Early Registration Madness???

[Volksy]

I'm pretty sure that when you order a new vehicle, even with the intention of putting a private plate on it, it would be issued with a standard number first. Once the private plate is removed then the original plate is re-issued to the vehicle. You can still put a private plate on, even with the Non-Transfer marker, but you cannot put the re-issued (standard) plate onto another vehicle.

[Hendry]

I think vehicles that have had a private plate from new are treated the same as imports, i.e. given an age-related plate from unissued stocks as they won't have had another number allocated when new. Now the local offices have closed these seem to be issued at random - there's a bus operator fairly near me in Northants who have a load of ex-Ireland double-deckers. They're all X-reg but with letter codes from all over the place - CC from Wales, SH from Scotland, RL from Cornwall and AW from Shropshire, but none local.

 

 

I'm pretty sure that when you order a new vehicle, even with the intention of putting a private plate on it, it would be issued with a standard number first. Once the private plate is removed then the original plate is re-issued to the vehicle. You can still put a private plate on, even with the Non-Transfer marker, but you cannot put the re-issued (standard) plate onto another vehicle.

 

Seen a weird thing happen before when I worked in a dealer, we sold a nearly new Fiat Punto, reg was SM07 something, lets say for talking sake it was SM07YVH because I cant remember, someone bought it and put their private plate on it, couple of years later they traded in back in for another car and swapped the private plate onto that, and the SM07 Punto didnt get its original reg back, it got something like CU07KOW. Couldnt understand how the original SM07 plate it had from new wasnt given back to it. 

[mk2_craig]

I'm pretty sure that when you order a new vehicle, even with the intention of putting a private plate on it, it would be issued with a standard number first. Once the private plate is removed then the original plate is re-issued to the vehicle. You can still put a private plate on, even with the Non-Transfer marker, but you cannot put the re-issued (standard) plate onto another vehicle.

I don't think this is how it works, if you're assigning e.g. a Select reg to a brand new vehicle there isn't a "standard" mark nominally allocated on paper beforehand, this is done if and when the Select mark is transferred off at a later date.

 

The non transferable thing seems to be a bit random, as is the ability to retrieve an original mark. I did get B123UTP back on a Fiesta after nearly 20 years of it having been exported, which was pleasing as that was etched into all the windows. However it seems that doesn't always necessarily happen, I think you used to be able to request the original mark to be cancelled if assigning another number onto a vehicle, or surrender a mark for certain reasons such as if you didn't want 666 on the plate.

[dougiefourspeed]

I had a fairly early MkIV Golf GTi. The reg was V439 NGO, it was orignally sold RHD to Gibraltar of all places but was UK registered on a (expensive looking four digit) private plate, looking at the service history it had spent time on the French riviera before being moved to West London before I bought it. On the V5 it gave the date of first registration as Feb 2000 but also stated 'Declared manufactured 1999' and also stated that the current reg was non-transferable. No idea why.

 

[JeeExEll]

 

Pre-production Mk2 Cortina registered before 31st December 1965. Sales of the Mk2 didn't start till September 1966 on a late D-plate. For 1967 the E-plates were only issued from 1st January for 7 months until 31st July when there was a changeover from January-January to August-August registrations.

[JeeExEll]

 

Looks very odd seeing a Mk4 on a P-plate. UK Mk4 Cortinas first came out in August 1976 on the first of the R-plates. I've never seen a P-reg Mk4 but Ford must have done a load for testing, etc, before they went on sale. Also, I've never seen a Mk3 Cortina later than a R-reg.

 

This one's a Taunus, currently on ebay, which is quite possibly correct on a P plate as the Mk4 Taunus was first sold early 76. Note, 1300, which was a Pinto and sold in the German cars only. Smallest engine the UK got in Cortina GL flavour was the 1600.

 

[mk2_craig]

 

Looks very odd seeing a Mk4 on a P-plate. UK Mk4 Cortinas first came out in August 1976 on the first of the R-plates. I've never seen a P-reg Mk4 but Ford must have done a load for testing, etc, before they went on sale. Also, I've never seen a Mk3 Cortina later than a R-reg.

