A pre-order VIP mobile number is a UK mobile number that has been allocated on a mobile network but has not yet been activated to a SIM card. You pay a 10% deposit to secure it, VIP Numbers applies to activate it with the network, and the number normally takes around 2 weeks to become ready. The pre-order collection at VIP Numbers held 15,137 numbers as of September 2026, with prices from £350 to £7,500.
A pre-order mobile number is a UK 07 mobile number that has been allocated on a mobile network but not yet activated onto a SIM card. Because it has not been activated, it cannot be transferred immediately — it requires an activation step before a PAC code can be issued.
This is different from an available number. Numbers in the available numbers collection are already on a SIM card and ready to transfer. When you buy an available number, VIP Numbers issues a PAC code the same day (9am–9pm, seven days a week) and the transfer completes by 6pm the following working day.
With a pre-order number, VIP Numbers first applies to the network to activate the number. Once activated, the PAC code is issued and the transfer proceeds in the same way as a standard available number.
For a broader introduction to how VIP numbers work, see our guide to what a VIP mobile number is.
| Available number | Pre-order number | |
|---|---|---|
| Already activated on a SIM? | Yes | No |
| PAC code timing | Same day (9am–9pm) | After activation — normally around 2 weeks |
| Payment structure | Full payment at purchase | 10% deposit, balance on activation |
| Deposit if customer cancels | N/A | Non-refundable |
| Deposit if network cannot provide the number | N/A | Refunded |
| Collection size (September 2026) | Varies | 15,137 numbers |
The key practical difference is timing and commitment. Available numbers can have a PAC code issued the same day (9am–9pm), with the transfer normally completing by 6pm on the following working day when the PAC is submitted before 5pm. Pre-order numbers normally take around 2 weeks before a PAC code can be issued — and the 10% deposit is non-refundable if you decide not to proceed after paying. Make sure you are certain of your choice before placing a pre-order.
There are four steps from enquiry to transfer:
Before paying anything, contact VIP Numbers via WhatsApp to confirm the number you want is still available. This step takes place before any payment is made.
Once availability is confirmed, you pay a 10% deposit to secure the number. Once the deposit is paid, the number is taken off the market and held exclusively for you while VIP Numbers applies to the network for activation. The deposit is non-refundable if you decide not to proceed.
VIP Numbers applies to the relevant UK network to activate the number onto a SIM card. This normally takes around 2 weeks, though it is not a guaranteed deadline. You will be contacted when the number is ready. If the network is unable to provide the number, the 10% deposit is refunded in full.
When the number is activated, you pay the remaining balance. VIP Numbers then issues your PAC code. Give the PAC code to your chosen network and the number transfers by 6pm the following working day, provided you submit it before 5pm.
For a full walkthrough of the PAC transfer process, see our guide to transferring your mobile number using a PAC code.
Pre-order numbers span the same pattern types as available numbers — repeating digits, sequential runs, mirror sequences and culturally significant combinations. Examples from the collection as of September 2026:
Prices in the pre-order collection ranged from £350 to £7,500 when checked in September 2026. Pricing varies between individual numbers and patterns.
For more on how VIP number patterns are priced, see our guide to getting a memorable mobile number.
Pre-order numbers from VIP Numbers are transferred via an official PAC code to UK mobile networks that accept PAC code transfers. Contact VIP Numbers via WhatsApp to confirm compatibility with your preferred network before placing a pre-order.
For more on how number porting works across UK networks, see our Number Porting UK guide.
A pre-order number is not an instantly available number. There is an activation step that normally takes around 2 weeks before a PAC code can be issued. If you need a number transferred quickly — for example for a business launch or a specific date — an available number is the more appropriate choice. Browse the available numbers collection for numbers that can have a PAC code issued the same day.
A pre-order number is not a SIM card and does not include a mobile tariff. The number is transferred to a SIM card via PAC code — it does not come with a contract or airtime plan.
The 10% deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel after paying. Once the deposit is paid, the number is held exclusively for you and removed from sale. If you are not certain about your choice, browse the available numbers collection first — those numbers can be purchased without a deposit and transferred more quickly.
Pre-order numbers normally take around 2 weeks to become ready after the deposit is paid. This is a typical timeframe rather than a guaranteed deadline. Once the number is activated, the balance payment and PAC transfer follow the same process as a standard available number.
No. You pay a 10% deposit to secure the number. The remaining balance is due when the number has been activated and is ready for transfer.
No. The 10% pre-order deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel after paying. Once the deposit is paid, the number is taken off the market and held exclusively for you. Please make sure you are committed before placing a pre-order.
If the mobile network is unable to activate the requested number, VIP Numbers will refund the 10% deposit in full. This is different from a customer choosing to cancel after placing a pre-order — in that case, the deposit is non-refundable.
An available number is already activated on a SIM card — a PAC code is issued the same day (9am–9pm) and the transfer completes by 6pm the following working day. A pre-order number needs to be activated first, which normally takes around 2 weeks, before a PAC code can be issued.
Pre-order numbers are transferred via an official PAC code to UK mobile networks that accept PAC code transfers. Contact VIP Numbers via WhatsApp before placing a pre-order to confirm compatibility with your preferred network.