Vehicle and Traffic (Driver Licensing and Vehicle Registration) Regulations 2021

A person may apply to the Registrar to be assigned the rights to a specific registration number.

An application for assigning the rights to a specific registration number must – be made to the Registrar in an approved form; and contain the information required in the approved form; and be accompanied by the documents or other materials required in the form; and state – whether the personalised number plate bearing the specific registration number is to be attached to a vehicle once the personalised number plate is issued; and the details, as required by the Registrar, of the vehicle nominated; and be accompanied by the applicable fee.

The fee payable for assigning the rights to a specific registration number is – the fee specified by the organisation that has a contract with the Department to provide the personalised number plate which is to bear the specific registration number; or if the rights to a specific registration number are sold at auction before a personalised number plate bearing the specific registration number is issued, the auction sale amount, providing that sale amount is acceptable to the Registrar; or if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, the applicable fee set by the Registrar in respect of assigning the rights to a specific registration number.

If the Registrar assigns the rights to a specific registration number, the Registrar must – issue a personalised number plate bearing the specific registration number, subject to any conditions that the Registrar thinks fit; and if the personalised number plate is to be attached to a vehicle, record the personalised number plate in the register; and issue to the holder of the personalised number plate a certificate stating – each condition on which the plate is issued, if any; and any other information that the Registrar considers appropriate.

If a personalised number plate is required to be returned under regulation 90(2), the rights to the specific registration number on the number plate are terminated – on the date specified in the notice under regulation 90(2); or if no date is specified in the notice under regulation 90(2), on the return of the number plate.

For the avoidance of doubt, a personalised number plate is a number plate and remains the property of the Registrar in accordance with regulation 88(6).