How AuctionMyPlate Works

1. The Basics

• Plates are listed into weekly online auctions. You can bid or, where available, use Buy Now to purchase immediately.
• All auctions are for UK registration marks only. Listings must comply with DVLA rules and UK law.
• We run the online auction process and guide the DVLA assignment paperwork steps, but we are not affiliated, authorised or endorsed by DVLA.

2. Buying a Plate – Step by Step

1. Create an account and verify your email. You can then browse and bid on live auctions.
2. Browse listings. You can see plates that are live or coming soon (weekly auctions).
3. Place a bid. When you bid, you are making a binding offer to buy if you win.
4. Watch for outbids. If someone outbids you, you can bid again until the auction closes.
5. Buy Now (where available). If a listing has a Buy Now price, you can use it to end the auction and secure the plate (subject to payment and checks).
6. Pay securely. Winning bidders pay online via our payment provider. Card details are handled securely by the provider and are not stored on our servers.

3. Selling a Plate – Step by Step

1. Register and complete your profile. We need your contact details so we can verify the seller and pay out funds.
2. List your plate from your dashboard. Enter the registration, plate type (vehicle or retention), reserve price, starting price and any key details.
3. Admin approval. Our team reviews each listing for suitability and DVLA compliance. We may ask you for extra information before a plate is approved.
4. Plate goes into the next auction. Once approved, your plate is queued into a weekly auction window and appears in listings when scheduled.
5. Sale completes. If the reserve is met (or Buy Now is used), the plate is marked as sold and moves into the post-sale transfer stage.
6. Documents & payout. You upload any required documents via your dashboard. After checks and a successful assignment process, we pay out your proceeds minus any agreed commission.

Selling guide: Sell your plate at auction.

4. Auction Timing & Soft Close

Auctions normally run within a weekly window. Some key rules:

• Soft close: if a bid is placed in the final minutes of an auction, the end time may be extended to reduce last-second “sniping”.
• Reserve price: if the hidden reserve is not met, the seller does not have to accept the highest bid.
• Binding bids: when you bid or use Buy Now, you are committing to complete the purchase if you win.

5. Fees & Charges

• DVLA Assignment Fee – £80.00: the DVLA assignment / transfer process has a fixed £80 fee.
  • Default: the seller covers this fee and it is deducted from the seller's proceeds when a sale completes.
  • Legacy exception: a small number of older listings charge the DVLA fee to the buyer. If applicable, this will be clearly shown on the listing and at checkout.
  AuctionMyPlate.co.uk is not affiliated with DVLA; we manage the steps and paperwork associated with the DVLA assignment process.
• Commission: a commission fee may be deducted from the seller’s proceeds on successful sales. The rate is shown during the listing process or in your seller dashboard.
• Listing fees: during promotional periods, listing may be free. Any future listing fees will be clearly displayed before you submit a plate.

For the full breakdown (and examples), see Fees and our Terms & Conditions.

6. What Happens After You Win?

1. You receive confirmation in your dashboard (and usually by email) that you are the winning bidder or Buy Now purchaser.
2. You complete payment online if this has not already been taken.
3. Buyer and seller are asked to upload the required documents through their dashboards (V5C / V750 / V778, ID where needed).
4. Our team reviews the documents and works with the parties to complete the DVLA assignment steps.
5. Once the transfer is completed, the seller is paid their proceeds and the transaction is marked as complete.

7. DVLA & Legal Display

AuctionMyPlate.co.uk is not affiliated, authorised, endorsed or associated with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or any UK government organisation.

• It is the vehicle keeper’s responsibility to ensure the plate is displayed legally (correct font, spacing, colouring and placement).
• We are not responsible for fines, MOT failures or enforcement action arising from illegal spacing or non-compliant plates.