Is it possible to buy number plates for somebody else? I have access to the relevant docs they ask for, and proof that I live at the same address, but will they refuse to supply to anybody but the registered owner of the car?

Technically you should be the registered owner, proof of ID required etc.

But if you can prove you are living at the same address, then a bit of common sense might be used and they will sort it out for you. Would depend where you go I suppose.

Just look in any motorbike mag or car mag in the classified section and mail order a set of “Show Plates”

Then your friend can do it for themselves if they wish….

You don’t have to be the owner. You have to have documents to prove the registration exists and documents to prove that you are who you say you are. Used to do this quite a lot when working for Halfords, especially vanity plates bought as presents. As long as you’ve got the v5 for the vehicle and your ID it should be fine.

Thanks matt – wanted to get properly legal plates (given it’s for a numberboard for a bike rack I might as well do things properly if I’m trying to make it legal), and it’s a Xmas pressie, so would rather pop in to Halfords myself.

I bought my wife some perfume.

Wish I’d thought about getting her a numberboard. 😉

If only my life was so simple that mrs aracer liked perfume (or any of the other standard girly stuff).

I got some number plates of ebay.
Delivered next day, cheap and didn’t ask for any paperwork.

light lollage at samuri 🙂

There was a most enlightening feature on Radio 4 about this; how people were using false plates to nick fuel from filling stations.
Someone from the filling station assoc (can’t remember what) phoned in with precise details how you did this including the cheapskate option of covering your plate in mud or just leaving a blanket hanging out of the tailgate! 😯

I bought my wife some perfume

Didn’t marry you for your imagination did she. 🙂

winston_dog – Member
I got some number plates of ebay.
Delivered next day, cheap and didn’t ask for any paperwork.

They won’t be legal for road use I’m afraid.

The British Standard for road legal plates requires:

The British Standard also requires each number plate to be permanently and legibly marked with the following information:

The British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d)

The name, trademark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier (The company that made the plate)

Name and postcode of the supplying outlet.

You will probably not have any problems, but if you do get pulled for anything, and they check your plates you could be fined.

But they will only care if your car is of an age where the plates need to be to that spec

But they will only care if your car is of an age where the plates need to be to that spec

If you check the law, you’ll find that any new numberplate supplied for a car first registered after 1973 has to be that spec…

Ok – but on what date did that law come in ?

Prove when my plates were made ?

One of my cars has embossed plates – it is legal though

1st September 2001 the law changed 🙄

This is what you need to get one, you don’t need to be the registered keeper.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedRegAndNumberPlates/DG_4022573

you don’t need to be the registered keeper.

From your link:

as well as proof that the registration number belongs to you.

Is this like splashing out on someone’s rack?

aracer – Member
you don’t need to be the registered keeper.
From your link:
as well as proof that the registration number belongs to you.

Read the rest of it, I sold them for years, did you? I didn’t think so male hen 😉 The reason the law changed was to try to prevent people buying plates that were made up to be used in crime. “proof that the registration number belongs to you” would be you have entitlement to it, so a V5 etc.

“proof that the registration number belongs to you” would be you have entitlement to it, so a V5 etc.

A V5 with your name on?

No