No, trade plates do not cover insurance; they cover vehicle tax, but you still need a specific Motor Trade Insurance policy that includes coverage for trade plate usage to drive legally, as the plates only exempt you from registration and road tax, not insurance requirements. This specialized insurance covers risks associated with driving vehicles for business purposes (like sales, deliveries, or tests) that aren't yours, and your trade plate number must be linked to this policy on the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
Trade plates allow you to circumvent an otherwise lengthy process of registering and taxing every single vehicle which is in your temporary possession. It is important to note that you need trade plate insurance before you can legally drive a car with trade plates on public roads.
Trade plates are special registration plates issued to motor traders and vehicle testers, allowing them to legally drive unregistered vehicles on public roads.
Although giving an exact premium with no details is almost impossible, we can tell you our road risk policies start from: Third Party £318* What does this cover. Third Party Fire and Theft £382* What does this cover. Fully Comprehensive £477* What does this cover.
It is possible to drive an uninsured car on a motor trader's insurance policy, however that car would then be considered insured. Therefore the answer to whether you can at any time drive a car or other mode of transportation that is classed as uninsured just because you have a trader's policy would be incorrect.
Can you use trade plates on an unregistered vehicle?
Trade plates are temporary registration plates issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). They allow motor traders and vehicle testers temporary vehicle movement to drive untaxed and unregistered vehicles on public roads strictly for business purposes.
While these innovations improve vehicle performance and safety, they also make repairs more time consuming and expensive. As a result, insurers are paying more per claim — contributing to higher premiums for traders.
All trade licences expire on either 30 June or 31 December. You cannot get a licence for less than 6 months or more than 12 months at a time (from the month you apply). This means, when you apply for your first licence, it will last for between 6 and 12 months, depending on when you apply.
If you're a motor trader, trade plates can save you time and money. These plates are placed over a vehicle's original registration when it's out on the road for a test drive or inspection. By removing the need to tax each vehicle individually, you can legally drive any vehicle in your possession.
Travelling between deliveries and collections will require utilising a mix of public transport, plating and lifts with other drivers. In general you will take a vehicle home most nights, where you will need a secure off road parking space such as a driveway to store, before delivering early the following morning.
The law says that you must normally have at least third party motor insurance if you drive or own a vehicle. You must also have insurance if you leave it parked on the street, on your driveway or in your garage. The police can check on the spot if your vehicle is insured using the Motor Insurance Database.
There is no law that requires your business to have public liability insurance. However, some large organisations require you to have it, and will not do business with you unless you are insured.
For example, the total cost of all claims made during the last year, more expensive repair costs or severe weather could have made your price go up. There are also external factors that might mean your insurance costs more or less, including changes to regulations and inflation.
You can use trade plates at night, but they must be clearly visible. This means ensuring the trade plates on the front and back of your vehicle are well-lit so they can be easily read in low-light conditions.
If you display trade licence plates on any vehicle, your employees and customers can drive the vehicle for certain purposes without having to pay to register and tax it.
Does a car need insurance if it's going on trade plates?
No, trade plates do not cover insurance requirements. Whilst using trade plates makes things much more efficient for motor traders in terms of registration and tax, you will still need specialist Trade Plate Insurance to protect vehicles in your care.