Custom number plates are something you can order to personalize your car or any other vehicle you have. For those who don’t know what that is, we talk about private and personalized registration plates, you can order for your car. Usually, people don’t choose them by their wish, but the driving license centers are giving them the first one that is available. But, some people want to put some numbers and letters that are important and meaningful for them and be recognizable and unique by doing that.
Since the combination is meaningful for you, chances for it to be available on websites that sell them, or to your local license center are big. You can click here to see all the options you have, but you must keep in mind that every country has different regulations when it comes to vehicle registrations, and you need to be completely informed about that, before you spend a lot of money on your standard, 4D, or 3D plate. But, if you don’t have an idea what do you want to put on the plate, which color to choose, and which fonts are available, this article can be helpful for you to decide, following this compilation of tips and tricks:
1. Tailor them according to your budget
Some combinations are more expensive than the others. Your budget should be your starting point, just like every other thing you are planning to buy. Luckily, the websites that offer legal private plates will calculate the price, together with the shipping costs and fees, and you can make combinations until you get the price that fits your budget. Keep in mind that exclusive combinations, words, and rare registrations are both expensive and in high demand. The more people are looking for some combination, the more expensive it becomes, and you must avoid spending thousands on it because, in the end, it’s just a plate.
2. Make research before ordering
Inform yourself which websites provide a reliable service. Don’t order from the first website that you will find on Google. Most license centers, such as DVLA in the UK, and others, have authorized sellers, that can issue the number you want. But, scams are everywhere, and you will need to be very careful when looking for the websites that sell plates. Those who aren’t skilled in Internet researches, should visit the local office, or look through the ads, and find the people who are willing to sell their private plates for a reasonable price.
3. Learn more about the phonetics
You can’t put a whole word or sentence on the plate, but you can make abbreviations, or choose the letter combination according to the phonetics (the way that character sounds when said loudly). For example, the letter O can be replaced with 0, or the number 2 with the letter Z, U sounds like the word “you”, and so on. You only need to get creative with this, and you will find the right combination for you.
4. Learn why some people are avoiding private plates
Changing the plates is not a cheap action. Many people will tell you to give up on this idea, especially if you want to put something that is important for you now but may not be in the future. For example, you may want to put your partner’s name or birthday, or your favorite singer, sports team, or lucky number, but these categories can be changed over time. You probably don’t want to end up with a registration that reminds you of something in your past, that even makes you feel anxious when you get some memories for it.
5. Decide what you want exactly
You probably already have an idea of what do you want to accomplish with your private registration. If you have more than one idea, you need to decide which one is a priority, and then order the others by importance. Be ready that you won’t always be able to get the one you want because it can be either too expensive or unavailable. Also, if this is your first time ordering custom plates, we recommend you to stick to the main idea and its variations, so you won’t get lost in the combinations and suggestions.
6. Be ready for changes
Since these plates are very popular around the world, you will probably have to wait until it’s pre-approved, and until you get the allowance to order the one you want. Also, your flexibility is very important, because it may happen that the exact one you want is out of stock, reserved, or unavailable. Prepare for the shock you may get when you see the price too. Some combinations are very pricey, and yours can be too. Consider the cheaper options as an appropriate alternative, even though it’s not exactly what you wanted in the first place.
7. Get very creative
You can get a lot of variations and combinations with your favorite letters and numbers, and be ready to get very creative and adjust their order on the plate, so you can get the best price for what you want. You can take your time to think about what do you really want, and even write down all the combinations that come to your mind. You can also ask your partner, friend, or sibling for suggestions. Everything that is important to you can be a good inspiration for your next plate, but also, you must be sure that you are ready to have that for years, so avoid those erotic and too personal combinations, because once you overcome that phase, you will want to replace them immediately.
Customizing your car is normal, especially if you bought it with your long saved or heavy earned money, or if it was your dream to have it. We recommend you to research enough and read as many articles and blog posts as you can before you make your final decision. We also hope that this list will be useful for you to decide which combination you will take for your vehicle.