Can you put a personalised number plate on a financed car?

12 June 2023
By Joy Pearson
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Personalized number plates, also known as 'personalized plates' or 'vanity plates', have become increasingly popular in recent years. These plates allow car owner to add a touch of individuality to their vehicle and express their personal style of interests. However, if you are financing a car, you may be wondering if you can still put a personalized registration plate on it. In today's post, we'll look into if it's possible to put a personalized registration plate on a financed car and what steps you need to consider before doing so. 

When you finance a car, you are essentially borrowing money from a lender to purchase the vehicle. The lender retains ownership of the car until you have paid off the loan in full. While you are making payments on the loan, you are considered the 'registered keeper' of the car, which means you are responsible for things like insuring the vehicle and paying for any necessary repairs. Unless you have a warranty. 

As the registered keeper of the car, you have the right to add a personalized registration plate to the vehicle. However, you need to make sure that the plate meets the requirements of the lender and the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). 

First you need to check with your lender to see if they have any specific requirements or restrictions on adding a personalized plate to the car. Some lenders may require you to obtain their permission before making any modifications to the vehicle, while others may have specific guidelines for the size of style of the plate. 

Once you have checked with your lender, you need to make sure that the personalized plate meets the requirements of the DVLA. The DVLA has specific rules and regulations regarding personalized plates, which are as follows: 

1. You can't have a plate beginning with "Q" or "NIQ"
2. You can't assign a plate to a "Q" registered vehicle
3. You can't assign a plate that makes the vehicle appear newer than what it is, so you can't use an "09" plate on a "05" vehicle. 
4. Any plates the DVLA deems rude, offensive or inappropriate. 

If the sequence of number of a plate matches any of the above criteria, it won't be valid and it will be illegal to put it on a vehicle. If you car has an illegal number plate, this could result in your private plate being taken from you with an additional £1000 fine. You also need to ensure that the personalized plate is registered correctly with the DVLA. This involves filling out the appropriate paperwork and paying any necessary fees. It's important to note that if you plan to transfer the personalized plate to a different vehicle in the future, there may be additional fees and paperwork involved. 

So yes, it is possible to put a personalized number plate on a financed car, but you need to make sure that the plate meets the requirements of the lender and the DVLA. By doing so, you can add a unique touch to your car and express your personal style, all while being a responsible registered keeper of the vehicle.