Adam M

Just remembered this has been bugging me for ages!

I am looking to bu a private plate, which I believe to have been registered already to someones car.

Interestingly the plate I am after is likely to live in my local area, as the letters I want are distributed anyway round here.

I have a friend on the police force but he isnt willing to help me as that kind of thing can get him fired, and writing to the DVLA doesnt work as they refuse to either allow me to contact the owner, or forward on my request personally.

Does anyone know how I can do this?

the plate I am after is

M355ULM as it gives me my surname, and maybe one day wont be out of place on my 355 (please god - I'll be good I promise)

RonaldoH

Adam

Yeah, the bit about your mate not being able to help is because if he does a PNC check on the car, without a valid reason, i.e random check then he is violating his powers...its all to do with the Data Protection act I think.

I think that you can write to the DVLA, or a number plate agency, tell them what you will pay the owner for it, they take a cut and then bobs your uncle, as long as the owner is keen.

My Father had a plate that was wanted by someone some years back, and he was written to by an Agency as someone wanted to buy it...an inconspicous one, like the one your after as well...so maybe its possible.

Failing that, get a new mate in a wheel clamping company after all, they send the outstanding payments to the registered owners of the cars

Ron

Dave T-S

We tried the same and the DVLA refused to forward a letter to the current owner.....

Richard Askew

Adam it's simple mate - just get a buddy in the police force who's a litle bit...ummm....u know ...errrr shonky.....a little bit woah.... a little bit way...a little bit woosh wooosh woosh.........

or


Get Halfords to make u that plate up anyway and just drive around with it on.....

Richard Askew

By the way - I am truly suprised that Ronnie doesn't know anyone that can "help"

chrisp

Adam this may sound silly but if the owner lives in your area why not take and add out in your local paper in the motoring section. The owner may not see it but someone who knows him/her might.

Just an idea

chrisp

IWatkins

Also, no entry for that plate on DirectLine or Churchill's website. Maybe it isn't on a car.

But if you do a search on DVLA, it is not available for sale.

Cheers

Ian

Adam M

Bugger, looks like it hasnt been registered which means I cant get it.

It doesnt have the right number config for you to be able to select and buy it.

They do any number from 1 to 20, multiples of 100 and repeated digits.

Thats why I have 55 on my sisters car, and 555 (double pun) on mine.

355 is a no no, but the 3 makes a good E and it would be a great present for my dad, which I could steal back if the 355 ever becomes a reality!

Adam M

Right, just for interests sake, the number plate has not been registered.

So I rang dvla select registrations who gave me another number.

I spoke to dvla registration sales, who told me they could put my name forward so that if that plate becomes available they will contact me and I can put in a bid at auction.

My interest alone equates to a nomination of the plate, but only 600 plates are auctioned twice a year. The likelihood is that mine wont attract enough interest to make the auction but they will notify me.

Apparently the DVLA are getting loads of calls like these so they are trying to increase the number of auctions held.

Thanks for the help guys, it was much appreciated.

ed the dead

I seem to remember hearing that if you contract the DVLA and say that the car is illegally parked on your property they will provide you with the owners details (I think it costs a fiver!), this is how private clamping firms can bill you without clamping you .... apparently.

Might be worth investigating

RonaldoH

Rich, messing with peoples address etc etc is a serious no no

Adam, if you know what they look like, roughly where they live...I know some people that can sort that out
Ron

Mossman

LOL @ Richard!

Adam M

Thanks for the sugeestions guys.

Local ad might be a good idea.

I was wondering if a friendly person in insurance might be able to help.

Car insurers seem o have the ability to run stuff through computers etc.

Ronnie, thanks for the offer, but without meaning to sound ungrateful, I lived in southend for 21 years, I have quite a few "mates" too if I need them, if youknow what I mean .

IWatkins

Adam,

Some of the insurance or HPi check type websites allow you to put in a reg. plate in the process of getting a quote etc.

This usually returns the car make and model.

You then go to the car dealer in your area with that make and ask if they registered it and would they mind contacting the owner on your behalf. Give them a bung to do it, sorted.

For a site to try see: https://www.hpicheck.com/echeck/ and use the E-Check to put in this reg plate and two others to get full car details. Costs £12.50.

However, I'm positive there are sites that return the details without cost on a single car. But I can't find one just now.

Cheers

Ian

RonaldoH

Adam, Southend?

In that case, I step aside for fear of getting involved with nasty "essex boys"

Ian Griffiths

You can check model, colour etc. using the Orange HPI service via WAP. No entry for that car though so I can't tell you what it is atm. I'm not sure if this is a temporary outage or there is genuinely no info.

Have a look at