Simply Registrations

DVLA Personalised Number Plate Fees Explained

There are fees payable to DVLA to perform certain tasks relating to personalised number plate ownership. Here is a brief summary of the various types of fees and what they cover.

Put a registration mark on retention; £80 (used to cost £105 – reduced 9th March 2015)

This is simply when you wish to separate your private number plate from a vehicle and keep it on a retention document (V778), rather than transfer it to another vehicle. You can apply online to take a registration number off a vehicle , or if you prefer the paper route, complete form V317 – Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number. Read more about how to retain a private number plate .

Transfer a personalised registration; £80

This is when you want to move a personalised registration between vehicles, typically from your old car to your new car. The DVLA form to complete is the V317 – Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number. It may be quicker & easier to complete your plate transfer as a two-step process online; first retaining and then assigning your private number plate to your new vehicle .

Extend a retention document (V778) or certificate of entitlement (V750); free (used to cost £25, fee abolished on 9th March 2015)

If you already have a Retention Document or Certificate of Entitlement it may be valid for one, two or three years. All V778 documents/V750 certificates issued from 9th March 2015 are valid for 10 years. During the 28 days before your document/certificate is due to expire you can apply to extend it – no fee payable. After 10 years you can apply to extend again for another 10 years, free of charge. This article explains the difference between a V750 and a V778 .

Add or change a Nominee; free (used to cost £25)

When you are ready to assign or transfer a registration number to a car, the name on the V750/V778 DVLA Document (either Purchaser/Grantee or Nominee) must match the name of the registered keeper of the vehicle. This only applies if you are buying a brand new (unregisterred) vehicle, or submitting an application to assign a registration by post. If the names do not match you need to add a nominee; either via your DVLA online account, or by completing the relevant section of your DVLA Certificate. If you use the DVLA online service to put a cherished plate on a vehicle , the nominee is completely irrelevant; the names do not need to match.  For example; A private plate held on a retention document with the grantee ‘Andrea Brown’ can be put on a vehicle showing the registered keeper ‘Simon Smith’. At the moment this relaxed rule only applies if you complete the assignment online. Grantee and Nominee explained .

If you have any further questions please visit the number plates & vehicle registration section of the GOV.UK website , or alternatively call the DVLA vehicle registration enquiries helpline on 0300 790 6802.

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Parkers

Private plates: how to transfer a registration number

  • Private plates have been around as long as car registrations
  • Transferring a plate can be done online
  • Hide your car's age for £250 or less

A cherished private plate hides the age of a car and can add a personal touch

Written by Richard Kilpatrick Published: 24 August 2022 Updated: 10 January 2024

The UK’s car licensing and number plate scheme is one of few in the world that prominently shows the year of a car’s registration, with new cars bearing the latest digits each year. As a result, it’s become immensely popular to use a cherished number or ‘private plate’ to hide the age of a car, or just to personalise it a bit.

It’s a simple process to transfer a number plate from car to car online, but it’s not entirely straightforward, so here’s the Parkers guide to number plate transfers.

Keep reading for the full story, or use the quick links for quick answers to your private plate questions.

What is a car number plate?

Number plates are a unique identifying mark for vehicles, used since 1904 . Prominently displayed on a vehicle, they connect the car to the registered keeper, and serve as a reference for other legal requirements. Officially they are called ‘vehicle registration marks’ or VRMs.

Now much more data is linked to the number plate – from emissions figures, to whether a vehicle is a bus or taxi, and even legal towing weights. ANPR cameras use them to make sure vehicles are in the right places, charged the right amounts for zones and parking, and fined when going too fast or in the wrong lanes.

Without one, your car is not legal for use on the road – unless you’re the King .

Bentley State Limousine, rear view, showing lack of number plate fitting

What is a cherished plate?

A cherished plate is any vehicle registration mark, or number plate, you’ve chosen to keep after it was issued to the car, or bought specifically without a car assigned to it yet. They’re often called ‘private plates’, though they’re less anonymous than a regular random identifier.

You can retain a number from most cars, even MoT failures, but if a car has been scrapped or exported the number is lost. Some cars are issued with age-appropriate numbers that can’t be transferred, particularly classic cars that have lost their original paperwork .

Prior to the DVLA’s direct sales, plates were traded primarily by dealers out of stock already issued and taken off used cars. This market still exists, though the prices asked rarely reflect a real value except in very rare circumstances.

A 2022 Mercedes wearing pre-1963 UK plates

It has never been possible to buy a free-form set of numbers and letters to spell a word, unlike vanity plates in America and some other countries, and the number is allocated to the car and not the owner. Combinations like ‘K1 NGS’ therefore fetch huge sums at auction.

Even when a car itself was a huge status symbol, the first registered car owner was so desperate to own ‘A 1’ that he camped outside the issuing office – thus proving the idea of perceived status around the plate, creating the concept of cherished numbers.

As a result, transferring a plate has been possible almost since the start of number plates being issued, though it’s only since the 1980s that it’s been heavily marketed.

