Cheap Private Number Plates For Less Than £100

Making your car look extra stylish can be done by adding private plates to your vehicle to give your ride that touch of class. Private number plates have become increasingly popular in recent years and are a common gift for birthdays or graduations as an exclusive present that lasts a lifetime. Having your own unique plate can make your car look really special and with a bit of creativity and imagination, you could pick up your very own personalised plates for less than £100!

Designing a private number plate can be done with combinations of numbers and letters used to spell out the driver’s name, a hobby, or even a favourite football team. Private plates can be moved from vehicle to vehicle so you can retain your plate even if you change your ride. 

If you are looking for a personalised number plate but are on a budget, getting the plate of your dreams might still be easier than you think. Number plates are available in different styles and formats and depending on the combination of numbers and letters you are looking for, your new plates don’t have to break the bank. 

What are the different number plate styles?

When searching for your original number plates it is important to know that there are a variety of options to choose from. Depending on how old or new your number plate is will determine the arrangement and order of numbers and letters that can be used.

With different plate styles being created over the decades, there are multiple formats available to choose from and some may work better with your desired word or phrase. Designing your cherished number plates can be done using any of the following plate styles.

Current or New 

These plates were issued from 2001 onwards and are designed using a format of 2 letters, 2 numbers, and 3 letters. This style may be the cheapest option for budget-conscious buyers. 

Prefix

Issued between 1983 and 2001 prefix style features 1 letter, 1 number, and 3 letters and is useful for shorter words or names. Prefix style plates are sought by people looking for cheaper alternatives to other plate styles so it may be tricky to find commonly used words or phrases. 

Suffix 

Suffix style is 3 letters, 3 numbers, and 1 letter and ceased to be produced in 1983 and a limited number were released so your chosen plate could be harder to find. 

Dateless 

Unique number plates of 1, 2, or 3 letters or numbers in different combinations. This will be the most expensive due to the dateless quality of the plate and the rarity. These plates were issued between 1903 and 1963 and are therefore in limited supply. 

While some combinations of letters and numbers might be limited for a certain plate style, others are readily available. Using the new style of plate, for example, will be less expensive and much easier to find a desirable combination due to availability. 

To find plates for less than £100 you may have to think outside of the box and replace letters with numbers, such as using a ‘3’ for an ‘E’ or using numbers that work phonetically such as ‘2’ for the word ‘TO’ or ‘TOO’, but making these changes means that you can still find an original and unique plate for a great price.

Can I have anything on my personalised plate?

Provided that your chosen word or phrase is available for purchase then you can display any private plate of your choosing on your vehicle. There are a couple of limitations, anything you choose has to comply with DVLA guidelines, and the plate cannot make the vehicle appear younger than it actually is. 

For number plates that cost less than £100, it might be tricky to get exactly what you want so be prepared to be flexible. But depending on what you are looking for you might hit the jackpot and even get your desired private plate for less.

Where can I find plates under £100?

If you are ready to start your search for your new personalised number plates, the Swiftreg search engine will return all available results from a database of 50 million license plates. Enter your letters and numbers and choose from the best options for your style and budget.