Picked up today :-)
- Thread starter NormStrm
- Start date
Don't mean to thread jack but I am curious, in UK when you buy a vehicle do they assign you a license plate already? I notice new cars having their plates on the spot. Here in the US, they mail it within a couple of weeks, sometimes months so we get to enjoy driving around w/o plates for a few weeks to months.
rfx45 said:
Buying a car here is really different.
Short answer is yes.
Very Long Answer:
If you don't want an assigned number, you can buy a plate from the DVLA. Keith did that with his plate.
In the UK it seems to be just about impossible to drive off with a car the day you buy it.
After buying 3 cars in the UK, Here is my rough understanding of how it works
You make the deal and get loan approval, much the same as you do in the US. Prices here are always quoted as "On The Road" and include all taxes and fees. One of reasons why the prices on BMW UK are so much higher than in the US.
BMWs, MINIs, VWs and Audis are often ordered rather than taken from dealer stock. Ford and GM tend to have more on the lot but some customers still may end up ordering to get what they want.
When the car arrives at the dealer, they call you up and ask you to apply for insurance. -- You set the insurance to start a few days later, on the day you plan to go get your car. BMW and MINI have 7-day complementary drive-off insurance. When your insurance is approved, you send a covering note or insurance certificate to the dealer. BMW insurance emails it to the dealer. Other insurance companies can take a few days to do the paperwork.
Insurance certificate in hand, the dealer can Plate your car. Dealers usually have the machines that print the plates there, or they can get plates overnight.
Instead of the tags or stickers used in the US, UK vehicles have a tax disk that goes on the windshield.
Some dealers can tax a car on premises. With our Z4, they did it the day we picked up the car. With the MINI, they sent someone out the day before we collected the car. With our van, I had to go to the Post Office myself to get a tax disk.
Car looks ace - and the sun was even shining for you! 
Yup, plates are always assigned to new cars before you can have it 'on the road'. They can normally give you a choice of a few (pretty random) ones to choose from before the car is registered. The other options are to buy a cherished plate, or transfer an existing one. Unfortunately there's no option to drive about without one for a bit!
rfx45 said:
Yup, plates are always assigned to new cars before you can have it 'on the road'. They can normally give you a choice of a few (pretty random) ones to choose from before the car is registered. The other options are to buy a cherished plate, or transfer an existing one. Unfortunately there's no option to drive about without one for a bit!
AlteredCarbon said:Unfortunately there's no option to drive about without one for a bit!
Steve Job's did exactly that. . -- He set up a deal with a leasing company to get him an identical car the day before the law required him to plate the last one.
NormStrm, congrats - looks lovely, your grin says it all
Off topic, but that e85 for £13,995 in the back of the shot... Did you notice what plate it was ? Curious cos the ragtops are back on the forecourt, but that looks reasonably pricey unless it's a late model...
Off topic, but that e85 for £13,995 in the back of the shot... Did you notice what plate it was ? Curious cos the ragtops are back on the forecourt, but that looks reasonably pricey unless it's a late model...
Just one of the many adjustments we had to make. Don't get me started about the hot and cold water coming out of separate taps. .
A
Anonymous
Guest
I heard that about Steve Jobs. Is it 6 months you can drive a new car without a plate, so as you say, he just renewed the car.
Not as if money was an issue!
But how does it work with no plates.....do you have speed cameras in US...how would they identify you?
Not as if money was an issue!
But how does it work with no plates.....do you have speed cameras in US...how would they identify you?
Laws and traffic cameras vary by state. Georgia had a few red light cameras but no speed cameras. In Georgia you have a "paper plate" that goes on the back of the car.
California did away with paper plates many years ago. -- They may still have a temporary registration form you tape to the windscreen.
I don't recall California having speed cameras either. I haven't lived there since 2001, but we go back all the time.
US doesn't have automatic number plate number recognition either. Someone has to look at the camera photo and see if they can make out the number plate.
California did away with paper plates many years ago. -- They may still have a temporary registration form you tape to the windscreen.
I don't recall California having speed cameras either. I haven't lived there since 2001, but we go back all the time.
US doesn't have automatic number plate number recognition either. Someone has to look at the camera photo and see if they can make out the number plate.
California had red light cameras but most have been removed now because well people didn't really need to pay it afterall, you simply had to ignored it and it won't affect your credit at all. They won't arrest you either or count against you. :lol:
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/07/red-light_camera_tickets.php
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/07/red-light_camera_tickets.php
Bing said:Andrew*Debbie said:
You do know that a few years ago we introduced mixer taps over here ?
Maybe where you live. . . One of downsides of renting is the 1970's plumbing. The house we are renting didn't even have heat until the 1980's. 2 coal fires down stairs, an Aga in the kitchen and really fxxxing cold in the bedrooms.
There are still some houses on Anglesey that only have coal fires.
We both took months of driving lessons. I've had my full UK license for 3 years.
Americans are legally allowed to drive in the UK on their US licenses for up to one year. Absolute idiocy. Most Americans can't drive at home let alone over here in backwards land. When it comes to driving, I think of the UK as the land of silly rules and the US as a land of patchwork anarchy.
Andrew*Debbie said:Bing said:Andrew*Debbie said:
You do know that a few years ago we introduced mixer taps over here ?
Maybe where you live. . . One of downsides of renting is the 1970's plumbing. The house we are renting didn't even have heat until the 1980's. 2 coal fires down stairs, an Aga in the kitchen and really fxxxing cold in the bedrooms.
There are still some houses on Anglesey that only have coal fires.
We both took months of driving lessons. I've had my full UK license for 3 years.
Americans are legally allowed to drive in the UK on their US licenses for up to one year. Absolute idiocy. Most Americans can't drive at home let alone over here in backwards land. When it comes to driving, I think of the UK as the land of silly rules and the US as a land of patchwork anarchy.
Proper LMAO - very funny
Thanks to all for the very positive posts 
I put my cover on hold as handed my previous Z4 over at the end of Jan to beat another drop in value! But excellent point about getting a quote from Saga - many thanks
I'll try and get some interior shots up later today.
AY12 XOG is temporary as I have a plate on retention, but didn't want any chance of holding up getting my new Z so went with XOG as the only one offered that caught my eye.
The E85 in the back of the shot is my previous 3.0 si Z4 - it's on an 08 plate - Registered April 2008 46,994 miles.
Sorry if I have missed any posts that I should have replied to - off to ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ land :wink:
Andrew*Debbie said:
I put my cover on hold as handed my previous Z4 over at the end of Jan to beat another drop in value! But excellent point about getting a quote from Saga - many thanks
JDM said:Looking fantastic NormStrm
Happy driving
God I want my car to arrive NOW!!!
I'll try and get some interior shots up later today.
AY12 XOG is temporary as I have a plate on retention, but didn't want any chance of holding up getting my new Z so went with XOG as the only one offered that caught my eye.
Bing said:NormStrm, congrats - looks lovely, your grin says it all
Off topic, but that e85 for £13,995 in the back of the shot... Did you notice what plate it was ? Curious cos the ragtops are back on the forecourt, but that looks reasonably pricey unless it's a late model...
The E85 in the back of the shot is my previous 3.0 si Z4 - it's on an 08 plate - Registered April 2008 46,994 miles.
Correct, I live in Diss.navid.v said:congrtulations Normstorm
Sorry if I have missed any posts that I should have replied to - off to ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ land :wink: