How to put original number plate onto car now that I'm selling it.

Christabel

I have my own personal car number plate and will shortly be wanting to sell the car. I still have the original number plate that was on the car when I bought it 7 years ago so thought I would start the ball rolling by officially removing my personal number plate ready for when I buy a new car and putting the original number plate back on the car, with the blessing of the DVLA of course.

But when I look at their website its all about how to put your personal number plate onto your new purchase rather than re-instating the number back onto the car. When I advertise it for sale I would like it to have the old number on it ready for the purchaser to drive it away.

Could someone advise me please?

scotsbob

You have to put your personal plate onto your new car or, if you haven't yet bought one, put it on retention. Once you do that then you put the original number on the car you are selling.

This used to be a straightforward procedure involving just a trip to the local tax office. However the system has now changed and you have to do it all by post.

Christabel

Thanks Bob. So I remove my personal number and put it on retention, then put the old number back onto the car, but presumably I then have to tell the DVLA that I've in effect changed the number plate of a car currently on the road. Do you think there's a form for that?

mgdavid

Christabel wrote: »

Thanks Bob. So I remove my personal number and put it on retention, then put the old number back onto the car, but presumably I then have to tell the DVLA that I've in effect changed the number plate of a car currently on the road. Do you think there's a form for that?

No you don't just do it and then tell DVLA :eek:
you apply to DVLA to put your personal number on Retention, DVLA will then allocate a new number to the car and advise you when you can use the new plates and change them. It *might* be the original number, it might not.
https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/retaining-a-registration-number

it's cheaper and easier if you buy the new car first and do a transfer to the new vehicle, missing out the Retention step.

force_ten

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/pdf

you need to download and print off that form

when you have filled it in send it off to the dvla along with all the paperwork that they request

when you get the paperwork back from the dvla you will have a retention certificate with your plate on it and you will have a V5c with the new number that has been assigned to your old car

this is often but not always the number that you took off the car when you assigned your personal plate to your car

if you are trading your car in with a dealer and buying you new car from them then they may be able to do all the paperwork for you and arrange the transfer, they do it all the time and some charge a small admin fee for this service

Christabel

...... That's a lot clearer than anything the DVLAs Q&A section shows. I understand what I have to do now and will wait til I get the new car as it will be a lot easier that way. Thanks again.

force_ten

Christabel wrote: »

...... That's a lot clearer than anything the DVLAs Q&A section shows. I understand what I have to do now and will wait til I get the new car as it will be a lot easier that way. Thanks again.

if you do it that way you need to keep your old car until after the paperwork is completed before you can sell your old car

to transfer a number from a car it needs to be taxed and have a current mot so make sure none of those expire

if you buy a new car and then transfer the number and sell you old car it will cost £80.00 to transfer

if you retain your number and then sell your car you have up to one year to assign your private plate to your new car and that costs £80.00 transfer and £25.00 retention so £105 total

Christabel

Like most people I was going to put the money from the sale of the old car towards the purchase of the new one. It seems I will not be able to do this unless I am prepared to £105 instead of £80. Something to think about anyway.

Thanks again for taking the trouble to advise me.