 

This one's a Taunus, currently on ebay, which is quite possibly correct on a P plate as the Mk4 Taunus was first sold early 76. Note, 1300, which was a Pinto and sold in the German cars only. Smallest engine the UK got in Cortina GL flavour was the 1600.

 

Similar story with the mk1 Fiesta isn't it? None older than R reg in the UK, but launched a little earlier in some Euro markets so theoretically possible to import a very early example and register it on the P. If you absolutely had to, of course.

[Ghosty]

I'm pretty sure that when you order a new vehicle, even with the intention of putting a private plate on it, it would be issued with a standard number first. Once the private plate is removed then the original plate is re-issued to the vehicle. You can still put a private plate on, even with the Non-Transfer marker, but you cannot put the re-issued (standard) plate onto another vehicle.

 

My mum's had two Binis, and on both of them the first owner put a private plate on them from new, but they'd both already had numbers issued to them, and whenever a private plate is issued they've reverted to the originally allocated one.

One of them was MV60NXZ - a plate currently not issued to anything as it's back on a private plate with the new owner. It was definitely allocated when new though as I've seen a few other Binis with very close registration dates and plates MV60NX*, also on Williams dealer plates (car was sold in a Williams).

Also that facelift Bini would have been one of the very first ones sold as it was a September registration, and I don't think you get facelift 10 platers.

[Pillock]

Hendry, if you history search on Cazana for the private plate on the Cmax it'll show whether it ever had another plate assigned to it.

 

If not, it'll get a age related plate from whatever DVLA office handles the transfer - not necessarily the one that the car would have been registered through when new.

[captain_cal]

I think vehicles that have had a private plate from new are treated the same as imports, i.e. given an age-related plate from unissued stocks as they won't have had another number allocated when new.

 

Reckon this is the case as I've just stuck my Range Rover into that Cazana thing cos it's registered M212 XNM, and I thought an X in the plate was a bit weird. Sho nuff, M212 XNM was issued in 2003 and the car was first registered as 588 DCR. Very posh. Of course this information is absolutely useless, but it confirms a long-held suspicion.

[sierraman]

I remember seeing a Taunus Mk4 like that behind a service station in Brecon in the mid 1990's. I think a lot came here through people being in the forces, importing them when they'd finished.

[sheffcortinacentre]

That's right for the mk4 shape taunus as you say they we're released a few months before on the continent.

 

I believe the prototype mk4 crayford was a p reg taunus GL.

[sierraman]

Other than folks in the forces serving in Germany did any make it here as a grey import?

 

I've always wondered if there are any of the Turkish Taunuses (the ones that were made until the early 90's) imported?

[Stroller133]

Is the non transferable reg to stop multiple plate rapes? I'm not sure if it's still the case but I think some plates have value just for being old - particularly pre 63 marks. So I stumble on a Morris Minor with BBC 1, transfer and sell the plate for ££££, then DVLA issue me ITV 1, so I sell that too, and so on. So they will issue an age related replacement, but prevent you reselling the new plate. Perhaps now most pre 63 cars will have some value, but at some point I think one with a non transferable plate could have been worth less than one with its own plate.

A mates first car was a 1960 Mk1 Mini, but had a 1963 reg, I think he looked into putting the plate onto retention for first car nostalgia, but couldn't as it was a replacement.

[Pillock]

I think it's exactly that, to stop a single pre-63 car becoming some sort of "cherished" registration plate factory which is constantly getting the new 123ABC style plates moved onto a Volvo XC90 in Oxfordshire, a new one being issued, moved on, new one, moved on etc

[MorrisItalSLX]

Is the non transferable reg to stop multiple plate rapes? I'm not sure if it's still the case but I think some plates have value just for being old - particularly pre 63 marks. So I stumble on a Morris Minor with BBC 1, transfer and sell the plate for ££££, then DVLA issue me ITV 1, so I sell that too, and so on. So they will issue an age related replacement, but prevent you reselling the new plate. Perhaps now most pre 63 cars will have some value, but at some point I think one with a non transferable plate could have been worth less than one with its own plate.

