BUYER BEWARE - helpful advice that could save you a packet!
This handy guide will help you steer clear of any nasty surprises when buying or selling your personalised registration mark. In this business mistakes can be very expensive.
1. Avoid being tempted by pictures showing number plates with incorrect spacing, wrong typeface or screw caps in certain positions to make the registration mark spell a word or name and thus seem more attractive...more
“The law says you must always display legally correct number plates on your vehicle if it is used on the public highway and failure to do so means you risk a £1000 fine and confiscation of your cherished registration mark. Encouraging you to break the law is wrong and misleading as you will not subsequently be able to use the registration mark in the same way as shown in the advert.”
2. Ensure the stated government transfer fees are correct. The most common fee is £80 for a first transfer. If they are stated as being £105 then this is the correct fee for re-sales. Our advice is to ask the dealer or shop around if you see a £105 fee because unfortunately some firms charge £105 for everything!
3. Some dealers advertise lowest price guarantees and then force you to buy acrylic number plates as part of the deal, bumping up the price you pay so that its no longer the lowest.
4. Make sure you get adequate advice if you are buying a ‘dated’ registration mark...more
“There are strict government transfer rules which prevent you from making a vehicle look newer than it is by transferring a younger mark to it. You cannot transfer an 2009 (09) plate to a 2008 registered vehicle for example. There is no legal obligation on sellers to check the age of your vehicle and offer the right advice but any reputable agent should do this for you as part of the selling process .Our advice is to double check the transfer rules before parting with your money - sellers are not obliged to give you a refund if you make a mistake. Vehicle suitability checker ”
5. Check after-sales administration fees, especially if you are buying on a certificate rather than doing your transfer straight away...more
“Most DVLA and DVLNI registrations can be supplied on a government retention certificate. If you do not assign your registration mark to a vehicle within 12 months, your rights will need to be renewed with a fee being paid to the government and another being paid to the agent for their administration work. Some agents charge fees of up to £60 for each renewal or alteration whereas other agents will charge half that price. You will not be able to take matters into your own hands as the agent controls the Government certificates they issue to you. Some agents may also cash in your certificate and keep the prepaid government transfer fee if you do not renew it by the due date. Our advice- Always ask before you buy, or better still- use agents who publish their prices for after-sales services up front, so you know where you stand.”
6. If you are selling always find out how much an agent will add to your asking price in mark-up or commission, so that you can be certain that the total price is competitive and you are getting a reasonable amount from the deal...more
“Some agencies are reluctant to disclose how much they will charge to sell a registration mark for you. They will sometimes give you a low valuation and you will later see your mark advertised for a much higher asking price, with Government transfer fees still to pay on top of that figure again. The buyer normally pays the total price so you might say you don't really care. Please remember - higher prices take longer to achieve and you will often be asked to negotiate with your buyer to a lower figure anyway (everyone wants a bargain these days!), preserving the agent's profit but reducing yours. Our advice-Always find out the charges or the total selling price so that you can be sure the deal suits you, before you agree anything.”
You can rest assured that we at VRM Swansea ~ Plates4less won't be involved in any of these practices. We are always happy to help you with free expert advice and assistance and over the years have saved our customers many thousands of pounds. There will be no nasty surprises when you choose us for buying or selling your personal number plates and that's a promise!
