DVLA Approved Private Registrations
DVLA number plates, sometimes also called DVLA registrations, can be used on any vehicle which has been registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Motorists have long used DVLA number plates to display personal signifiers relating to their name, hobbies, profession, vehicle brand, or vehicle model.
The DVLA’s Role
A large number of DVLA registrations are available for purchase from the DVLA’s catalogue of unissued number plates. The DVLA, acting on behalf of the Department for Transport, started selling personalised number plates in 1989. It is estimated that around 5 million DVLA number plates have been sold since then, supplementing the Treasury fund with more than £2.5 billion.
The DVLA is charged with assigning, transferring, and retaining UK number plates, as well as ensuring that number plate combinations which are viewed as offensive never make it to circulation. Furthermore, the DVLA, from its headquarters in Swansea, also enables and expedites the taxing of vehicles through the keeping of records relating to the approximately 50 million drivers in the UK.
Types of DVLA registrations
DVLA registrations can be divided into two subcategories:
• Old style or Prefix DVLA number plates;
• Current style DVLA number plates.