Government Official Items and Postal Items


Policy overview

To prevent false identities, comply with the law, and help ensure public safety, we don’t allow government identification cards, such as driver’s licences and passports, as well as official articles such as postal-related items to be offered for sale on Buy N Sell LOCAL.

There are a few products, though, that can be sold on Buy N Sell LOCAL. See our guidelines below for more details.

Please also visit our police-related items policy for rules relating to law enforcement items.

Make sure your listing follows our guidelines. If it doesn’t, it may be removed, and your buying and selling privileges could be restricted.

What are the guidelines?

Documents, IDs and licences

Allowed

  • Pre-1900 government documents such as birth certificates and marriage licences.

  • Collectable vehicle licence plates that are retired or no longer valid for use on a vehicle.

Restricted

  • Novelty drivers licences or ID’s that are clearly fake such as cartoon novelty ID cards that don’t resemble the current template.

  • Cherished number licence plates, when sold in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Not allowed

Examples include, but are not limited to:

Personal ID’s or documents:

  • Birth certificates or a completed application for a birth certificate

  • Driver’s licences or a completed application for a driver’s licence

  • National Insurance numbers or a completed application for a National Insurance number

  • Passports or a completed application for a passport

  • Fake ID’s such as licences or passports

  • Fake certificates or diplomas

  • Childminder badges

Government ID’s or documents:

  • Immigration or work permission papers

  • Classified or restricted government documents

  • Documents that are designed to look like official documents but are actually fake

Transit and vehicle items, ID’s or documents:

  • Government vehicle licence plates

  • Design plans of commercial airlines or plane engines

  • Internal, not-for-public documents, manuals, and other materials from companies that provide public transportation, including airlines, buses, ferries, underground, and trains

  • Car dealership stamps, blank service log books that contain stamps, and completed service log books (without the vehicle)

  • Current vehicle licence plates and plates that look like current licence plates (see exception above for cherished number plates)

  • Current blank Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plates, and stamped VIN or TAG plates that have been removed from the vehicle

  • VIN plate rivets

  • V5, logbook or similar vehicle registration documents unless they are being listed with the vehicle (in compliance with DVLA requirements)

  • Blueprints or schematics of airports, underground, or bus, tram, ferry and train stations

Uniforms
See also our police-related items policy.

Allowed

  • Fancy dress costumes designed to look like mail carriers

  • Promotional merchandise bearing the logo of a delivery company like Royal Mail, An Post, Parcel Force, Federal Express (FedEx), DHL, or United Parcel Service (UPS)

Restricted

  • Most vintage transit or delivery/courier company uniforms and accessories like bags, hats, and ties can be listed, as long as the seller meets all of the following conditions:

    • The item is 10 years old or older. Seller must state age of the item in the title of the listing

    • It’s no longer used by any transportation company

    • It doesn’t look like current uniforms or accessories.

Not allowed

  • Current airline uniforms and related items, including but not limited to:

    • Flight attendant, pilot or other flight crew uniforms

    • Baggage attendant, gate agent and other ground crew uniforms

    • Uniform components like badges, wings and other accessories

  • Current public transportation uniforms and accessories like hats, pins, scarves, and ties. This covers items from any company that provides public transportation, including buses, ferries, underground, and trains

  • Royal Mail or any Postal uniforms, including badges

  • Delivery or courier company uniforms, including those from ParcelForce, DHL, Federal Express (FedEx), and United Parcel Service (UPS)

  • Airport security personnel uniforms, and accessories like badges (see also our police-related items policy)

Other items and devices

Allowed

Novelty transit items like maps, posters, tokens, and other items that are generally available to the public.

Not allowed

  • Keys, tools, or anything that can control transit vehicles (regardless of how old the item is). Examples include railway switch keys or switch lock keys.

  • Keys issued as part of the National Key Scheme

  • Royal Mail and any Post mailbags, mail bins, and delivery vehicles

  • Delivery or courier company decals, logos, or delivery vehicles like those from ParcelForce, Federal Express (FedEx), DHL, or United Parcel Service (UPS)

  • Information on how to obtain or make fake ID’s

  • Items that are used to create or modify ID’s, government documents, licences, or plates

Why does Buy N Sell LOCAL have this policy?

To comply with all laws and regulations, the sale of government documents, ID’s, and licenses is prohibited on Buy N Sell LOCAL. Please understand that our rules are also intended to help prevent false identities and ensure public safety.