The January 2026 DVLA number plate auction will be held as a DVLA timed online auction from 14th January to 20th January 2026, listing approximately 2,000 lots of private number plates for bidding. Participation requires online registration, and bidders can set maximum bids that automatically compete across the full bidding period using sliding end times. dvlaauction.co.uk
At Right Reg we track emerging patterns in the DVLA number plate auction market and identify registrations with strong potential to become the top sellers in January 2026.
Featured Registrations for January 2026 DVLA Auction
The following registrations are listed as featured lots for the upcoming auction — candidate plates that may attract high bidding activity.
- 15 LAM – A compact, memorable combination with potential appeal to luxury or personal branding buyers.
- 81 O – Simple and short, making it a strong candidate among dateless plates, which historically perform well across DVLA auctions.
- DEV 71L – Could appeal to regional or personalised initials buyers looking for recognisable sequences.
- A600 OOO – Visually symmetric with repeated “O” characters, often popular in private plate markets for aesthetic and collector value.
- OAS 11S – A combination blending a word-like prefix (“OAS”) with numbers, which can be desirable in name or theme categories.
- BOS 55H – A potentially brand or name-oriented registration, appealing to buyers seeking identity-driven plates.
- H111 SXY – A novelty pattern likely to draw attention in themed and character-rich categories.
- 816 BEN – Short numeric prefix with a common name suffix, attractive where personal identity value is strong.
- AAA 80Y – Repeated “A” characters often create rarity appeal, potentially increasing bidding interest.
- AMZ 7 – Minimal characters and a memorable structure, ideal for collectors or private buyers seeking standout plates.
Why These Plates Could Be Top Sellers
- Short and Rare Formats: Registrations with fewer characters and symmetrical or repetitive elements (e.g., 81 O, AAA 80Y) consistently perform well in DVLA number plate auctions, capturing both aesthetic value and collector demand.
- Name and Identity Appeal: Combinations that resemble names or meaningful abbreviations (e.g., 816 BEN, BOS 55H) can attract private buyers looking for plates that echo personal identifiers.
- Brand-like Elements: Prefixes suggestive of brands or phrases (e.g., OAS 11S, DEV 71L) often draw attention from bidders with specific branding or thematic interests.
- Novelty and Pattern Recognition: Novelty patterns such as H111 SXY may perform well in themed or fun categories where personality and uniqueness drive bidding intensity.
- Symmetry and Visual Flow: Plates like A600 OOO combine symmetry and repetition — two characteristics valued in private plate auctions for visual appeal and potential resale interest.
What to Expect in January 2026
The January 2026 DVLA number plate auction is expected to offer broad interest across price tiers, from entry-level combinations to high-bid private number plates. Participants typically include:
- Individual buyers seeking personal or memorable registrations
- Collectors targeting rare or short-format plates
- Investors anticipating future value appreciation
The DVLA timed online auction structure allows bids to update automatically through the auction period, and a sliding end mechanism ensures competitive bidding until the lot closes.
Private Number Plates: Market Context
In recent DVLA auctions, private number plates with short character sequences and strong aesthetic features have dominated top sale results. For example, previous auctions saw dateless and short plates attracting substantial interest and high hammer prices. These trends reinforce the importance of plate simplicity, symmetry, and personal meaning as key demand drivers in DVLA number plate auctions.
The January 2026 event continues this evolution, offering bidders the chance to secure high-quality private plates early in the year.