The purpose of this guide is to provide some basic information relating to the buying and selling of personalised number plates on Ebay. As you are probably aware, Ebay is a great place for buyers and sellers to interact, but unfortunately there are others who see Ebay as a place to carry out scams. Due to the high values involved with some personalised number plates, the Cherished Numbers Section on Ebay seems to attract a higher proportion of scammers than other sections of Ebay in my experience.

A personalised number plate or registration mark as the DVLA prefers it to be known, can be supplied on a V750 Certificate of Entitlement, displayed on a vehicle or held on a V778 Retention Certificate. Ownership of the actual certificate is non-transferable. However, the owner or Grantee can choose to assign the registration mark from the certificate to a vehicle. When the registration mark is assigned to a vehicle, ownership passes on to the keeper of the vehicle. This is by far the easiest way for ownership to pass from one person to another when buying or selling via Ebay.

If the registration mark is displayed on a vehicle, an application can be made to DVLA to directly transfer it to another vehicle via form V317. Both sets of vehicle documents are required and a vehicle inspection may be necessary. This method is often used when an owner wants to transfer a registration mark from their current car to a new car. It is not the most convenient method to use when buying or selling via Ebay.

As the seller you should always make sure you have cleared funds before assigning the registration mark to the buyer's vehicle, or posting on the certificate on. As the buyer you should always ensure that the certificate is genuine before handing over any money. The DVLA will confirm if a registration mark is held on a retention certificate but will not disclose much more due to the Data Protection Act. I have personally experienced a case where the seller tried to pass on a fake retention document, so make sure you are familiar with what the document actually looks like. It has a watermark and your local DVLA Office will be happy to show you an example document. A genuine seller should always be prepared to either fax or scan a copy of the document to you for prior checks to take place.

Most people seem to use Ebay for the right reasons and it is a great place to grab a bargain. Buying on Ebay is often no different to buying from a stranger in the street, so use the feedback facility to help you decide on the type of person you are dealing with and protect yourself.

Disclaimer
The intention of this guide is to assist anyone thinking of buying or selling a personalised number plate via Ebay. I hope this information is useful, however I will not be held liable or responsible for any losses or consequences that arise as result of anyone using this information as a basis to carry out transactions via Ebay or anywhere else. Always carry out your own research and take all necessary precautions to prevent yourself becoming a victim of fraud.