Sell your private number plate at auction

Want to sell your private number plate but not sure what it's worth? AuctionMyPlate lets you list your reg, set a hidden reserve, and auction it to genuine UK buyers — without paying a listing fee during our launch period. Whether your plate is on a vehicle or on a retention certificate, we run the auction and guide you through the DVLA transfer so you can sell with confidence.

Verified UK bidders

Buyers register and verify details before bidding.

Hidden reserve

You stay in control — your reserve isn't shown publicly.

DVLA transfer guidance

Clear steps for plates on vehicles or retention.

Why auction instead of a fixed price sale?

A fixed price listing is guesswork. If you price too low, you lose out. If you price too high, nothing happens.

  • Finds the true market value — buyers compete, pushing the price up.
  • Creates urgency — a clear end time and soft-close window encourage real bidding.
  • Filters out time-wasters — bidders must register and verify before they can bid.

What you'll need to list your plate

  • Your registration number (exactly as on your documents)
  • Whether it's on a vehicle or a retention certificate
  • A realistic reserve price
  • A short description of why the plate is desirable (wording, age, initials, etc.)

You can also choose a starting price and optional Buy Now price. We'll show you the expected fees and payout before you confirm.

Fees & your payout

  • Listing fee: £0 — no charge to list a plate during our launch period.
  • Commission: a small percentage only if your plate sells (based on the final sale price).
  • DVLA fee: the DVLA assignment fee is £80. Default: it is covered seller-side and deducted from the seller payout when a sale completes. Legacy exception: a small number of older listings charge this to the buyer — if that applies, it will be clearly shown on the listing and at checkout.

Want the official DVLA steps? See the GOV.UK guide for taking a private number off a vehicle and assigning it.

View DVLA process on GOV.UK

Note: AuctionMyPlate is not affiliated with the DVLA.

Before you submit your listing, we show your reserve price, our commission rate and an estimated payout to you after fees. If the reserve isn't met, the plate simply doesn't sell and you owe nothing.

Prefer the full breakdown? See our Fees page.

How selling your plate with AuctionMyPlate works

  1. Create your seller account — register with your name, address and contact details. We verify email and phone.
  2. Submit your plate — enter your registration, choose plate type, add details and set your reserve / Buy Now.
  3. Admin review — we check the listing for obvious issues. If anything is missing we'll contact you before approving it.
  4. Queued for the next auction — once approved, your plate is queued for the next weekly auction window. You'll see the countdown in your dashboard.
  5. Live auction — buyers place bids and can use Buy Now if enabled.
  6. Sale, transfer, payout — when the auction ends and the reserve is met, we confirm the sale, oversee the DVLA transfer and pay your proceeds once everything is complete.

Seller FAQs

Can I sell a plate that's on a vehicle?

Yes. You can list plates that are currently assigned to a vehicle or held on retention. We guide you through the DVLA steps once the sale completes.

What if my reserve isn't met?

If bidding doesn't reach your reserve, your plate simply doesn't sell — and you owe nothing.

When do I get paid?

We pay out once the sale is confirmed and the transfer process is completed. We keep you updated through your dashboard.

Do I need to guess a starting price?

No. The most important number is your reserve (the minimum you'll accept). Starting price and Buy Now are optional — we show you the estimated payout before you confirm.

Ready to get started? It takes just a few minutes to list your plate.

Create your free seller account