Number plate from one car to another

sand_hun

I'm buying a new car (online via Cazoo) but wish to keep my existing number plate. Is this allowed?

FYI - I do not believe mine is a private plate, however it is quite unique (friends have asked if its a private plate)

Has anyone here transferred a (non private) number plate from one car to another?

williamgriffin

As long as your new car was first registered after your current car then you can transfer the plate. 

facade

You just apply to retain the number- you must do this while the car is registered to you, you cannot do it after you sell the car, and it will cause trouble if you try and do it at the time you sell it as you won't have a valid V5. Best is a couple of weeks before you sell the car, unless you are part exchanging on a brand new one, then talk to the dealer as they can help.

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/take-private-number-off

DVLA will issue another age-related number to the old vehicle.

Some numbers cannot be retained/transferred though, the V5 has a message on it if this is the case.

AdrianC

There is nothing special about a "private plate". There's nothing very private about them, either, that would defeat the whole point of them. Every single plate is unique - again, if they weren't, it would defeat the object.

You can transfer any plate from any vehicle that is registered in your name, so long as the V5C does not state the plate is non-transferable. You transfer it either to retention, or to another vehicle registered in your name.

sand_hun

facade said:

You just apply to retain the number- you must do this while the car is registered to you, you cannot do it after you sell the car, and it will cause trouble if you try and do it at the time you sell it as you won't have a valid V5. Best is a couple of weeks before you sell the car, unless you are part exchanging on a brand new one, then talk to the dealer as they can help.

https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/take-private-number-off

DVLA will issue another age-related number to the old vehicle.

Some numbers cannot be retained/transferred though, the V5 has a message on it if this is the case.

Hello, so I have just completed the process to retain my existing number plate. The application was successful. It cost £80.

They have issued me with a replacement registration number for my car. Guessing I need to have these plates made up ASAP and put them on my car. I downloaded the Number Plate Authorisation Certificate from Govt website on which it says:

"This Certificate runs out 3 working days from the date stamped below (No.3). No duplicates will be issued"

The stamped date is today, i.e. 22nd November and given we're in lockdown, places that make up number plates will probably be closed, hmmm.

They also said:

you can now put <existing number plate> onto another vehicle using our online service: put a registration number on a vehicle.
So I guess that means I'm ready to buy and sell immediately (i.e. without having to wait 2 weeks?)

twhitehousescat

halfrauds will be open tommorrow , so will many other places INCLUDING ebay 

facade

sand_hun said:

So I guess that means I'm ready to buy and sell immediately (i.e. without having to wait 2 weeks?)

You haven't got a V5 for the car you are selling, they are sending a new one, so the original is cancelled. The V5 will usually arrive in a couple of days though, as they are computer generated.

When the V5 arrives, you can use it to get new number plates made up if your temporary chitty has expired.

AdrianC

sand_hun said:

They have issued me with a replacement registration number for my car. Guessing I need to have these plates made up ASAP and put them on my car. I downloaded the Number Plate Authorisation Certificate from Govt website on which it says:

"This Certificate runs out 3 working days from the date stamped below (No.3). No duplicates will be issued"

The stamped date is today, i.e. 22nd November and given we're in lockdown, places that make up number plates will probably be closed, hmmm. 

Motor factors are open.
They're essential businesses. because key workers need to keep their cars running to get to and from work.

Phone around tomorrow, and they may make the place up ready for you to collect, or they may tell you to come in and wait. You'll need to take the certificate plus ID with you.

sand_hun

Update: I sold my old car.

I have my number plate from that vehicle on retention - whilst not being a private plate, it has sentimental value and I wish to put it on the new vehicle which I purchased a week ago.

Am I right in thinking I now have to wait until the 'V5 document' arrives in the post? The garage told me it could take up to 6 weeks to arrive - does that sound about right?

AdrianC

sand_hun said:

...whilst not being a private plate...

There is absolutely nothing special about a "private plate".

They are simply plates that somebody wants to transfer, no more, no less. Some of them were issued routinely to perfectly normal cars in the past, some were bought straight from DVLA; some have been transferred before, some haven't; some are current- or recent-issue format, some are 80s-90s prefix, some are 60s-80s suffix, some are pre-60s "ageless". Once they're on a V5C, it makes no difference how they got to be there.

...and there's certainly nothing private, since they need to be on display...

Am I right in thinking I now have to wait until the 'V5 document' arrives in the post? The garage told me it could take up to 6 weeks to arrive - does that sound about right?

Yes.

How long it actually takes depends on how the keeper transfer was done.
Online, it'll be with you in days.
By post, it could easily be weeks if not months.

sand_hun

@AdrianC you seem to under the impression I think there's something "special" about private number plates. I'm not as fussed as you think I am. I know there's nothing 'private' about them and I'm aware that all number plates consist of a unique set of characters.

I consider it a 'nice to have', and am of the opinion mine looks more aesthetically pleasing than a generic plate, that's all there is to it.