DVLA Auction Fees Explained
The winning bid at a DVLA personalised registration auction is not what you pay. VAT, the buyer's premium and the DVLA assignment fee are added on top, and the premium has changed several times since the first auction in 1989. This guide explains how DVLA auctions work, what the true cost is today and how to read historical auction prices.
How do DVLA auctions work?
The DVLA sells registrations it has never issued before, either at fixed prices online or through auctions. Its auctions are now run online as timed sales. In summary:
- each lot has a starting price, and you place a maximum bid that the system bids up to on your behalf;
- a bid placed near the end extends the closing time, so registrations cannot be "sniped" at the last second;
- bids cannot be withdrawn once placed;
- new bidders have an initial spending limit, and bidding above it requires a deposit; and
- winning buyers must pay in full within a few working days of the auction closing.
Read the current terms on the DVLA Auctions website before bidding, because limits, deposits and payment deadlines can change.
What do you pay on top of the hammer price?
For current DVLA auctions, the costs added to the winning bid (the hammer price) are:
- VAT at 20% on the hammer price;
- a buyer's premium of 3%, plus VAT on the premium; and
- the DVLA assignment fee of £80.
Worked example: a £2,000 hammer price
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hammer price | £2,000.00 |
| VAT on hammer price (20%) | £400.00 |
| Buyer's premium (3% of hammer) | £60.00 |
| VAT on buyer's premium | £12.00 |
| Assignment fee | £80.00 |
| Total | £2,552.00 |
In other words, budget for roughly 24% more than the hammer price, plus £80. Many older guides still quote a buyer's premium of 7% or 8%. Those figures applied to earlier auctions, not today's.
How have DVLA auction fees changed?
When comparing a sale from the 1990s with one from today, the hammer price alone can be misleading, because both VAT and the buyer's premium have changed. The rates used to estimate totals in our DVLA auction sold-prices search are:
| Period | Buyer's premium |
|---|---|
| 1989 to 2002 | 10% |
| 2003 to 2011 | 7.5% |
| 2012 to 2019 | 8% |
| 2020 to September 2025 | 7% |
| From October 2025 | 3% |
VAT has also varied: 15% at the first auctions, 17.5% from 1991 to November 2008, a temporary 15% rate from December 2008 to the end of 2009, 17.5% again in 2010, and 20% since January 2011. Where we cannot be confident of the fees that applied to a historical sale, we show the hammer price and do not estimate a total.
Which figure should you compare?
- Use the total to compare what buyers actually paid, especially against dealer prices, which usually include VAT and the transfer.
- Use the hammer price to compare demand between auctions held under the same fee rules.
You can see both figures for documented DVLA sales back to 1989 in our DVLA auction sold prices and the Sales Explorer. The first auction is covered in detail in the 1989 DVLA auction.
Tips before you bid
- Set your maximum bid from the total you are willing to pay, not the hammer price.
- Check what similar registrations have sold for in recent auctions.
- Check the registration can go on your vehicle under the age rule.
- Be wary of anyone offering to sell you a registration from a future DVLA auction at a fixed price in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Is the £80 assignment fee charged if I keep the registration on a certificate?
The assignment fee is part of the purchase price. Registrations bought at auction are issued on a V750 certificate of entitlement, which you can use when you are ready.
Can I bid on behalf of someone else?
Yes. You can name another person as nominee on the certificate. See buying a private plate as a gift.
What is the most expensive DVLA auction sale?
See Britain's most expensive number plates, based on documented sales.
Found this interesting? Add NumberPlates.org as a preferred source on Google