Personalised number plate search

August 24, 2005 3:44 PM

I'm in the UK, and would love to have the car numberplate W188LER. Trouble is, it's a normal, regularly-issued numberplate, that someone legally has. Where can I find out who's got the numberplate on their car?
posted by wibbler to travel & transportation (11 answers total)

Contact the DVLA. They don't bite :)

As far as I'm aware, if it's been issued, you're out of luck. One way you could find out is by getting a police officer friend to run a "check" for you then go visit the owner and say you saw the plate while going past.

Alternately, it may be that the plate was never issued. Not all of them are. If so, the DVLA may be able to sell it to you directly. I've certainly heard of this happening in the past.
posted by wackybrit at 3:59 PM on August 24, 2005

what about W166LER? it looks almost the same
posted by PenguinBukkake at 4:02 PM on August 24, 2005

All numberplates in the UK are "normal" and regularly-issued btw.
posted by fire&wings at 4:16 PM on August 24, 2005

Depends on your definition of normal. Certain plates, such as Q plates are not "normal" or issued in a normal way.
posted by wackybrit at 4:37 PM on August 24, 2005

There are no "private" numberplates in the UK, only plates that look like funny names or have few letters/numbers in them and so seem exclusive.
posted by fire&wings at 4:52 PM on August 24, 2005

You can get W18LER and you can apply for them to do more research for W188LER by filling in details

Disclaimer: I've never used this people and can't vouch for their honesty, I just found them via google (q=dvla+license+plate, first page)
posted by quiet at 5:05 PM on August 24, 2005

I hate to be the dull boy at the party, but I don't get it. What is the significance of W188LER ?
posted by curtm at 6:01 PM on August 24, 2005

It's the guy's user name.
posted by jimmy at 6:21 PM on August 24, 2005

can I get a PenguinBukkake license plate then? maybe in Japan?
posted by PenguinBukkake at 6:57 PM on August 24, 2005

I am abashed...
posted by curtm at 8:46 AM on August 25, 2005

curtm - it's sad, I know, but I covet my online username... ;-)
posted by wibbler at 1:55 PM on August 27, 2005