A mates first car was a 1960 Mk1 Mini, but had a 1963 reg, I think he looked into putting the plate onto retention for first car nostalgia, but couldn't as it was a replacement.

 

I understand the first car nostalgia. I transferred my Hyundai's number plate onto my Jag when it died.

 

Australia is very different when it comes to number plates, no age related business going on here. You just get the plate off the top of the pile in the registry and there is no restriction on transferring and retaining plates.

[Pillock]

TBH I was surprised we went to another age related system in 2001, I think had it been a few years later and more people were aware you could check a car online we might have gone for a more generic system. It's only really because there's so much faux prestige in having "the latest reg". Perhaps the car makers lobbied for it to drive the bi-annual willy waving festival that is new registrations being released

[Eddie Honda]

Perhaps the car makers lobbied for it to drive the bi-annual willy waving festival that is new registrations being released

 

Perhaps? PERHAPS? Of course the SMMT did.

 

Just like when they pissed and moaned about the annual August rush.

[mk2_craig]

Police wanted to see a year identifier retained too. Reckoned that folk tended to remember that bit so they could say "looking for a blue 02 reg Mondeo" for example.

[Timewaster]

I remember some guff about the current nonsensical system is supposed to be easier to recall in a witness situation.

 

I've never liked it.

[sheffcortinacentre]

The taunus like other European,Australian & American Ford's could be ordered from selected dealers during the ups the main one being Bristol st motors in Birmingham.

 

Far as i know there are no otasan Ford's in the UK would be interested to know if there are though.

[Pillock]

The police also don't like messing around with spacing and stuff though, despite the fact you're more likely to remember a registration that looks like ASSHOLE than AE54BLC. Because ANPR can't dish out fines I guess.

 

The DVLA would also make a load more cash if you could have any combination of letters and numbers without that pesky location/year/random format. Instead of a handful of truly decent plates they could charge tens of thousands for "DAVE1", "BIG GEOFF" and "DR WHO" etc. They're pretty memorable. If you need age identifiers, put a coloured strip down the edge of the plate or something that changes every year (although after 10 years or so you'd either have to reuse colours, or you'd be into the realms of "light puce" and "octarine")

[Ghosty]

The Hong Kong system allows literally anything. It's great.

[MorrisItalSLX]

The Hong Kong system allows literally anything. It's great.

 

Same in Australia, any 1 to 6 digit plate is allowed, EXCEPT naughty words or controversial things.

 

BIG TIT and F JESUS would not be allowed for example.

[r.welfare]

The Hong Kong system allows literally anything. It's great.

Having just visited though, in reality 99.9% of vehicles on their roads use the standard two letter, four number format. I think I saw one vehicle that had a word spelled out on its rwgistration plate.

[dunnaz]

Same in Australia, any 1 to 6 digit plate is allowed, EXCEPT naughty words or controversial things.

 

BIG TIT and F JESUS would not be allowed for example.

 

Is that just NSW or all the states? I've seen lots of personal ones in NSW

[Pillock]

NSFW N/A in NSW. LOL.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Is that just NSW or all the states? I've seen lots of personal ones in NSW

 

Most, if not all, states have this system. In Western Australia you can have up to 9 digits!

 

NSW Website: https://www.myplates.com.au/

[Lord Sterling]

On 11/14/2013 at 6:39 PM, Lord Sterling said:

Thread resurrection.

Early Vectra:

Thread resurrection, again:

With another Beige early N-reg Vectra:

[greengartside]

Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Here’s a very early Mk7 Fiesta on an ‘08 plate. They were launched on a ‘58 plate so this one is a pre-launch model. I’ve only ever seen one more ‘08’.

on eBay…

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166083823234?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=z4E5EFEsTfu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=2OenAfhOTCK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY