Private numberplates

pinkpig08

Hi,

We recently bought a set of private numberplates for my dad for his birthday. However, he's not sure what happens to the ones he'll be taking off his car. He's under the impression he will have to pay a retaining fee of £155 for 3 years in case he wants to put them back on, and that if he wants to put them back on after 3 years (or if he doesnt want to pay the retaining fee), then the DVLA will generate a new set of plates for his car.

Is this correct? I just assumed you took them off, changed details with the DVLA, then put them back on when you wanted to or sold the car - obviously informing the DVLA again.

Thanks for any advice

flashg67

AFAIK, unless he pays to retain his old plates, they will go back into the DVLA 'pool' as available again, so you're right that he will be re-issiued an age-related plate if/when he takes his personal plate off. This is probably the best (cheapest) way unless he is particularly attached to his old plate for some reason!

Kilty_2

The original plate goes back into the pool as said, and 99 times out of 100 is re-issued to the car again.

sysiphus

My wife has transferred her personal plate 6 times and each time the 'old' car has been issued with its previous registration number.

Ultimately what difference does it make what number is issued to 'old' car, as long as you keep your cherished number.

You pay £80 to put your cherished plate on retention and then transfer it to the new car.

Most main dealers will handle all this for you.

I think if you do not transfer it within a year, you have to pay another £80.

Happytohelp

Your dad doesn't need to worry about taking off his existing registration plates. As already pointed out, when he assigns his new private number plates, the old registration stays in the DVLA system.

The old registration will not be issued to any other vehicle. Again, as already mentioned, it is highly likely it will be reunited with your dads car when the time comes that he wants to transfer his private number plates to a different car.

There are no fees to pay to DVLA in relation to the old registration.

The main reason to have your car reunited with the old registration is if the glass is etched with the registration mark. It is also useful for the service history, if you have bills/receipts showing the old registration number.

When the time comes to move the private plates there are two options. A direct transfer to another vehicle costs £80. To place the registration on retention costs £105. The retention certificate is valid for one year. You also have the option to pay £130 or £155 if you want the retenton to last for two or three years respectively.

Whichever option you choose, retention certificates can be extended annually and the fee is £25 per year pro rata. More information about DVLA number plate fees can be found here. There are no savings to be made by paying for two or three years upfront. You simply end up with a retention document that lasts longer.

You may want to bookmark this information about replacement registration numbers, or pass it on to your dad, as it may come in handy in the future.

harveybobbles

"Happy Birthday Dad, hope you like your present that you will have to pay £80 for everey time you buy a car..."

*slap*

ukmike

"Happy Birthday Dad, hope you like your present that you will have to pay £80 for everey time you buy a car..."

If he was that hard up,he could just leave the plate on his old car,then it'll cost him nothing.

Flyboy152

pinkpig08 wrote: »

Hi,

We recently bought a set of private numberplates for my dad for his birthday. However, he's not sure what happens to the ones he'll be taking off his car. He's under the impression he will have to pay a retaining fee of £155 for 3 years in case he wants to put them back on, and that if he wants to put them back on after 3 years (or if he doesnt want to pay the retaining fee), then the DVLA will generate a new set of plates for his car.

Is this correct? I just assumed you took them off, changed details with the DVLA, then put them back on when you wanted to or sold the car - obviously informing the DVLA again.

Thanks for any advice

The original mark is retained by the DVLA and re-assigned to the car if, or when, the cherished mark is removed.

Flyboy152

ukmike wrote: »

If he was that hard up,he could just leave the plate on his old car,then it'll cost him nothing.

Or just work it into the deal, when buying a new car.

Outpost

Can't say I've ever understood the appeal of these things myself.

bigjl

Everybody I know that had private plates never got the old reg number bacl when they reregistered it.

I don't think they reissue the number though as that would cause problems with manufacturers supplying spares that are supplied using the VIN or original Reg No.

I think it would also cause all kinds of problems with HPi and the information held by finance companies.