Number plate suppliers
From 1
January 2003 all
number plate suppliers in
England and Wales will be required by law to
register their details with DVLA. From that
date a business will be unable to trade as a
supplier unless it is registered.
A Number Plate Supplier is someone whose
business consists wholly or partly of
supplying number plates i.e. finished plates
that incorporate the registration mark of a
vehicle registered with DVLA. Manufacturers,
distributors, assemblers, motor factors,
motor dealers and retail outlets including
on-line retailers could fall within the
scope of the scheme provided that they
supply the finished product.
Motor dealers
who refit their used vehicles for sale with
replacement
number plates would be classed
as number plate suppliers.
If a business supplies only blank plates or
other components or materials it will not be
required to register. People who manufacture
plates solely for their own use, rather than
supply to third parties, are not within the
scope of the legislation e.g. a fleet
operator who assembles plates and fits them
only to vehicles in his fleet. As he does
not supply the plates, he is not a supplier
for the purposes of the legislation.
However, if the business supplies plates for
any other purpose eg for an employee's
private use, it is regarded as a Number
Plate Supplier.
Those exempt include :
Number Plate Suppliers who only supply
plates for newly registered vehicles.
Number plate suppliers who do not sell
plates in England and Wales.
Manufacturers of number plate components
who do not sell complete plates.
Businesses that assemble plates for
their own use or fit them to their own
vehicles but do not supply them to anyone
else. (A motor trader who fits new plates to
used vehicles to sell on is not exempt
because the plates are supplied along with
the vehicle).
