Trade licence plates are number plates you can use on vehicles your business has for things like selling, repairing or testing. If you display trade licence plates on any vehicle, your employees and customers can drive the vehicle for certain purposes without having to pay to register and tax it. For example, if you sell cars, you can use trade licence plates to allow your customers to test drive vehicles on a road. Who is eligible You can apply for trade licence plates if you’re a motor dealer, motor trader or vehicle tester. This means your business does one or more of the following: sells vehicles manufactures or repairs vehicles tests other people’s vehicles on public roads If you collect or deliver vehicles, you’ll also be eligible as long as either: this is the only thing your business does you also manufacture or repair vehicles How to get trade licence plates You need to apply for a trade licence for the type of plates you need. If your application is approved, you’ll be sent your trade plates. You can apply for extra trade licences if you need more sets of plates. You’ll need to renew your licence before it expires.

Rules for using your trade plates

You can only use trade plates on vehicles that: are safe to drive (‘roadworthy’) are insured have a valid MOT, or are exempt from needing an MOT You can only use the plates for the purpose you write on your application form. For example, if you say they’ll be used for customers to test drive vehicles for sale, they cannot be used for other purposes. A full list of things you can use the plates for is included in the ‘guidance notes’ section of the application form for a licence. How to display your trade plates When you display trade plates, you must: put them on both the front and back of the vehicle, or just the back for motorcycles make them visible and easily readable from a distance of 20 metres put them on the outside of the vehicle not cover the existing number plates, unless it’s a motorcycle

Replace lost, stolen or damaged trade plates

You can get replacement plates if yours have been lost, stolen or damaged. If your plates were stolen or lost, you must report this to the police. You have to apply for a full replacement set - you cannot get a single plate to replace a damaged plate for vehicles (excluding motorcycles). If your plates become unreadable and it’s not because of accidental damage - for example, they’ve faded over time - you might be able to get free replacement plates. Otherwise you need to pay a fee. Vehicle set and motorcycle, bicycle or tricycle set £18.00 Vehicle (excluding motorcycles) set £13.50 Motorcycles, bicycles and tricycle set £7.00 How to apply Download and complete form VTL310 . If your plates have been stolen, you’ll need the crime reference number when filling in the form. If your plates are damaged or faded, you need to send the full set of plates (including any undamaged plates) to DVLA before they will send you replacement plates.

Renew your trade licence

You can renew your licence for: 6 months, if it runs out in June 6 or 12 months, if it runs out in December You’ll be sent a letter before your licence runs out. It’ll include instructions for renewing your licence. If you do not get a letter, or you want to renew before it arrives, download and complete form VTL318 . You need to have motor trade insurance, and provide a copy of your Motor Trade Insurance Certificate with the form. If you have a different type of insurance, your application will not be approved. The name on your insurance certificate must match the name on the application form. DVLA cannot return copies of your documents, so do not send the original. If you do not have a Motor Trade Insurance Certificate, you’ll need to say why and give your Companies House registration number.

Change your business name or address

If you only want to change your business address, download and complete form VTL310 . You can keep using your existing trade plates. If you change your business name You need to apply for a new trade licence with your new details using form VTL301 . You need to return your trade plates with this form. You can get a refund on any remaining months of your old licence using form VTL308 . If you want to change your business name and address at the same time, you’ll have to send in forms VTL301 and VTL308. Include your new address details in form VTL301.

End your trade licence and return your trade plates

Your licence will end if you either: let your licence expire without renewing it cancel your licence - also known as ‘surrendering’ your licence - before it expires If you cancel it before it expires, you’ll get a refund for each full calendar month left on the licence once DVLA receives your application form. You’ll be sent a letter when your licence is due to expire, and another after your licence expires (if you do not renew). The letters explain what you need to do. If you do not get the letter and you do not want to renew, send your trade plates back to DVLA with: form VTL308 if you’re cancelling your licence before it expires a letter explaining that you’re not renewing if your licence has expired

Trade licence plates

Overview

Trade licence plates are number plates you can use on vehicles your business has for things like selling, repairing or testing.

If you display trade licence plates on any vehicle, your employees and customers can drive the vehicle for certain purposes without having to pay to register and tax it.

For example, if you sell cars, you can use trade licence plates to allow your customers to test drive vehicles on a road.

Who is eligible

You can apply for trade licence plates if you’re a motor dealer, motor trader or vehicle tester. This means your business does one or more of the following:

sells vehicles
manufactures or repairs vehicles
tests other people’s vehicles on public roads

If you collect or deliver vehicles, you’ll also be eligible as long as either:

this is the only thing your business does
you also manufacture or repair vehicles

How to get trade licence plates

You need to apply for a trade licence for the type of plates you need.

If your application is approved, you’ll be sent your trade plates. You can apply for extra trade licences if you need more sets of plates.

You’ll need to renew your licence before it expires.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Trade licence plates

Overview

Who is eligible

How to get trade licence plates

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Trade licence plates

Overview

Who is eligible

How to get trade licence plates

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