Multiple number plate import

farrelli

Hi, I'm looking to import a car from the UK and after doing the HPI check it came up all clear except the car has had two previous different number plates. Is this something I should be concerned about?
Seems a bit odd to me, the changed plates don't look particularly personalised or anything fancy.
If any one might know any reason why this might be done please let me know.
Thanks, farrelli.

CiniO

farrelli wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking to import a car from the UK and after doing the HPI check it came up all clear except the car has had two previous different number plates. Is this something I should be concerned about?
Seems a bit odd to me, the changed plates don't look particularly personalised or anything fancy.
If any one might know any reason why this might be done please let me know.
Thanks, farrelli.

What about the case that plates were stolen.
Owner got a new number because he didn't want to risk being acussed of using stolen number plates.

farrelli

Yeh, I suppose that could be the case although to happen twice is quite unlucky. Thanks for the reply

ArphaRima

I bought a car in the uk. It has had 3 plates already.

1 original one, then 2 customised transfers.

It is now back on the original plate. The second of those plates was an obvious personal plate, whilst the first one seemed random.

It's a common occurence here, and I wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

Bumpstop

Yes I have bought a good few english cars. Plate changes are normal.

Vertakill

It's not like you can just rob a bank with a car and then ring up and have your reg plate changed the next day.
I'm sure the process of changing your reg over there involves checking if it's been involved in any crimes first.

It's not like we're playing GTA here and you can dodge the police by changing the color of yer car or something..


Anyways, in the UK they're mad for changing plates. Possibly because it's so so much cheaper than over here.
A lot of people have cherished plates so you'll find a lot of HPI checks coming up with similar results to the ones you've gotten.

rebel.ranter

While the different plates may not look fancy to you there are a few reasons why some one might want to change a plate in UK like hiding the age of the car from the neighbours or because the plate has their initials in it.
As long as you can trace the service history (call the dealer that serviced it) through all the plate changes then it should be fine. To trace the history of a BMW for example you could ring BMW Bracknell & they should be able to give you a blow by blow history or the car based on the VIN (chassis) number.
The car will be getting a 4th number plate when you buy it.

farrelli

Thanks for all the replies people, just wasn't sure why you'd change a reg. so many times but its good to hear its not that uncommon. Thanks again, farrelli.