Do I need a number plate dealer?
An interesting question – and certainly up until recent times one which would not be so readily asked. With the advent of Google and the ever increasing sophistication of the internet- number plate buyers and sellers have been migrating to eBay and other online classifieds websites as a more cost effective and direct way to buy & sell personalised number plates.
Number plate dealers provide a great service – they help buy & sell number plates – completing the transaction with as minimum fuss as possible.
However – in these times of consumer empowerment and with vast amounts of information instantly accessible – large numbers of people are seeking an alternative to cherished number plate dealers.
What do they do?
Number plate dealers are like Estate Agencies – they help to buy & sell number plates on behalf of clients and manage the marketing and negotiations.
By taking the worry and the work out of the process, number plate dealers have enjoyed many years of dominance in the market place and indeed have provided professional and useful services to the private number plate market.
How do they do it?
Employing teams of sales executives and administrators; number plate dealers are equipped to deal with vast numbers of telephone and internet enquiries and then transact the subsequent purchases, sales and number plate cherished transfers.
All this comes at a cost and although the services provided are invaluable – the price paid for them is perhaps disproportionate to the benefits.
What do they cost?
Many number plate dealers boast of advertising your number plate for free and providing their professional services free.
Although as a seller you don’t directly pay money for their services – you do indirectly pay – see our article “advertise your number plate for free“
Hedge your bets
It makes sense that to get the best exposure for your number plate you need to advertise it in as many places and ways as possible.
Using a number plate dealer and a number plate classifieds website together will mean increased exposure for your reg plate.
Advertising with a number plate classifieds website means you may also earn more for your plate. If you sell directly and don’t use a number plate dealer then the negotiation and ultimate sale price will be money in your pocket – rather than money in the dealer’s pocket.
It’s up to you
Ultimately when selling a number plate the choice lays with you – Number plate classifieds and number plate dealers each have their own benefits and niches and you may prefer to use one over the other – or indeed use both.
See also:
Avoid the Number plate ripoff
Why sell reg plates privately (and not through a dealer)
