Yesterday the BBC released a report on an illegal number plate suppliers stating that, ‘DVLA registered companies are selling vehicle licence plates to drivers without carrying out proper checks, a BBC investigation has found’. This comes as no real surprise to us as we frequently encounter customers that have had a very different buying experience with some of these suppliers, that are acting illegally.

The information below is taken directly from the DVLA website, and is in place to stop this type of transaction taking place. To stop individuals from cloning registration plates from innocent and unaware victims and committing various crimes in vehicles that are registered to whoever has been targeted.

Getting number plates made up

You can only get a number plate made up from a registered number plate supplier.

The supplier will need to see original documents that:

• prove your name and address
• show you’re allowed to use the registration number

Identity documents

You can use the following to confirm your name and address:

• driving licence
• utility, Council Tax or rates bill from the last 6 months
• bank or building society statement from the last 6 months
• national identity card

The following will confirm your name only:

• passport – doesn’t have to be issued in the UK
• bank or building society debit or credit card
• police warrant card
• armed forces identity card

Proving you can use the registration number

You must bring one of the following to show you’re allowed to display the registration number:

• vehicle registration certificate (V5C or V5CNI)
• new keeper supplement (V5C/2 or V5C/2NI)
• certificate of entitlement (V750 or V750NI) to the number
• retention document (V778)
• a renewal reminder for vehicle tax or SORN (V11 or V11NI)
• temporary registration certificate (V379 or V379NI)
• a number plate authorisation certificate (V948) with an official stamp from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
• an electronic number plate authorisation certificate (eV948)
• a letter of authorisation from a fleet operator (including lease or hire company) quoting the document reference number from the registration certificate
• if your fleet is in the new V5C on demand scheme (also called ‘V5C suppression’), a PDF of the vehicle’s details from the view vehicle record service

If you are able to purchase number plates without first providing this information, then the company supplying your order is an illegal number plate supplier. We at Number 1 Plates accept that taking these steps may at first seem like an unnecessary circumstance. But it is one that has been put in place and is enforced with the UK’s vehicle owners at the forefront of the reasons why it is required.