Number plate valuation
A number plate valuation gives you a price range based on similar plates currently for sale. Enter your registration and we will show you what UK dealers are asking for plates of the same type and length, all-in.
Asking prices for each plate type and length
For each plate type, three things are shown: all-in asking prices with the middle half, DVLA auction hammer prices with the middle half, and a plate for sale picked from the middle of the range.
| Type and length | Asking, all-in | Sold at DVLA auction | A plate in the range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current style (AB12 CDE) at 7 characters, with 7,132 plates for sale | £412 to £1,100 | £750 to £2,310 | AD58 JAY |
| Prefix (A123 BCD), 5 characters, with 1,179 plates on sale. | £1,295 to £10,696 | £2,260 to £4,910 | C2 UCY |
| Prefix (A123 BCD), 6 characters, with 2,744 plates on sale. | £703 to £2,894 | £280 to £1,200 | B31 JES |
| Prefix (A123 BCD), 7 characters, with 702 plates on sale. | £414 to £4,976 | £260 to £1,200 | S777 EMA |
| Suffix (ABC 123D), 5 characters, with 601 plates on sale. | £5,684 to £24,125 | £1,010 to £3,230 | BMW 5L |
| Suffix (ABC 123D), 6 characters, with 912 plates on sale. | £3,950 to £13,469 | £720 to £2,280 | SAR 29S |
| Suffix (ABC 123D), 7 characters, with 815 plates on sale. | £2,000 to £8,197 | £610 to £1,960 | LAM 750L |
| Dateless, 2 characters 13 plates on sale | £516,215 to £807,188 | 4 B | |
| Dateless, 3 characters 259 plates on sale | £79,381 to £191,576 | £58,158 to £88,802 | 4 ST |
| Dateless, 4 characters 810 plates on sale | £15,674 to £52,883 | £5,022 to £9,768 | 3 LAH |
| Dateless, 5 characters 756 plates on sale | £7,380 to £22,949 | £2,810 to £5,510 | 11 BYJ |
| Dateless, 6 characters 611 plates on sale | £3,800 to £10,874 | £1,510 to £3,830 | JO 1498 |
| Irish, 4 characters 110 plates on sale | £8,202 to £18,560 | £3,412 to £7,385 | PIL 4 |
| Irish, 5 characters 204 plates on sale | £3,102 to £8,026 | £1,020 to £1,815 | PJI 76 |
| Irish, 6 characters 475 plates on sale | £475 to £2,594 | £630 to £1,165 | MIG 107 |
| Irish, 7 characters 122 plates on sale | £410 to £5,489 | £510 to £1,010 | ALZ 2241 |
What plates sold for at the most recent DVLA auction
The figure is the winning bid, set before VAT, the premium and the £80 fee are paid by the buyer.
What drives a plate's value
What a buyer will pay for a plate is what the plate is worth, and a few factors shift that figure more than any other.
- Names and words. Plates that read like a name, initials or a word bring far more money than plates that mix letters and numbers at random.
- Number of characters. Plates with fewer characters usually cost more. Short dateless plates are scarce, such as a 4 digit number plate carrying one or two letters.
- Format. Dateless plates carry no year, so they can go on any car, whatever its age. The most common plates are current style ones, and they are usually the cheapest.
- Levels of demand. More buyers chase names and words that are popular.
When you ask what your plate is worth, compare it with plates that match in type and length, not with the record sale figures.
Why online valuations vary
Asking prices are the source of most online figures, and ours are no different. An asking price is the amount a seller hopes to receive, not the sum a plate actually sold for. Our ranges are all-in too: VAT and the £80 DVLA fee are added, so a seller takes home less.
A dealer may value your plate at the commission price it would list it for, which is higher than the amount it would pay you for an outright purchase. Automatic tools miss meaning too. They cannot always spot that a plate reads like a name, so two of them can put very different values on one private plate.
For actual sale prices, see the DVLA auction results. Only the winning bid is shown, with no buyer fees included. Once you are ready, weigh up the options to sell your number plate.
Common questions
How can I work out what my number plate is worth?
Check the prices dealers list for plates with the same type and length, then look up what plates went for in the DVLA auction results. Plates that form a word or name rank at the highest end of their range.
Is my number plate worth money?
A plate spelling a name, initials or a word can be worth a lot, and so can a short dateless plate. Plates in the current style that are just a random mix are usually worth little, because DVLA and dealers sell many similar ones.
Can you find out what a plate was sold for?
Yes, for DVLA auction lots. Auction results published by DVLA go back to 1989, and show the winning bid without fees. Our data does not include the sales that happen between dealers and private buyers.
Where should I sell my number plate for the best outcome?
How quickly you need the money is what shapes the answer here. Quickest is an outright sale to a dealer, though it pays least, while a commission listing or private sale brings more money but takes longer. Read about selling a private plate.