Want to add a private plate to a new lease car? We’ve got all the essential info you need to know in this article!

There are over 45 million private number plates in the UK so it’s not surprising that there may be some drivers who want to add their own number plate to their leased vehicle.  Whether you’ve already got your own number plate or are looking to get one to add to your new Mercedes you’ll find everything you need to know below.

What is a Personalised Number Plate?

Every registration number is unique to the vehicle it has been assigned to, in order to make sure every car is identifiable and there’s no confusion with similar vehicles having duplicate registrations. There is a general formula given to number plates assigned in the UK and at the minute this is two letters (associated with the area of first registration) two numbers (based on the year and registration period) followed by three additional letters. However, a personalised registration is uniquely designed and does not need to follow this format.

A personalised number plate is simply the physical number plate with your personalised registration number on it. They can also be known as a private number plate, cherished number plate or personal plate.

Are There Any Restrictions on Personalised Registrations Numbers?

Yes, there are a few restrictions on what you can have as a personalised plate. This includes:

• No registration that begins with a Q or NIQ
• None that make it look as if the vehicle is newer, for example AB22CDE if the vehicle was first registered in 2017

How Do I Get a Personalised Registration Number Plate?

In order to get a personalised registration plate there are a few steps you need to take:

1. Buy a personalised registration number
2. Assign the registration number to your vehicle
3. Get number plates made
4. Put the plates on your vehicle

We’ll look at how you get your personalised registration number and plates below but the process should be fairly straightforward though it may take a little time.

Where Can I Buy a Personalised Registration Number?

There are three ways that you can buy a personalised registration number in the UK. The first is purchasing one directly from the DVLA’s website. There is a list of available number plate that you’ll be able to choose from. One thing to be aware of is that different registrations may not have the same price as there is no set amount.

If the registration you want is not available from the DVLA then it may already be owned and registration numbers can be sold by their existing owners either privately or through one of the auctions they run throughout the year.

How Do I Get a Private Plate Made?

In order to get your number plate made up you’ll need to go to an authorised plate supplier with documentation that proves you are the owner or driver of a vehicle (with permission) and that you’re authorised to use the registration, and to prove your identity.

To prove you’re the owner / driver of a vehicle you’ll want the V5 or VE105.

To prove you’re authorised to have the registration you’ll need to take the retention document, V778, certificate of entitlement, V750 or V750NI.

To prove your identity you’ll need to take a document that proves your name and address so a driving licence, utility bill or bank statement from the last six months.

The details on the documents will all need to match, so if you have changed your name or address and not updated your driving licence then you won’t be able to get the plate made.

When Can I Add a Personalised Plate to My Lease Car?

Adding a personalised number plate to a lease car is possible but it will take a little longer so you want to make sure you allow more time to add your registration to the vehicle.

You normally won’t be able to assign the personalised plate to your lease Mercedes until the car has been delivered.

Each funder has a slightly different process to add your personalised plate to the vehicle so we recommend getting in touch with them once the first payment has been taken, as this means the vehicle is live on their system, and they’ll be able to confirm the process for you.

Please note that if you want to keep the registration number then it will need to be put on retention before the end of your lease, and most funders advise six to eight weeks before the end of your contract is when you want to start this process in order to make sure it’s complete before you return the car.

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