How to Retain a Private Number Plate – Step-by-Step Process
If you have a personalised number plate and intend to sell your vehicle, you may be asking how to retain my private plate. Fortunately, you can remove and retain your number plate so you can use it on another car later. This step-by-step guide will show you how to take a private plate off a car, as well as explain the requirements for transferring it to a new vehicle or storing it for later use. We'll also go over what to do if your car is written off and what may cause your application to be denied.
Can I Keep My Private Number Plate When Selling My Car?
Yes, you can usually sell your car while keeping your private number plate. To do so, you need to apply to the DVLA to take a private plate off your car. If your application is approved, you will obtain a V778 retention document, allowing you to transfer the plate to another vehicle within the next ten years. You'll also receive a new V5C logbook with your car's updated registration.
When the private plate is removed, your car usually receives its original registration number.
Can I Transfer a Retained Number Plate to Any Car?
No, you cannot transfer all types of private number plates to any vehicle. Year-specific plates, such as those from 2023 ('23 plates), cannot be transferred to an older vehicle since they could appear newer than they are. If you have a plate that is not associated with a specific year, you can transfer it to any vehicle. However, if your plate contains a "Q" or "QNI" prefix, it can't be transferred either because these are for vehicles with uncertain ages. Furthermore, the DVLA has specific requirements about how number plates should look, and if your plate does not meet these standards, you will be unable to use it at all.
What Are the Requirements for Retaining a Number Plate?
Several conditions must be completed to retain a private number plate. First, your car must be registered with the DVLA and capable of moving under its own power. It should also be a vehicle that requires a MOT or HGV certificate. The DVLA may inspect your vehicle; thus, it must be available for inspection if necessary.
Your car should have been taxed or reported SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) within the last five years. If your car has been off the road for longer than that, it must be taxed, and a valid MOT must be obtained before your retention request can be approved.
To confirm the status of your vehicle’s tax or MOT, you can easily conduct a Car Tax Check and Car Reg Check online. Additionally, you can use a Number plate checker to verify the details of your private registration.
How to Apply for Number Plate Retention Online?
Retaining your number plate online is a straightforward and quick process. Here is what you should do:
- Check your V5C: Make sure your name is on the vehicle's V5C document.
- Visit the DVLA website: Go to the DVLA's "Take a private number off a vehicle" page.
- Enter Your Information: Type in the registration number you want to remove and your postcode.
- Confirm your details: Choose "Yes, I am" to confirm that you are the registered keeper.
- Pay the Fee: Pay the £80 fee to put a private plate on retention.
- Wait for Documents: You will receive your V778 retention document and a new V5C logbook with the updated registration number.
After your application is approved, the procedure typically takes 4-6 weeks to complete.
How to Retain A Plate by Post?
- Download the Form V317: You can find this form on the DVLA's website.
- Section 1: Fill out your vehicle information, which can be found in your V5C logbook.
- Fill out Section 2: Check the relevant box based on your vehicle's situation.
- Complete Section 3: Enter your information as well as the information of everyone else involved.
- Area 4: Complete this section if you are transferring ownership of the registration number or using a dealer.
- Submit Documents: Include the £80 charge (payable to DVLA Swansea), the completed V317 form, and your V5C logbook.
- Send to the DVLA: Send everything to the address specified on the V317 form.
After your application is approved, you should receive your revised V5C and V778 retention documents within roughly two weeks.
How Much Does It Cost to Retain a Private Number Plate?
The cost of retaining private plate is £80. This price entitles you to maintain your unique plate for future usage, making it a good investment if you want to use it on your next vehicle.
What Is a V778 Retention Document?
If you successfully keep a number plate, you will be awarded a V778 retention document. It acts as confirmation that the plate was taken from your vehicle. Once you have the V778, you can sell or scrap your vehicle without the plate, knowing that you can use it on another vehicle later.
What Happens If My Retention Certificate Expires?
If you do not renew your retention certificate (V778) before it expires, you will permanently lose the right to use your private number plate. The DVLA will not allow you to reapply for retention, and your plate will no longer be valid for future usage. Make sure you renew it before it expires!
What Is the Difference Between a V750 and a V778?
A V750 and a V778 are both DVLA certificates that show your authority to use a registration number, although they serve different purposes. A V750 is issued for new registrations that have yet to be assigned to a vehicle. A V778 is issued when the registration number has been used on a vehicle at least once and is now being held for future use.
What If My V5C Logbook Is Missing?
