Selling a Car Registration Number

WLM21

What are the rules regarding buying a new numberplate?

I recently bought a car, but the existing number isn't liked by my wife

It is W P11** K. (taking the p...)

I intend selling it and buying a new one, which starts K

My car is a June 2011 model, so would I be able to buy my chosen numberplate.

Thank you

System

You can purchase any registration available providing the registration is not newer than the car

E.G. You can't use a 2011 registration on a 2010 car

WLM21

So can I use a K5 *** number on my 2011 car ?

NeverEnough

Is the existing numberplate on your car the original one as issued by DVLA? Its just that you mention selling it - if its the original plate assigned to the car, you can't. You can buy a new cherished plate and have it assigned to the car if it doesn't make the car appear newer than it is, as per #2 above. The original plate remains with the DVLA- generally, it is re-assigned to the car when you apply to put your own plate on retention or transfer to a new car. You don't get to sell an originally assigned DVLA plate.

Your K5 plate should be fine.

mattyprice4004

WLM21 wrote: »

So can I use a K5 *** number on my 2011 car ?

Yes yes yes (to get over the 10 character minimum post size)

WLM21

NeverEnough wrote: »

Is the existing numberplate on your car the original one as issued by DVLA? Its just that you mention selling it - if its the original plate assigned to the car, you can't. You can buy a new cherished plate and have it assigned to the car if it doesn't make the car appear newer than it is, as per #2 above. The original plate remains with the DVLA- generally, it is re-assigned to the car when you apply to put your own plate on retention or transfer to a new car. You don't get to sell an originally assigned DVLA plate.

Your K5 plate should be fine.

So are you saying I can do nothing withe the registration number / plates which cam with the car?

I fancied a new number, but only if I could sell the originals for most, if not all the price for new ones.

Norman_Castle

You can offer your number for sale. When, or if, it sells, you can buy your chosen number. If you are selling because your wife does not like this number, if or when it sells you will be given a similar number as part of the transfer process which your wife may be happy with.

Lum

Is the original plate something anyone would actually want?

You state your wife doesn't like it. Is this because it's something everyone would dislike, e.g. ending in NOB, or just something that your wife dislikes but others may value (such as the old 666 plates).

There's basically three ways you can do this.

1) You can buy a new plate and put the original plate on retention which costs money, then when you have a buyer you can add them as a nominee, allowing them to use the plate, for an additional fee.

2) You can offer the plate for sale and keep it on the car, then when you have a confirmed buyer put it on retention with their name as the nominee, you only pay the original retention fee to do it this way.

3) Just put a new plate on your car without bothering to put the original on retention. The old plate will vanish into the system, and 9 times out of 10 when you take the plate off the car it will get it's original number back, unless someone bought it.

#3 is the cheapest option if the plate you have is not desirable.

NeverEnough

WLM21 wrote: »

So are you saying I can do nothing withe the registration number / plates which cam with the car?

I fancied a new number, but only if I could sell the originals for most, if not all the price for new ones.

I was under the impression that the original plates assigned to the car by the DVLA are not saleable (obviously mistakenly so) - but that you can choose to assign other plates to the car - when you sell the car on again, and take your cherished plate off, the DVLA then assign the original. It stays in the DVLA database and gets reassigned to the car if you remove your personal plate officially before you sell it. If the plates on the car at present are private plates / special in some way, ie likely to appeal to someone, you may find a buyer, although in difficult financial times, I don't think private plates are the the forefront of everyone's shopping lists, so they may take a long time to sell.

EDIT: Just seen Lum's post, which appears very sensible. I think most people would opt for 3. unless the plate is particularly special.

Norman_Castle

2) You can offer the plate for sale and keep it on the car, then when you have a confirmed buyer put it on retention with their name as the nominee, you only pay the original retention fee to do it this way.

No need to put it on retention. Transfer fee pays to move this plate to another vehicle and gives you a replacement number.

1) You can buy a new plate and put the original plate on retention which costs money, then when you have a buyer you can add them as a nominee, allowing them to use the plate, for an additional fee.

Rent out the registration to a nominee?. "It is W P11** K. (taking the p...) ".

Norman_Castle

I was under the impression that the original plates assigned to the car by the DVLA are not saleable

Original plates are generally able to be sold with the exception of those supplied to certain classes of vehicles but the replacements, which are generally very similar to the sold number, may not be. This prevents owners of cars with desirable configurations, eg six figure pre date letter, having an unending supply of valuable plates to sell.