Personalised number plate timed auction from DVLA

Anyone in the market for personal number plates will be pleased to know that there is currently a timed auction taking place through the DVLA. The auction began on Wednesday 15th October and will run until Wednesday 29th October.In order to take part in the auction, potential buyers need to be registered. Once the registration is completed a catalogue can be downloaded with details of the personal plates that are for sale this time.

Following registration, the bidders are able to put in a maximum bid that other bidders cannot see, but a reserve price is set for each of the personalised number plates and the bidding has to start at this price. The current price that has been bid for each plate will be visible. If there is plenty of bidding and interest on an item the system for the auctions will take over and increase the bids for each person taking part until their maximum bid has been reached.

Once the maximum for each bidder has been reached and surpassed by another bid, they will get an email asking if they want to increase their set maximum. At the end of the auction, the person with the highest bid in place is the winner of that number plate.

It should be noted though, that once a bid has been placed it cannot be removed. On occasion, the end time of an auction will be allowed to slide if there is plenty of bidding taking place so that the auction for that item can come to a natural end. The online bidding system is easy to use, is available at no charge and is the easiest way to place a bid; however, those who do not have regular access to the internet could place a bid with the help of the Bidder Registration Form that can be found in the catalogue for the auction. This can be sent in via email, post or fax, but there is no system for informing you if you have been outbid if you choose to bid this way.

To get an idea of how much it might cost for a personalised number plate purchased this way, there is a section on the DVLA website that gives details of the prices paid for different number plates at previously-held timed auctions.

This timed auction is one of three that are held each year in addition to the five standard auctions that take place in various venues around the country.