Cherished registrations

[RUF 3]

Just curious, has anyone bought or sold anything through one of these registration brokers. I am about to sell one of my numbers but i'm just a little wary as I don't get the money for the sale until the V5 arrives from the DVLA with a new number allocated, some 3 weeks after the sale.

[simond001]

I sold my plate through a broker (registration marks i think). Apart from the fact they take 50% commission, all was very easy.

[MikeyT]

Ruf,

Are you selling it TO them or just selling it THROUGH them? Don't think I'd be happy with 50% commission (unles they sold it for twice what I wanted).

Have you thought about advertising it in the Motoring section of the Sunday Times or similar?

There's quite a few in there and they seem to be fetching (asking) good money.

[RUF 3]

I'm selling it through them. I am not bothered how much they get for it as I am making a 25% profit on it over the year I have owned it. My main concern is that they receive the money from the purchaser now, before they transfer it, and I get the money once it is done, and only after I get the V5 back from DVLA showing it is no longer on my car. This is fine in theory, but were they to go bust/disappear in the 4 weeks or so this takes I will have a problem. The purchaser has paid for and got on his car, the number. I have lost it and got no money, and have no chance of getting it or the money from anybody. As it is a big company I will probably be OK, but I would have thought the system used for private sales of numbers should apply, where they would lodge the money with my solicitor, via their solicitor, for release when the transfer was complete. The best bit was when I said I fancied a number they had for sale (cheaper one), as a part - ex. I was told that I would need to pay a £200 deposit to secure it which would be refunded later. I suggested that as they would owe me £5k, it seemed pointless, but that is the system. As far as numbers advertised go, most are seriously overpriced, and seldom get near the asking price. There is also a wariness from purchasers to do a private deal, so in order to get a sale it is generally easier to use these dealers - I hope !