private number plate to newer car- transfer & retain fee

strawberryberry

Ive got the private number plate and want to put on newer car to be bought. I have read that its an instant DVLA to take off private and they give you a new number. confused about the transfer and retention bit - ( £80 to retain it if not using it now ) Does this mean I pay £80 to retain it now and £80 to transfer the private  reg on the old  car back  to the original  2008 reg. Then when I get my new car a further £80 to transfer the private one to the new car. £240 . What about if I get the new car drive it home, go online and do a transfer of private reg to new car , get number plates made up for old car. When paperwork comes through put whatever reg on the old car. £80. Think Ive got this wrong as savings seem too high. Can anyone advise if Ive got it right - or if not the cheapest way to do this please.  

Typhoon2000

If you have a number on retention you have already paid the fee (£80 currently), to assign it to another vehicle. There no other charge. You will need to have new plates made up unless you still have your old plates. When you sell your new car and want to retain you private plate, it will cost you £80 and the DVLA will most likely assign the old number back to the car you are selling ( so hang on to the plates).

Arunmor

Yes, get new car home and switch as you describe.  When you  put the plate on your current car what did you do with the old plates?  Your current original plates will be reassigned back to your current car.

strawberryberry

Thank you. 
The easy bit is I never had plates as it was registered as new with the private plates - so when I get new reg for the old current car will have to get them made up. 
I keep my car for as long as possible this one has had it. Typhoon2000 so just to clarify the £80 I paid ( or whatever it was in 2008 ) was to retain the plate for me forever - so I dont pay that again even though its now going on another car ?  Just to get the right order of things - 
1) buy new car 

2)  My newish car - wait for DVLA to send   a new V5C in my name .

3) go on DVLA fill out the form to take the number off   £80- they send me V778 retention document and a new log book (V5C).Give me a online reference number.

4)  WHEN Do YOU GET A NEW NUMBER PLATE FOR THE OLD CAR - Get new number plate made for old car 

5) When received new  V5C, apply on line to assign the private plate to the new car using online ref number FREE.
6) put  private no. plates on new car.

If Ive got anything wrong or need to do anything differently - happy to be told.
Thank You 

Typhoon2000

If your private plate in on a car at the moment it is not on retention. So you will have  to apply to put in on retention. This will cost £80. When you do that the DVLA will issue a new number for you old car. You get new plates made up and put in on your old car.
When you get your new car, apply to transfer your private plate that you now have on retention to your new car. This costs nothing. Take the plates off your new car and store them, you will need it in the future. Put your existing plate you took off your old car and put it on your new car. And your done.

The £80 charge is to put the plates on retention. It lasts 10 years. If the number is on the car it lasts as long as the car. There is no additional charge to put a plate you have on retention onto another vehicle, only to take it off a vehicle and retain it.

Iceweasel

DVLA do not always reassign the original plate.
Usually they do - but not always.

strawberryberry

Ok thanks for explaining - so I dont have to  really wait until the new car is picked up , I could make a start on the old car and order the plates a few days before - as long as its on the drive as I am not really using it anymore ( it is driveable  but has it has an electric fault thats too dear to fix ). Then I wont need to tell the insurance company  the old car has a new reg. just change the insurance to my new car  and pay the extra or ask for a refund on what's left and get a new quote .