Selling car privately - Easiest way to keep / transfer old Registration Number?

Korkyb

Hi all

I'm just about to sell my car and buy another, both sale and purchase are private and not through a dealer.

This has been a bit last minute & only knew that this would happen yesterday. The handover of cars is likely to happen next week although nothing set in stone.

I want to keep the registration number from my "old" car and transfer it to the "new" (to me) car.

I've been having a look at the DVLA form V317 and am unsure about the best / most cost effective way to go about things.

- Should I retain the plates then transfer when I get the new car? (although this could delay the sale if I have to wait for paperwork to come through before I can sell).

Should I come to an agreement with the buyer of my old car where once we have the transferred registration documentation from the DVLA & the transfer is complete then we transfer the plates (the buyer is local & trustworthy - the agreement would be in writing).

Never done this before so any advice appreciated.

Hintza

Have you bought the new car? If not I would just put the plate on retention. You don't really want to bu$$er around the buyer of your old car and if the plates are on it he might get attached to it and it could be just a pain.

Someone should be along soon who can give you an idea of time scales to change a plate if you have already bought the new car.

I think VED will also need sorted out.

Korkyb

No the new car hasnt been bought yet and my old one just has a deposit on it.

fivetide

It'll take a few weeks for the new docs and registration to come through you know.

If you sign over the V5 with the old plate on then chances are you've lost it unless you have a very understanding buyer.

5t.

Debt_Free_Chick

fivetide wrote: »

It'll take a few weeks for the new docs and registration to come through you know.

If you sign over the V5 with the old plate on then chances are you've lost it unless you have a very understanding buyer.

5t.

Absolutely. I bought a car privately last year and seller wanted to retain the plates. Took weeks for him to get new plates for the car before I could have it. No way your buyer can have the car next week, unless you just let the old plates go.

Happytohelp

You can apply to retain your registration at a DVLA Local Office. You will probably wait 7 - 10 days for a replacement V5C logbook. The cost is £105. The buyer can then drive away your old car with an age-related registration on it and you will receive a V778 retention document from DVLA.

When you buy your new car ask the seller to give you the complete V5C logbbok (not just the V5C/2 green slip). You can then go to your DVLA Local Office and assign your retained registration onto your new car, whilst notifying DVLA of the change of keeper at the same time. DVLA will issue the replacement tax disc over the counter and you can put the plates on your new car the same day.

The seller may be reluctant to give you the complete V5C, so offer him/her the opportunity to go with you to the DVLA office.

Reply to this thread or send me a PM if you have any other queries.

[Deleted User]

Nothing puts me off more than seeing a car for sale with private plates still on and the seller wanting to keep/transfer the plates at time of sale. Yawn. If you want to keep your plates, transfer them or put them on retention before putting the car up for sale.

notbritishgas

I have just Part Exchanged my car with a personal number and the timescale was.
The dealer posted the form to the licensing authority (not sure if it was to DVLA or the local one) on June 11th, rang me on June 18th to say paper work was back so could legally transfer the number.
Picked the new car up on June 22nd.
The old car's V5 was received by me (because I was still the owner as far as the DVLA knew) on June 25th.

Perhaps the easiest way for a private sale is to put the number on retention, I think it only costs £25 more, well before the sale.
One downside is that you would then have to inform your insurance company as the reg number would change, and most make a charge for that and then another charge when you get your new car, and then another one when you put your cherished number back on your new car.

Korkyb

Cheers all

I've stuck in the paperwork for retaining the plate for 1 year.

The buyer isnt in a hurry and happy to wait the couple or so weeks it will take. (I'm putting the car through its MOT as well for him).

I'll be giving him the car the day the paperwork comes through so should be able to avoid charges from my insurance company.

I'll certainly look at taking the complete V5C to the DVLA to swap there and then - sounds like the easiest way.

Thanks for all advice.