How to Buy a Private Number Plate at Auction (UK)

1) Quick steps (the short version)

1. Create an account and verify your email.
2. Browse live auctions and click a plate to view details.
3. Place a bid (or use Buy Now if available).
4. If you win, pay securely and follow the DVLA assignment steps.
5. Once the transfer is confirmed, the transaction completes.

Ready? Go straight to current number plate auctions.

2) How bidding works

• Bids are binding. Don’t bid unless you’re ready to complete the purchase if you win.
• Hidden reserve: some plates only sell if the reserve is met.
• Soft close: late bids may extend the end time to reduce last-second sniping.

3) Buy Now (when available)

Some listings include a Buy Now price. If you use it, you’re buying the plate immediately at that price without waiting for the auction to end (subject to payment and checks).

4) What happens after you win?

1. You’ll see confirmation in your dashboard (and usually by email).
2. You complete payment online if not already taken.
3. Buyer and seller provide the documents needed to complete the DVLA assignment steps.
4. Once the transfer is confirmed, the sale completes.

For the full marketplace process, see How it works.

5) DVLA documents (what you might see)

The exact documents depend on whether the plate is on a vehicle or on retention. Common examples include:

• V5C (vehicle logbook)
• V750 (certificate of entitlement) or V778 (retention document), where applicable
• Proof of identity may be requested in some cases

6) Typical costs

• Winning price: your final bid (or Buy Now).
• DVLA £80 assignment fee: by default, the seller covers this and it’s deducted from seller proceeds.
• Legacy exception: a small number of older listings charge the DVLA £80 to the buyer (shown clearly on the listing/checkout).

Full detail: Fees.

7) FAQ