealer. However, should you be contemplating pursuing this purchasing option, there are a few things you should know. If you have been unable to locate the private number plate you’ve been searching for at either the DVLA or through one of their authorised auctions, contacting a private dealer is the only real option that you have left.
Today, many individuals have found the private number plates they have been looking for by visiting certain websites such as “eBay” or “Loot.” One of the advantages is that the seller can arrange the transferring of the private number plates straight from their vehicle to your vehicle. Additionally, they can transfer the number plate to a Certificate of Entitlement or a retention certificate if you choose that course of action. What this means is that you will be named as the “nominee” and then you will have to complete the transferring of the personalised registration to your vehicle in due course.
You can also do this if you do not currently have a vehicle to assign the private number plates and registration to. However, it will be up to the seller to ask the DVLA that your name is placed on a Certificate of Entitlement. This gives you the right to assign your private plate numbers and registration to a vehicle at a later date. Please visit the DVLA website before you proceed with purchasing your private number plates so that you are aware of all the guidelines that need to be followed by both purchaser and seller.
| What are personalised number plates? |
2 Apr |
Personalised car number plates; also known as vanity number plates, prestige number plates, cherished number plates, custom number plates or private number plates, are legal car number plates that combine a series of letters and / or numbers to denote something more meaningful (usually the owner’s initials) than those issued by the state.
In the United Kingdom, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the government body responsible for the issuing of car number plates, as well as monitoring driving licences, road traffic offences and road taxation. The DVLA allows a set of personalised number plates to be used as it sells such number plates itself, as well as regulating those that are bought and sold privately.
Personalised number plates commonly spell out a person’s name or place of residence. In the UK, the official registration system stipulates the use of a number following any three consecutive letters. What this means is that personalised number plates are often highly creative, with a number often used to stand for a letter. An example is the use of the number 3 for the letter E.
Personalised number plates can be bought in advance of a car being bought, as well as afterwards. Replacing a state issued number plate with a private alternative is, with some exceptions, straightforwardly an issue of paying for the alternative. Those refused are when that number plate is already in use, or is common with very widely used names such as ‘John’ or ‘Mary’, or in the case where the index mark creates a swear word.