Licence

Register as a number plate supplier

From Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Register with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you want to sell or make number plates.

If you have a subsidiary company, it must register separately from the parent company.

Register online

You need to apply online to register as a number plate supplier.

If you need help registering online

Contact the DVLA Registration Plate Register helpline.

Register by post

Fill in form V940 if you only have one place of business.

You’ll also need to fill in form V940/1 if you have more than one place of business.

Where to send the forms

The Register of Number Plate Suppliers
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DB

Fees and charges

There is a one-off fee of £40 for each place of business you register.

Fines and penalties

If you do not register, you could be fined up to £5,000.

What you must do if you make or supply plates

British standards

Vehicle registration number plates must conform to British standards. If they do not, you could be fined up to £2,500 and be banned from supplying number plates.

Trailer registration plates do not need to conform to British standards.

Keep records

You must keep records of the number plates you supply. If you do not, you could be fined up to £1,000 and be suspended from the register.

Records must include:

  • the registration number
  • the customer’s name and address and entitlement to the number plate
  • a number that can be used to trace a customer and is taken from an original document from an accepted form of ID, such as a driving licence or V5C

You must keep records for 3 years. You must let DVLA, the police and Trading Standards see these records if they ask.

Report changes to DVLA

You must report changes to register details to DVLA within 28 days of the change, or be fined up to £1,000. This includes if you stop supplying number plates.

Download the INF195/2 information leaflet, which covers the legal obligations of number plate suppliers, the information you must keep and a sample record sheet for number plates.