HELP! Personal Plates on a ‘new’ used car?

Sianapril

So, I have just bought a new-to-me used 2017 SEAT Ateca (I’m picking it up in a week). And as a treat to myself, I have also recently bought myself a personal registration plate. However, after buying the plate and reading up on how I assign it to my new car once I receive my V5, it says that “the vehicle must have had tax or SORN in place CONTINUOUSLY for the last 5 years”, which I imagined it would. 

I was curious of the current tax state of the car, so i put the current reg into the DVLA Tax/MOT database check thing, and it says that the vehicle is untaxed and that the tax ran out at the beginning of March 2020.

As I am only just buying the car, will this affect my ability to assign the plates? If it does, is there any way to get around this as it has been at the SEAT dealership for the last few months?

I’m worried that I’ve wasted money on a plate that I can’t even use! Help!

AdrianC

The vehicle is currently untaxed because it's been "in trade" since March. Once it's taxed in your name, that's not an issue.

Just give the assignment certificate for the vanity plate to the dealer, and let them sort it.

Sianapril

AdrianC said:

The vehicle is currently untaxed because it's been "in trade" since March. Once it's taxed in your name, that's not an issue.

Just give the assignment certificate for the vanity plate to the dealer, and let them sort it.

I have a follow up question(s) too (because now I’m overly worried for no reason... I’m a stress ball!) - what happens if the previous owner didn’t pay their tax? Or was late paying their tax? Will that affect me? Is there a way I can find out?

lesalanos

Sianapril said:

AdrianC said:

The vehicle is currently untaxed because it's been "in trade" since March. Once it's taxed in your name, that's not an issue.

Just give the assignment certificate for the vanity plate to the dealer, and let them sort it.

I have a follow up question(s) too (because now I’m overly worried for no reason... I’m a stress ball!) - what happens if the previous owner didn’t pay their tax? Or was late paying their tax? Will that affect me? Is there a way I can find out?

It doesn't need to be taxed to sit on a garage forecourt.  It is nothing to worry about 

Spinybif

The DVLA website is badly worded.  Of course you can put a private plate on a car less than 5 years old.  I had the same issue, ex-demo car.  It just means you cannot do it on-line, you have to send paperwork in to them.  I spent ages online trying before ringing them.