Trade plates price and rules: dealer plates across Europe
Trade plates price and rules: UK trade licences from £97.35, German red 06 plates, Dutch dealer plates, permitted uses, insurance and driving abroad.
· 7 min read
The trade plates price in the UK is £177 for a 12-month trade licence or £97.35 for six months in 2026, and only motor traders, dealers and vehicle testers can get them. Germany has its red 06 dealer plates and the Netherlands its dealer registration. All of them let a business drive unregistered stock for set purposes, but none is a general licence to move cars across borders.
What are trade plates?
Trade plates, also called dealer plates, are number plates issued to a motor business rather than to a single vehicle. They let the business drive vehicles that are not registered or taxed, for specific purposes such as test drives, delivery, moving cars between sites or taking them to an inspection. The plates move from car to car; the obligations stay with the business.
Every country runs its own system, and the rules on cost, purpose and records differ more than most dealers expect.
Trade plates price in the UK and who can get them
In the UK, trade plates come with a trade licence from DVLA. According to GOV.UK, you can apply if you are a motor dealer, motor trader or vehicle tester, meaning your business sells, manufactures or repairs vehicles or tests other people's vehicles on public roads. Businesses that only collect and deliver vehicles are also eligible.
Licence fees by month
All UK trade licences expire on 30 June or 31 December, and a licence runs for between six and twelve months depending on when you apply. The 2026 duty rates for vehicles are:
| Month you apply | Expires | Validity | Duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| January (12-month licence) | December | 12 months | £177 |
| January (6-month licence) or July | June or December | 6 months | £97.35 |
| February or August | December or June | 11 months | £177 |
| March or September | December or June | 10 months | £162.25 |
| April or October | December or June | 9 months | £146 |
| May or November | December or June | 8 months | £129.80 |
| June or December | December or June | 7 months | £113.55 |
Renewals are for six or twelve months. Replacement plates cost £13.50 for a vehicle set and £18 for a vehicle set plus a motorcycle set.
How to apply
You apply on form VTL301 with a copy of your motor trade insurance certificate; the name must match the application. DVLA says you should receive the confirmation letter and plates within four weeks. Each extra set of plates needs its own licence.
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Request accessWhat UK trade plates allow, and what they do not
UK trade plates may only be used on vehicles that are roadworthy, insured, and have a valid MOT or are exempt from needing one. That answers a common question: trade plates do not cover a car with no MOT, unless the car is exempt.
Other rules from GOV.UK:
- Purpose: you may only use the plates for the purposes stated on your application, for example customer test drives. The full list of permitted purposes is in the guidance notes to the form.
- Display: front and back on cars, readable from 20 metres, on the outside of the vehicle and not covering the existing plates.
- Who can drive: employees and customers, within the permitted purposes.
Can anybody use trade plates?
No. Only a business that qualifies as a motor trader, dealer or vehicle tester can hold them, and only for the purposes on its licence. Private use, lending them out or using them on a car you are buying for yourself is not allowed.
How much do trade plate drivers get paid?
Trade plate drivers are delivery drivers who move vehicles for dealers, leasing companies and logistics firms, often self-employed and paid per job or per mile. Pay depends on the region and the employer, so check current job listings rather than relying on a figure.
What are German red dealer plates?
German red dealer plates are red-lettered plates with numbers starting with 06, issued under § 41 of the Vehicle Registration Ordinance (FZV). The registration authority can issue them to vehicle manufacturers, dealers, parts manufacturers and workshops.
They are not tied to a specific car and are used repeatedly for test drives, inspection runs and transfer journeys. The duties are stricter than for short-term plates:
- Vehicle log booklet (Fahrzeugscheinheft): a separate page for each vehicle driven on the plate.
- Journey records: the business must record which car was driven, when and by whom.
- Permitted purposes only: no private driving.
Fees and the annual insurance are set by the local authority and the insurer. The alternative is the five-day short-term plate (Kurzzeitkennzeichen), with a €13.10 authority fee plus plates and insurance. A dealer who moves unregistered cars regularly usually finds the red plate cheaper and quicker over a year. Our article on the car dealer licence in Germany covers the business registration side.
Dutch dealer plates
The Netherlands issues a dealer registration (handelaarskenteken) to businesses with the relevant RDW recognition. It lets the business use unregistered stock on public roads for business purposes such as test drives and transfers, with the business responsible for insurance and the car's roadworthiness. Check the RDW's current conditions for recognition, because they depend on the type of business.
Other countries have similar schemes, including Belgian professional plates and Slovak and Czech special registration plates for dealers. The principle is the same: a business licence, limited purposes, strict records.
Can trade plates be used to drive a car abroad?
Generally not. Trade and dealer plates are national permissions, and their purposes and insurance are usually defined for the issuing country. A foreign police officer may not recognise them as a valid registration, and your insurer may not cover the trip.
For cross-border moves, use one of these instead:
- Export or transit plates from the country where the car is, such as German export plates or the Dutch 14-day transit plate; see export plates in Europe.
- A car transporter, where the car needs no registration at all.
- Your own country's temporary plates, where national law allows them for collecting a car abroad; check that transit countries accept them.
Which insurance covers cars driven on trade plates?
Motor trade insurance covers cars driven on trade plates. In the UK it is a condition of the licence: DVLA wants a copy of the motor trade insurance certificate with the application. In Germany, the red plate comes with its own insurance policy, which the authority checks before issuing.
Check three points in the policy:
- Purposes match those on your licence.
- Drivers: employees, customers on test drives, and any age limits.
- Territory: usually the issuing country only.
Our guide to motor trade insurance explains the types of cover. Trade plates are a running cost like any other; include them in the cost per car so that your margin calculation stays honest. MyCarDealer calculates the net margin per car after costs, and you can try it with the free valuation.
Frequently asked questions
What do trade plates cost and who can get them?
In the UK, a 12-month trade licence costs £177 and a six-month licence £97.35 in 2026, with pro-rata rates for licences started mid-term. Only motor dealers, motor traders, vehicle testers and qualifying delivery businesses can apply, with motor trade insurance.
Do trade plates cover no MOT?
No. UK trade plates can only be used on vehicles that are roadworthy, insured and have a valid MOT or are exempt from needing one.
Can anybody use trade plates?
No. They are issued to qualifying motor businesses, and only for the purposes stated on the licence, such as test drives or deliveries. Private use is not permitted.
What are German red dealer plates?
They are red 06 plates issued under § 41 FZV to vehicle manufacturers, dealers, parts makers and workshops. They can be used on different unregistered vehicles for test, inspection and transfer drives, with a vehicle log booklet and journey records.
Can trade plates be used to drive a car abroad?
Generally not, because they are national permissions and the insurance usually covers only the issuing country. For cross-border moves, use export or transit plates or a car transporter.