Removing Private Car Registration

webrits

I'm considering buying a 'new' used car that currently has a private registration on it that will not be included in the sale.
What is the procedure and cost for having this removed and a regular year specific registration issued to the car by the DVLA??

Also, does the (private) seller have to do this prior to me buying the vehicle or is it something I must take care of after purchase??

Thanks......

Ian_W

AFAIK, and it's a few years since I did it, the seller has to transfer the number prior to the sale of the car to you - otherwise you own the number as well as the car!
It used to be the case that it had to be transferred to another road worthy vehicle but I think I'm right in saying it can now be held "in limbo" on what I think is called a suspense certificate for a certain period before being registered to another vehicle. The transfer cost was £80 but may be more now but the seller should pay this as they want to keep their number and have to sell the car to you with a valid registration. They may ask you to pay for or arrange new plates - usually the original reg of the vehicle is used if at all possible but I think I'd baulk at that myself.
Might not be the case now or where you are but there was a 3 day backlog at the local vehicle licensing office when I last did it.

GirlRacer_2

Yeah your right Ian. If the seller doesn't have another car to put the number plate on he can hold it on a retention certificate for up to 12 months (I think). Transfer costs still £80.

fatboyonadiet

And it can take a while for them to send out the new log book (V5) so best got onto it soon, can take a few weeks all in all from experience, going to the nearest office rather then posting can speed things up a little.

silvercar

They may ask you to pay for or arrange new plates - usually the original reg of the vehicle is used if at all possible but I think I'd baulk at that myself.

The seller may have kept the old plates, knowing they would be needed when the car came to be sold. I did but then I'm on these boards!

arnie&caseysma!

My OH bought a car off a local businessman who hadn't changed the plate back and being the nice person that he is he asked the guy on a couple of occasions for the money to change it if he was wanting to keep the plate. He is still waiting on the £80. OH has now sold the car with the plate on it to someone 100 miles away - guess who aint getting his plate now!!!

jennifernil

A related question..............

Our neighbour had a personalised plate and the car was stolen from her driveway 2 months ago. Not found as yet. Is there anything she can do about getting her plate back to use on her new car which she hopes to have soon?

fatboyonadiet

jennifernil wrote:

A related question..............

Our neighbour had a personalised plate and the car was stolen from her driveway 2 months ago. Not found as yet. Is there anything she can do about getting her plate back to use on her new car which she hopes to have soon?

Contact DVLA, you need to put it in writing to them, should be sorted fine but she'll have to pay a admin fee

webrits

Thanks for all the help !

oldbuffer

I think you may have to be a little wary here, it could take weeks for the new V5 to arrive from Swansea, in that time you will have parted with your cash and the seller has long gone.
I would make sure the V5, with the new registration is in hand first. Or go somewhere else.

david29dpo

its up to the seller to take the plate off. it may get the old plate back, or another age related plate. he will not get the V5 back till about 3 weeks. do NOT buy the car until then.