I have just put an absentee bid in for a plate at the upcoming auction........

This is about the 5th time i have done this and the first 4 times the sale price of the plate was always £100 (or 1 bid) above mine.

Then next minute regtransfers or similar are offering it me for 3 times the price......

Anyone else suffer this? Any advice?

thanks

Yes Jonny, has happened to me in the past too, exactly the same scenario  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
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GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
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Maybe thay are using "auction snooper" software? Now - MY11 RRS Autobiography TDV6, Orkney gray, tints, steps, daylight running lamps and allllll the toys!!!
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Jonny,
I just think they will always win over you as they get the VAT back presumably and then know if its a decent plate they can still make 70% retail margin. MY2011 HSE Santorini/Ivory/Piano Black/Privacy Glass/TV .Sadly gone.
Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition 3.0 tdi quattro S Line

Hi I bought mine off there 59ce worked out it went for guide price RRS 2010 model in Bali blue
Hse Spec with rear camera side steps
tinted windows

Audi A4 2008 Red with 19 inch wheels chrome mirrors tinted windows

When I got my plate from a DVLA auction I did it via phone direct to the auction room, one of their staff rang me a few minutes before the lot started and allowed me to fight it out in the room so to speak.

I got fed up with the regtransfers offering me plates at 2-3 times the price I won my plate for.

Daz 2017 4.4 Autobiography FFRR - love this car
Gone - VW T5 Transporter
Long gone - 2009 Disco
Long gone but never out of my thoughts - 2008 TDV8 HST

My plate came with a free RRS!  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

ChrisP wrote:

Jonny,
I just think they will always win over you as they get the VAT back presumably and then know if its a decent plate they can still make 70% retail margin.

Chris, I will buy through the company so will save the VAT as well.

It's just bizarre, some very similar plates go for very different money..............depending if people have bid on them, regtransfers and their friends come along and outbid plates with interest and then try to sell it you at 3 times the price.

I don't understand the logic.............if I say my max bid is £5000 for example, they win it for £5100 and try to sell it me for £15K!!

If I said I was willing to pay £5K one minute, what makes them think I'd pay £15k, knowing they just nicked it from under my nose!!

Jonny,
Not sure you could claim the VAT back as a business expense unless you are a motor dealer or suchlike where the cost/use of the plate is "wholly and exclusively" for the operation of your business ?
I think Beany may be able to clarify but wouldn't it be like private fuel? MY2011 HSE Santorini/Ivory/Piano Black/Privacy Glass/TV .Sadly gone.
Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition 3.0 tdi quattro S Line

Maybe not, I'll check with accountant...........

It is wholly for business as it is going on my company car which is used just for business

Have a look here re the treatment, seems there could be an argument for it, but to be honest, it'll only serve to annoy any inspector, so i'd be inclined just to swallow the whole cost.  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

All our company vehicles have company specific plates and we have claimed back vat on them all, likewise when we sold a £20k plate we had to account for vat as well on that, so swings & roundabouts, and yes we have had a vat visit & they are happy that they are a form of advertising - they have probably had more vat back than we have ever claimed !!

I have bought a few from dealers & direct from DVLA auction mainly online bidding, a bit hairy.

What you need to be so conscious of is the vat plus commission on the selling price if not claiming the vat back.

Dealers generally want to double their money on plates as they could be holding on to them for several years before they sell them and some like reg transfers spend a small fortune on advertising !!

If selling on commission they look for a circa 20% to 25% mark up Paul

L405 Loire Blue
Swift Conqueror 645
Abarth 500c

So basically if the plate letters reflect the company name its OK as it is advertising,if they refelect the drivers name its not as it's EGO.
Either way it seems to say that VAT not reclaimable on the cost of the reg. MY2011 HSE Santorini/Ivory/Piano Black/Privacy Glass/TV .Sadly gone.
Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition 3.0 tdi quattro S Line

Seems if they really wanted to push it Chris the case could go either way, some winning, some losing.

Personally, I doubt the £1k VAT on a £5k plate is going to make/break the company so I would just swallow it, but thats me  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Beany,
I agree,I've got a morbid fear of VAT Inspectors,only ever had 2 inspections and always err on the safe side,i.e. if there is any doubt e.g. a mix of business and personal use don't claim it just not worth it especially for such small amounts as this. MY2011 HSE Santorini/Ivory/Piano Black/Privacy Glass/TV .Sadly gone.
Audi A5 Sportback Black Edition 3.0 tdi quattro S Line