Custom number plates
Choosing custom number plates means picking a registration that carries a word, a name or initials on your car. At every seller, we check the all-in cost of the same registration and list the cheapest offers first.
Custom number plates that spell words, cheapest first, all-in
All-in means the plate and VAT, along with the £80 DVLA assignment fee. Cheapest offers always come first in that list and stay there; buying through a link may earn us a fee (commission disclosure).
Lowest prices at other sellers
For each seller, the lowest all-in price.
Picking the registration
A registration cannot be designed from scratch. DVLA or a dealer sells you the right to a registration that already exists, and you assign it to your car. Word plates we found across sellers are listed in the grid above, and our Number Plate Maker shows a custom reg plate as it would look before purchase.
Registrations carrying an age identifier cannot be newer than your car, because a plate cannot make the car look newer than it is. You can fit dateless plates to any car. It must also be a type of car that needs an MOT, is taxed, or has a SORN, and must not be Q registered.
Having the plates made
The physical plates do not come from DVLA. Get the plates from a registered number plate supplier. They ask for proof of your name and address, plus entitlement such as a V750. All road plates must be reflective and contain no background pattern. At the rear, they must show black characters on yellow.
Rearranging letters or numbers is not allowed. Neither is changing the spacing or using bolts to change how characters read. If you get it wrong, you could face a fine of up to £1,000, and it will fail its MOT. The full rules appear in GOV.UK guidance about displaying number plates. Our private number plate rules page provides a summary.
Show plates with custom spacing do exist, but they are intended for shows rather than the road.
Common questions
How much do custom number plates cost?
The registration makes up the biggest part of the price. Current-style word plates come in the low hundreds, and short dateless ones cost far more. Live all-in prices appear in the grid above, and you buy the physical plates separately.
Is it legal to use show plates in the UK?
No, not on the road. The display rules apply to any plates on a car you drive, even though show plates may have custom spacing and styles. Failing to follow them could lead to a fine of as much as £1,000.
What is the process for personalised plates in the UK?
Either you purchase the right to a registration and obtain a V750 certificate of entitlement, or a dealer manages the transfer. Assigning it online to your car is free, and before you drive you put on new plates bought from a registered supplier.
Where is the best place to buy custom reg plates?
Buy where the same registration costs least all-in. Look it up on number plate search and compare DVLA prices with dealer prices side by side.