Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trade licence plates have been approved by the DVLA; and how many are currently in use.

The trade licensing scheme allows motor traders to use vehicles that are temporarily in their possession without the need to register and license each vehicle. A trade plate must be displayed on the vehicle, and each trade plate must be supported by a valid trade licence.

Between January and November 2017, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency approved 11,051 new applications for trade licences and trade plates. During the same period, 54,483 trade licences were renewed for use with existing trade plates.