If your V5C logbook is missing, you cannot apply for number plate retention until you get it. To obtain a replacement, apply online at the DVLA website. If you need to amend any information in the logbook, you must fill out and mail a V62 form to the DVLA.
Replacing your logbook costs £25 and can be paid online or by post. After your application is processed, you should receive your replacement logbook within two weeks. If it doesn't come within four weeks, you should call the DVLA to check on its status.
FAQs About Retain A Private Plate
How Do I Take My Private Plate Off Before Selling My Car?
If you wish to remove your private number plate before selling your car, you must retain it first. If you don't, the plate will automatically transfer to the new owner when you sell your car.
To avoid this, complete the DVLA's step-by-step number plate retention process before selling. If your application is approved, you will receive a new V5C logbook with your car's original registration number, which you must use when selling the vehicle.
You will also receive a V778 retention document, allowing you to continue using your private number plate. Once you've finished the process, you can sell your car while keeping your private plate.
Can I Pass My Private Number Plate to Someone Else?
You cannot directly update the name of the person who owns a retention document.
To transfer your private number plate to someone else, first allocate the plate to a vehicle. Once the plate has been assigned, you can re-register it on a new certificate with the new owner's information. This method permits ownership to be officially transferred.
My Car Has Been Scrapped – Can I Still Retain My Number Plate?
If your car has been scrapped, you can no longer retain the number plate. Only the registered keeper of the vehicle can move or keep the number plate. Once the car is scrapped or sold, the right to the plate is forfeited.
My Car Was Stolen – Can I Still Keep My Private Number Plate?
Yes, you can keep your private number plate even if your car is stolen. However, you must wait six months after the theft or until the car is found. The DVLA does not send reminders, so make a note of the six-month window and keep track of it yourself.
Can I Put My Private Registration Plate on a Financed Car?
If your car is financed and you are the registered keeper, you can use your own number plate. However, you must apply to the DVLA to make the change. If you do not intend to keep the car at the end of the finance agreement, you must remove the private plate before the agreement expires and reinstall the original plates.
Can I Put My Private Registration Plate on a Leased Car?
Yes, you can use your private registration plate on a leased vehicle. After you've got your car, contact the lease company and let them know you wish to transfer your private plate. You will need to name them as the plate nominee.
Once this is completed, the plate can be transferred to your leased vehicle. Be advised that there may be an administrative fee for this service; the lease firm will provide information on any costs associated.
Do I Need to Apply for Number Plate Retention If I've Moved Address?
If you have moved to a new address and own a private number plate, you must notify the DVLA.
If you want to change the address on your V750 document, do it online. However, to make changes to your V778 document, you must update your address by mail. Simply complete the 'Change of Address' form and mail it to the DVLA in Swansea.
If you've changed your name, you must provide proof (such as a marriage certificate or deed poll) and submit it with the form.
What Happens After You Apply for Number Plate Retention?
Once your number plate retention application has been approved, the DVLA will give you a new V5C logbook. This normally comes within two weeks. It will show your vehicle's updated registration number, which is typically the one it had before the private plate was added.
If the DVLA needs to check your car, they will call you to schedule a time.
You'll also get a green V778 retention certificate within 4 to 6 weeks. This document proves that your private number plate has been officially taken from your vehicle and is currently on hold.
You can use your V778 to transfer the private plate to another vehicle when you're ready, whether it's one you already own or one you purchase later.
How Long Can You Keep a Retained Number Plate?
You can have a retained private number plate for up to ten years. During this time, it remains registered in your name but is not associated with any car.
Before the ten-year period expires, you must renew the retention or assign the plate to a vehicle. If you do not complete either step, the plate will no longer be valid for use or retention.
Can I Sell My Car While Waiting for a Number Plate Transfer?
No, you should not sell your car if you want to keep your private number plate and the transfer hasn't been completed yet. If you sell your car before the plate is formally removed, the new owner will also receive the plate. To retain it, make sure that the transfer is complete and that you have the V778 document before selling.
Can I Sell My Car After Removing My Private Plate?
Yes, you can sell your car after the private number plate is removed. After the plate is removed, the DVLA normally restores the car's original registration number. You can then sell the car privately, to a dealer, or through a car-buying agency with no hassle.
Can My Application for a V778 Retention Certificate Be Denied?
Yes, the DVLA can decline your application for a V778 retention certificate.
This might happen if you provided incorrect information, did not include your V5C logbook when applying by letter, or failed to pay the £80 charge. You may also be refused if your private plate expired before you attempted to keep it or if your vehicle was written off and you did not claim the plate from your insurer before it was scrapped.
