The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has restated that DV (trade/dealer) number plates are strictly for limited purposes and not for everyday driving on public roads.
In a public clarification on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the DVLA emphasized that DV plates are issued only to licensed car dealers and vehicle manufacturers for specific short-term activities.
Director of Communication Stephen Attuh, speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, explained the correct usage:
DV plates are allowed temporarily when a vehicle is being moved for repairs, defect rectification, or test drives before final sale.
Once a vehicle is sold and leaves the dealer’s facility, it must be fully registered with standard number plates before it can be driven legally on public roads.
“You are not required to have a DV plate on your vehicle so long as it is not for purposes of fixing a defect on it or test driving. Once the vehicle is sold to you and you are off the dealer’s facility, you are required by law to register the vehicle to be duly identified before it can be on our roads,” he stated.
Mr Attuh blamed some car dealers for widespread misuse, accusing them of allowing customers to continue using DV plates long after purchase — a clear violation of the law.
He referred to Regulation 23 of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180, which clearly defines the conditions for trade licences and strictly limits DV plate usage.
“The dealers have allowed for the misuse of DV plates. Regulation 23 of LI 2180 clearly spells out what a trade licence is and how a person can acquire one. The DV plate has many limitations, and its use for ordinary driving is not permitted.”
The DVLA warned that continued misuse of DV plates is illegal and will attract enforcement action.
