How to Reserve a Registration Number
Registration numbers are assigned in sequence at the time of registration. However, the Finance Act 1992, provides a facility for vehicle owners to choose and reserve a particular registration number in advance of registration. This information leaflet contains a general outline of the relevant conditions and procedures involved in reserving a chosen number.
Conditions
- An application may only be made on or after 1st November in the year before it is intended to first bring the vehicle into use.
- The number chosen must be one in the normal format and must correspond with the place (licensing authority area) where the applicant normally resides and the year in which the vehicle is to be brought into use, e.g. 12-D-2 may only be reserved by an applicant living in Dublin intending to be first brought into use in the year 2012.
- The registered owner must be the person in whose name the number was reserved. Reserved numbers are not transferable.
- All registration numbers are available for reservation with the exception of the first number of each year issued in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Waterford e.g. 12-C-1, 12-D-1, 12-L-1, and 12-W-1, which are traditionally reserved for the Mayor/Lord Mayor of those cities and are not available for reservation by anyone else.
- A reserved registration number can only be assigned to a vehicle when it has been reached in the normal sequence. It may not be displayed on a vehicle before it has been formally assigned by Revenue following the presentation and acceptance of a completed declaration for registration.
- Under normal circumstances the fee paid shall not be refunded where a reserved number is cancelled.
Reservation Fee
The fee payable for a reserved number is €1,000. The fee, in the event that the reservation is no longer required, will not be refunded in the normal course.
Application Procedures
Applications should be made on 
Form VRT15A - Application to Reserve A Registration Number (PDF, 39KB) - one form per registration number - and sent to the Central Vehicle Office (See address below) . The fee should be enclosed with the application. Cheques etc. should be made payable to the "Collector, Customs & Excise".
- Processing of applications will commence on receipt of first post on the fourth working day of November. This is to allow time for postal applications to be received.
- No priority will be given to applications received before then.
- Successful applicants will be advised by post (fax if requested) on Form VRT15N. This form must be presented when the vehicle is being registered.
- Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by the Central Vehicle Office and the fee refunded.
Warning
A reserved number may not be displayed by law on a vehicle until the vehicle has actually been registered. It is illegal to display a registration number other than in one of the formats shown below.
Enquiries/Address
All enquiries concerning availability of registration numbers, and applications should be sent to:
The Office of the Revenue Commissioners,
Registration Section,
Central Vehicle Office,
Rosslare Harbour,
Co. Wexford.
Telephone: 053-9161200.
October 2011
