Used car that has had multiple plates
Used car that has had multiple plates
Author
Discussion

sirhct

Original Poster:

3 posts

61 months

Monday 19th July 2021
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Hiya, just looking for some advice.

I am going to look at a used car tomorrow, it's a 2014 car being sold by the main dealer that originally sold it, with full service history with them, only 1 owner.

The only thing that is slightly putting me off, although I'm not sure if it should actually matter - the previous owner was a number plate dealer, and the car has had 67(!) number plate changes in that time, all shows up on HPI checks and DVLA check, full MOT history shows up etc. It's back on the original plates now.

Is this potentially going to cause any issues?

blueg33

46,129 posts

252 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
My Ferrari has had 4 plates and I thought that was alot

It wouldn't put me off, but I would check it with something like Car Vertical which IIRC goes by vin number and plates and will tell you all the plates used and history associated.

Geffg

1,341 posts

133 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
If he was a private plate dealer he will have used that car to register registrations to etc. So I wouldn’t worry about it.

Bemmer

1,195 posts

230 months

Monday 19th July 2021
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Another 1st poster with a story that quite frankly I don't believe? Why would a number plate dealer spend £5360 taking plates on and off their car when you can simply just put them on retention? Let's have the registration...!

Scrump

23,918 posts

186 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
Bemmer said:
Another 1st poster with a story that quite frankly I don't believe? Why would a number plate dealer spend £5360 taking plates on and off their car when you can simply just put them on retention? Let's have the registration...!
If the dealer bought the registrations from private sellers (and not direct from DVLA) then the retention cert would be in the name of the seller and the seller would have the retention cert reference number.

I can understand the dealer wanting to get the registrations onto their own car and then onto a fresh retention cert in their name.

If they left them on the retention cert they purchased the number on then the previous owner could use the reference number to assign the plate to another car and the dealer is left with a worthless piece of paper.

Bemmer

1,195 posts

230 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
Scrump said:
If the dealer bought the registrations from private sellers (and not direct from DVLA) then the retention cert would be in the name of the seller and the seller would have the retention cert reference number.

I can understand the dealer wanting to get the registrations onto their own car and then onto a fresh retention cert in their name.

If they left them on the retention cert they purchased the number on then the previous owner could use the reference number to assign the plate to another car and the dealer is left with a worthless piece of paper.
Oh yea... you mean the seller committing fraud...

sirhct

Original Poster:

3 posts

61 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
Bemmer said:
Another 1st poster with a story that quite frankly I don't believe? Why would a number plate dealer spend £5360 taking plates on and off their car when you can simply just put them on retention? Let's have the registration...!
Sorry, bit confused - you don't believe my story or what I've been told? My reason for posting was to get people's views on whether their story sounded legit and if it would cause any issues.

So if the dealer had repeatedly bought plates and put them on this car in order to retain them, is that something they should not have been doing? (you mention fraud in your other post?)

nikaiyo2

5,928 posts

223 months

Monday 19th July 2021
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sirhct said:
Sorry, bit confused - you don't believe my story or what I've been told? My reason for posting was to get people's views on whether their story sounded legit and if it would cause any issues.

So if the dealer had repeatedly bought plates and put them on this car in order to retain them, is that something they should not have been doing? (you mention fraud in your other post?)
I think he is meaning the story you have been told does not add up. If it was 5 number changes or something it might not... but 67 ???? what other possible explanation is there ?

My fear would be selling it on down the road, will it put loads of people off... not sure, if its a normal run of the mill car I think I would look for another. It might be worth putting the reg into WBAC and seeing what they offer for it compared to a similar car without all the oddness!

Truckosaurus

13,196 posts

312 months

Monday 19th July 2021
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As always it depends on the car.

If it is just some random shopping car then if won't matter, if it is something special/interesting that someone wants a perfect example of, then it might be an issue.

sirhct

Original Poster:

3 posts

61 months

Monday 19th July 2021
quotequote all
Just a replacement main family car, not a fancy model or anything.

Bemmer

1,195 posts

230 months

Monday 19th July 2021
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So let's have the registration number then to check out your story.....!