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DVLA Processes and Regulations

In this section you will find a wealth of information relating to the required documents and processes concerning private registrations. You’ll find detailed information regarding the procedures for assigning, transferring and retaining a private registration mark, as well as information about DVLA regulations relating to the display of such marks.

How to transfer

Perhaps you’ve opted for a Do-it-Yourself transfer and feel a little confused? Or you simply want to transfer your private registration from one vehicle to another, but you don’t know where to start? Are you selling your car and worried you’ll lose your private registration? We hope the following information makes understanding the rules and processes surrounding private number plate transfers, easier to understand.

Assigning - Certificate to vehicle

If you hold a private registration mark on either a V750 Certificate of Entitlement or a V778 Certificate of Retention and would like to display your registration mark on your vehicle, you will need to submit your application to the DVLA here in Swansea with the following document:

  • V5C Registration document

Please note: if you have acquired a new vehicle and haven’t received the new V5C within 10 days of taking ownership, you can contact the DVLA by calling 0300 790 6802.

Also note

  1. Most private registrations can only be assigned to vehicles of a certain age; to see what registrations you can have on your vehicle use our Transfer Age Rules Checker
  2. Only MOT testable vehicles can take part in the scheme, e.g. no tractors, other agricultural vehicles or road repairing machines, such as steam rollers. Q-plated kit cars can’t take part either unless you have evidence of their age.
  3. In order to assign your registration online you will need your V750 Certificate of Entitlement, and the vehicle’s V5C Registration Document.

When the assignment is complete you will receive the following:

  • A new V5C Registration Certificate showing the change of registration mark

Upon receiving your new V5C Registration Certificate you may legally display your new number plates on your vehicle. Before doing so, please remember to inform your insurance company of the change to your policy. Your road tax and MOT record will be updated automatically and the original expiry dates of these 2 items will remain the same

If you’ve bought a private registration from Plates4Less and want some advice about completing your assignment you can contact our friendly after-sales team. Alternatively, why not let us do it all for a small additional charge? Save your time and effort by upgrading to our Done-for-You Transfer service now.

Transferring - Vehicle to vehicle

Important tip: If you are planning to sell your vehicle which has a personalised registration mark please remember If you don’t move it …. You’ll lose it! If you get rid of your vehicle before you have moved the private registration off it, either onto another vehicle or onto a V778 retention certificate, it will pass to the new registered keeper of your vehicle. The movement is confirmed only once you have received a new V5C with a replacement registration number, not before!

When you wish to transfer your private registration mark to another vehicle you will need to complete a V317 form and send your application to the DVLA along with the following original documents (for each vehicle):

A V5C Registration Certificate OR a completed V5C/2 New Keeper’s Supplement with a completed V62 form A cheque for £80 made payable to ‘DVLA’

Please note

  1. Most private registrations can only be assigned to vehicles of a certain age. To see what registrations you can have on your vehicle use our Transfer Age Rules Checker
  2. Only MOT testable vehicles can take part in the scheme, e.g. no tractors, other agricultural vehicles or road repairing machines, such as steamrollers. Q-plated kit cars can’t take part either unless you have evidence of their age. Unfortunately you cannot transfer a registration mark from a vehicle if the words ‘NON TRANSFERABLE’ are printed in Section 3 (special notes) of the V5C Registration Document

The vehicle that you have removed the registration from will be issued with an age-related registration mark (usually the same one it had prior to the personal registration). When the transfer is complete you should expect to receive the following for each vehicle:

  • A V5C Registration Certificate showing the change of registration mark.

Upon receiving the V5C you may legally display your new number plates on your vehicle. Before doing so, please remember to inform your insurance company of the change to your policy. Your road tax and MOT record will be updated automatically and the original expiry dates of these items will remain the same.

Retaining - Vehicle to certificate

Important tip: If you are planning to sell your vehicle which has a personalised registration mark please remember  If you don’t move it … You’ll lose it!  If you get rid of your vehicle before you have moved the private registration off it, either onto another vehicle or onto a V778 retention certificate, it will pass to the new registered keeper of your vehicle. The movement is confirmed only once you have received a new V5C with a replacement registration number, not before!

The DVLA Number plates / Vehicle registration Marks retention scheme enables the keeper of a vehicle to remove its registration mark and hold it on a certificate for a period of up to 10 years at a time. The certificate can then be renewed every 10 years until you are ready to use it on a vehicle. Presently, there is no government charge for renewing this certificate once it is on a 10 year retention certificate.

To keep the rights to a private registration mark on a certificate (separate to a vehicle) you will need to complete a V317 form and send your application to the DVLA here in Swansea along with the following:

  • Your original V5C Registration Certificate
  • A cheque for £80 made payable to ‘DVLA’

Please note

  1. Only MOT testable vehicles can take part in the scheme, e.g. no tractors, other agricultural vehicles or road repairing machines, such as steam rollers. Q-plated kit cars can’t take part either unless you have evidence of their age.
  2. You cannot retain a registration mark from a vehicle if the words ‘NON TRANSFERABLE’ are printed in Section 3 (special notes) of the V5C Registration Document, previously known as the Log Book

Your vehicle will be assigned an age-related registration mark (often the same registration it had prior to holding a personal registration). When the retention is complete you will receive the following:

  • A new V5C Registration Certificate showing the change of registration mark
  • A V778 Certificate of Retention
  • Upon receiving these documents you must replace the number plates on your vehicle to match your new V5C. Before doing so, please remember to inform your insurance company of the change to your policy. Your road tax and MOT record will be updated automatically and the original expiry dates of these 2 items will remain the same
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