New Reg

New Reg: private number plates and DVLA registrations

New Reg is a UK-based dealer in private and personalised vehicle registrations. The company states it was established in 1991 and was the first to sell private registrations online in 1996. It presents itself as a recognised DVLA reseller and offers a searchable inventory of more than 72 million number plates, covering current style, prefix, suffix, dateless and cherished registrations.

Search and selection tools

The website provides several ways to find a plate. Users can search by name, initials or meaningful combination, and the catalogue includes dedicated sections for dateless plates, cheap number plates, physical plates, nice number plates, mirror number plates, name plates, celebrity plates, surname plates, girls' and boys' name plates, future releases, gift ideas and plates for businesses. A Number Plate Builder allows users to see a chosen registration displayed on a vehicle and customise it to individual taste.

Buying process and guarantees

New Reg guarantees to beat the price if the same unissued DVLA number plate is found simultaneously advertised cheaper elsewhere. This price match applies to the full cost including VAT and the compulsory DVLA transfer fee. The company also offers 0% APR finance with no deposit required, arranged through monthly payment plans. For buyers, New Reg handles the administrative process, including transferring the plate onto a vehicle or retention document, as well as the manufacturing and delivery of the physical plates. Gift purchases can be wrapped at no additional cost.

Selling a registration

For owners wishing to sell, New Reg provides a free valuation service with no obligation to sell through the company. The firm reports having carried out over 390,000 valuations and cites its experience in private plate market trends and its sales advisors as factors in attracting buyers and securing a price. The site includes a valuation form and terms and conditions for this service.

Types of registrations handled

The catalogue is organised by registration format. Current style plates, introduced in 2001, consist of two letters, a two-figure age identifier and three letters. Prefix plates, first issued in 1983, carry the year identifier at the beginning. Suffix plates, issued for vehicles manufactured between 1963 and 1982, have the year identifier at the end. Dateless cherished plates, from 1903 to 1962, contain no year identifier and can combine numbers and letters in either order.

Additional resources

The website includes guides on DVLA number plates, car registration years, the history of the motor vehicle and the history of UK number plates, along with information on the retention scheme, how to transfer a number plate, a list of VROs, a code of practice, shipping and returns policies, FAQs and a blog.