Private registration plates have become increasingly popular in the UK.

Not only do they disguise the age of your car, but they give your vehicle a smarter and cleaner look.

There are a variety of different styles of personalised number plates around – with prices and values depending on the amount of letters and numbers used.

However, there are a number of factors to consider before you purchase one for your vehicle.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of all the things you need to know about private registration plates.

What types of registration plates are there?

In the UK, there are four types of registration plates. The current number plate system has been around since 2001. The first two letters represent the county of registration, followed by two numbers, marking the age, then it’s finished off with three random letters.

Prefixes were number plates used on cars registered from 1983 to 2001. The plate starts with a letter, representing the age of the vehicle. For example, a plate beginning with ‘K’ would have been registered in August 1992. It is then followed by two or three random numbers, and then three letters – one random and the last two representing the county of registration.

Suffix plates were used on vehicles registered between 1963 and 1983. Its construction begins with three random letters, followed by two or three random numbers and then a letter to represent the year of registration. For example, a number plate ending in ‘Y’ would have been registered in 1982.

Number plates before 1963 are known as ‘dateless’ because they are made up of three numbers and three letters with no indication of age – making them more valuable in today’s market.

What are the legal requirements?

After you’ve bought a private registration plate, the Driver and Licensing Agency (DVLA) will send you a certificate of entitlement, or V750.

To receive the plate, you will have to go down to your local license plate supplier and take the relevant ID, such as your driving license, the V750 certificate and your V5 vehicle registration document.

The plate must have a reflective material and no altered font or spacing is allowed.

The most important requirement is that a private registration plate must not make your car seem younger. For example, if your vehicle was registered in 2015 on a ‘15’ plate, you will not be able to have a private registration to make it look like a 2016 on a ‘16’ plate.

How much do private registration plates cost?

A plate’s price depends on where you purchase it from but the most common site is the DVLA.

Plates from here cost anything from £250 and above. You can buy a private registration number through a variety of different brokers but expect to pay a large premium over standard prices from the DVLA.

The rule with private registration numbers is the fewer letters and numbers used, the more expensive the plate will be.

For example, in 2014 a registration number that spelt ‘25 0’ sold for £518,000.

But, a number plate that uses three numbers and four letters can cost as little as £200 – making them a lot more affordable.

How do you retain them?

When you buy a private registration number, you will get a V750 document and a retention form.

The retention form is there for you to remain the owner of the plate. If you sell your vehicle, but you want to keep the plate, the DVLA will charge a transfer fee of £80. You don’t have to put the plate onto another car. Instead, you can keep a private registration plate on retention for up to 10 years.

Can you transfer them onto another car?

The simple answer is, yes. As long as you keep hold of the V750 and retention document, you can transfer your private registration plate onto any car – as long as it doesn’t make the age of the car look younger.