Number Plates from Northern Ireland

The DVLA now covers vehicle licensing for number plates within mainland UK and Northern Ireland!

Since 2015 the DVLA took control of all the vehicle records and registrations in Northern Ireland.

Following the closure of the DVLA Local office network, the abolishment of the ‘Tax Disc’ and introduction of some new digital services and Retention scheme, these services are now provided to citizens of Northern Ireland. 

Within Northern Ireland, these roles used to be carried out by the “Driver and Vehicle Agency” or DVA, based in Coleraine. The DVA NI are now only responsible for issuing Driving licences and the MOT testing of vehicles.

Northern Irish Origin Plates

Northern Irish number plates do look distinctively different (3 letters with 4 numbers) and can include the letters ‘I’ or ‘Z’ within the letter component. E.g. RIL 1234, ADZ 4567, or RCZ 7890. This type of plate can be purchased from as little as £99 depending on the initials. Auctions are held for the more prestigious NI plates like BAZ 444, BIG 661,  CAZ 20, DAZ , GAZ 1, HIG 55, JAZ 11, KAZ 555, LUI 234, 

GAZ 4 “GAZZA” was once on sale for £25,000. At the other end of the spectrum some of the most affordable and cheap private registrations are Irish Number Plates.

The DVA was formed by an amalgamation of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) and the Driver & Vehicle and Testing Agency (DVTA). Northern Ireland has its own unique type of number plate issued on new vehicles with letter combinations like SCZ, RLZ with 4 numbers. However, you can legally use your mainland cherished numbers across NI and also the NI plates are legally transferrable to UK mainland vehicles.

Transferring Registration marks to Northern Ireland

Since 2015, this can be done easily online via the .Gov website or through DVLA Swansea by post to Personalised Registrations, DVLA, SA99 1DS, without the need for a GB registered donor vehicle.   The process can also be done online using DVLA’s digital services.

Vehicle transfer requires the usual fee of £80.00 payable to DVLA Swansea and submission of a completed V317 form.

Once the transfer has been accepted, replacement V5C Documents are issued and the vehicle Tax/MOT records updated accordingly.