The DVLA has opened a major timed online auction featuring more than 2,000 personalised registration plates, with drivers told to act immediately to secure the newest numbers.
The auction, which commences at 10am today, will see prices start from as low as £70 and will run until Tuesday, September 9.
Motorists interested in securing a personalised plate must register as bidders through the official DVLA auction website before they can participate.
The agency's official auctioneers, BCA, will be managing the online platform where bidding takes place continuously throughout the week.
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Drivers can bid on more than 2,000 number plates at the auction
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The auction follows the release of the new "75" number plates, which came out this week, allowing drivers the chance to buy the latest registrations for their vehicles. It also marks the second time the number plates have been changed this year after March's "25" signifier.
Among the featured DVLA registrations on offer are JUD 99E with a £300 starting price, L115 TED at £200, and ONE 817E beginning at £250. The full catalogue of available plates can be viewed online.
To get involved, participants need to complete an online registration process that includes email verification before gaining access to the bidding system. Each registered bidder receives an automatic spending limit of £1,000, though this can be increased by submitting a 10 per cent deposit through their account settings.
The auction operates with a maximum bid system where participants can set their highest offer, which remains hidden from other bidders. The platform automatically increases bids in £10 increments when there's competition for a particular registration.
Drivers can buy unique and personalised number plates from the DVLA | PA The DVLA warns that all bids are final once submitted and cannot be withdrawn, with bidders receiving notifications via text or email when they've been outbid, allowing them to increase their maximum bid if desired before the auction concludes.
However, successful bidders face several additional charges beyond their winning bid amount. The final price includes 20 per cent VAT on the winning bid, a buyer's premium of seven per cent plus VAT, and an £80 assignment fee payable to the DVLA.
The DVLA has also implemented stricter regulations regarding the new registration. Plates cannot be fitted to vehicles older than the registration year, and any alteration or misrepresentation of a number plate can be seen as an offence carrying a maximum £1,000 fine and potential withdrawal of the registration without compensation.
Meanwhile, due to the introduction of new "75" series number plates this month, the DVLA has blocked hundreds of potentially offensive registration combinations.
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Before any new combinations reach the public, a dedicated DVLA review panel screens out plates that could cause offence or embarrassment. Banned examples include "BA75 ARD", "OR75 GY" and "SH75 TTY", which resemble inappropriate language or references.
A spokesperson for BigWantsYourCar.com explained: "It's easy to forget how many new number plate combinations are generated every year, but some of them accidentally form offensive or inappropriate words.
"The DVLA screens these out before they ever reach the roads to avoid complaints, reputational issues, and to protect future resale value."
The screening process extends to personalised plates purchased through auctions or direct sales. Custom registrations must comply with identical standards and cannot create the appearance of a newer vehicle than its actual age.
The new 75' number plate change was released on September 1
| GETTYCarl Hanley, owner of JDM Plates, explained that the group has seen a "huge demand" for unique identifiers in personalised plates.
He said: "This could be in the form of initials, word plays, or even car-themed references. The results from this auction prove that what once felt like a luxury item is now a smart and increasingly popular way for motorists to stand out.
"The next DVLA auction will take place over a week-long window, there’s a level playing field for collectors and first-timers alike, as not all number plates surge in price as much as those highlighted in the top 10 above."
Mr Hanley explained that at the last DVLA auction, more than 240 plates were sold for no more than £100 or less above their starting bids, while 30 plates "didn't have a single bid and remain unsold".