| The meteoric rise in the popularity of private number | | | | Irish number plates are classified as dateless |
| plates continues to grow and sales of Irish number | | | | registrations and can be assigned to any vehicle |
| plates are no exception. More people are now turning | | | | regardless of age. Many people buy Irish number |
| to Irish number plates when buying a new | | | | plates to use as cover plates, hiding the age of their |
| registration as the most popular names and initial | | | | car and giving their vehicle a classic look. The |
| combinations from the UK number plate series | | | | cheapest Irish cover plates have less popular letter |
| become increasingly scarce. | | | | combinations and a mix of 4 different numbers. |
| Irish number plates are car registrations that originate | | | | Drivers of DVLA registered vehicles can have an Irish |
| in Northern Ireland. They follow a format displaying 3 | | | | number plate assigned to their car. Irish registration |
| letters followed by up to 4 numbers. The registration | | | | numbers must be transferred directly onto vehicles in |
| ALZ 3214 is an example of an Irish number plate. Irish | | | | England, Scotland and Wales with timescales of |
| number plates differ from their DVLA counterparts | | | | approximately 4 weeks. Once the transfer is |
| by displaying the letters I or Z within the registration. | | | | complete the registration number can be transferred |
| The addition of these letters creates many more | | | | off onto a DVLA retention certificate if so desired. |
| popular combinations than DVLA number plates | | | | You can buy Irish number plates that have already |
| cannot offer such as WIL, GIL, BIL and CAZ | | | | been transferred onto a UK retention certificates |
| registration plates. Other combinations such as BIG | | | | however the price often reflects the cost incurred. |
| and DIG are available and are extremely popular with | | | | The most common place to buy Irish number plates |
| plant companies and landscape gardeners. | | | | is via a number plate dealer who can transfer the |
| Prices of Irish number plates can be significantly lower | | | | registration for you. |
| than UK car registrations and many cheap number | | | | Car registration numbers held on a DVLA certificate |
| plates are available. You can buy Irish number plates | | | | cannot be assigned directly to a car in Northern |
| for under £100 and name plates such as CAZ | | | | Ireland. Residents in Northern Ireland wishing to have |
| start at around £400. Costs increase with | | | | a DVLA number plate on their vehicle must transfer it |
| lower or neater numbers with number 1 plates | | | | car to car from a vehicle registered with the DVLA. |
| commanding the highest prices. The registration BIG 1 | | | | Number plate dealers such as Cape Plates offer a |
| was bought at auction by Sean McCrory for over | | | | Northern Ireland transfer service and provide a pool |
| £100000. He has also added the registrations | | | | of vehicles for customers who do not have a car to |
| BIG 2 and BIG 3 to his collection. BIG 1 smashed the | | | | use on the UK mainland. As two transfers are |
| previous record for the most expensive Irish number | | | | involved the timescale is approximately 8 weeks and |
| plate ever sold which was held by WIL 1 at | | | | a second transfer fee must be paid. |
| £50000. Since then Roman Abramovich, | | | | With the advantages of lower prices, great letter |
| billionaire tycoon and owner of Chelsea FC paid | | | | combinations and the fact that they are all dateless |
| £285000 for the registration VIP 1, another | | | | registrations, it is clear to see why Irish number |
| Irish number plate, which at the time was the most | | | | plates are such a popular choice and a viable option |
| expensive number plate ever sold in the UK. | | | | when buying a new reg. |