The starting cost of private number plates has come down over the years and now you can buy for just a few hundred pounds including vat and transfer fee.Most can be supplied on either a retention document or certificate of entitlement which will last for up to 12 months.Numbers supplied in this way already have the transfer fee pre-paid so when the recipient uses the certificate to assign the number to his or her car there is nothing extra to pay.The certificate can also be used as proof of entitlement and with some proof of I.D. you can purchase the physical plates , although they cannot be fixed to car until the tax disc has been changed to suit.This can be done when the DVLA re-open after the holidays.

Should you not want to present the recipient with a certificate or certificate plus plates on Christmas day it should be possible to transfer the number onto the car a few days before christmas and have the tax disc to hand over so they can fit the plates at christmas.This would entail you having access to the V5C registration document , M.O.T. certificate and a photocopy of the tax disc for the vehicle concerned.This is not always possible without letting the cat out of the bag.

Unlike many other Christmas presents, a set of private number plates can last for years,the recipient will always think of the giver every time they walk towards their car and many such registration numbers increase in value over the years.It is well worthwhile considering private number plates as an alternative to traditional Christmas gift ideas.