How do I transfer a cherished plate?

The quickest way to transfer a plate from one car to another is online. You can take the cherished number off with a simple form, and apply it to the new car immediately if you have a current logbook, rather than the old method of transferring which required both logbooks, a form, MOTs and insurance/tax paperwork to be sent away.

If your car is registered in your name and you have the current V5C, and it is taxed or has had a SORN in place for less than five years, removing the plate for transfer or retention is instant. It costs the same £80 as before, but if you don’t want to apply the number immediately, retaining it is free.

Simply visit the government personalised registrations portal and choose ‘take a private number off a vehicle’.

After completing the online form to retain a number and paying the £80 fee, you will be told the car’s replacement number right away. The eV948 number plate authorisation certificate will also be emailed to you, so you can get new legal plates made up.

When transferring a number to a car that you have a current V5C for, the DVLA’s made it very fast. When payment for taking the number off is completed you’ll see the green box (below) with the receipt, details of the donor car’s replacement number and eV948. Notice those reference numbers?

The DVLA website gives you the reference numbers you need to apply a retained number instantly - check the green box

Just use the details provided to apply a cherished number online and as the transfer fee is already paid, it’s free and instant.

All the checks for MOT/tax and insurance are performed online, and existing tax/SORN and MOT records are updated in 24hrs for both the car supplying the number, and the car receiving it.

Paper documents will follow in the post. Usually within five working days, but it can take up to six weeks. You’ll receive a new V5C for the donor car, with the replacement number assigned, and a V778 retention certificate for your plate if you haven’t applied it to a new car immediately.

If you’re going to keep using the car the plate has been taken off, don’t forget to update your insurance. If you’ve traded the car in, give the dealer the replacement V5C when it arrives.

Once you have your V778, you can sell or give the number to someone to apply by post or online, but you can use the reference numbers at any time without waiting for the certificate – so don’t give them out or leave them visible in for sale listings.

How much does it cost to retain a private plate?

It’s free to retain a private plate now, but it must be renewed after 10 years. When first launched it cost £80 to transfer a plate, £25 to retain it, and £25 a year to keep a plate on retention, all done by post or visits to a local office.

The £80 fee you pay when taking a plate off a car is the transfer fee, so it’s already paid when you apply the plate, and it’s free to renew the retention.

If you have been renewing retention annually on a plate you got before 2015, the best thing to do is apply it to a car in your name, then take it off, moving it to the newer system.

If you have bought cherished numbers through the DVLA that have not been assigned to cars yet, you can renew those and their V750 ‘certificate of entitlement’ through your DVLA online account .

How do I apply a cherished plate?

Applying a cherished plate from retention or purchase is easy. The car you want to apply it to must be taxed or SORN; if you’ve just bought a car and changed the V5C online, make a SORN declaration or tax it right away with the V5C/2’s reference number. It can take a day for this to update online.

The DVLA website makes assigning a number easy

Dateless plates can be applied to any vehicle, but you cannot apply a younger age of registration than the car’s registration date.

When you have applied the number, you’ll be issued a new V5C in the post, and will be able to download the eV948 number plate authorisation certificate to get new plates made up straight away.

You can apply a private plate to any vehicle, online, as long as you have your V778 and the current logbook for the vehicle it’s being applied to. If it’s not your car, you’re assigning the right to the plate to the registered owner of the car receiving it.

What are grantees and nominees on form V778?

Cherished plates are tied to the registered keeper or original buyer of the plate (the grantee). Under the old system, if you wanted to give or sell your plate to someone you would fill out a nominee on the certificate first. This allowed them to apply the plate to a car in their name.

These days it’s quicker to do it online if you are selling or giving the plate to a new owner.

Who should you inform after transferring or assigning a number plate?

Only the car logbook, MoT history and tax are automatically updated. Once you’ve changed the plates displayed on your car, inform your insurance company. Some may charge an admin fee for the change, but many won’t, particularly if you’ve just taken out the policy. If in doubt, check AskMID to see if your current plate shows as insured .

Don’t forget any other automatic payment or parking systems you have set up. That includes London’s Congestion Charge, ULEZ and LEZ , as well as Dartcharge account, or local authority Clean Air zones. Don’t forget work, gym or apartment car park access, and pre-configured payments like parking or fuel on your smartphone.

What tips are there for transferring a car number plate?

1. Keep the old plates. Most cars will go back to the previous number when you remove yours, even ones that had a cherished number on.

2: If you buy a car that has a number you think could be worth selling or retaining? Take it off and put it on retention before applying your own.

3. Always make sure you retain a plate while you are the registered keeper of the car. If you change the registered keeper to transfer ownership of the car before retaining your number, you have lost the plate.

4. Selling a car? It’s best to take the plate off when you decide to start advertising rather than waiting for a buyer. Not only does it mean you’ll have the paperwork ready for a buyer and have the right plate in adverts, you will also avoid the risk of losing it if the car sells quickly.

5. Retained several plates no-one wants? You can always return the plate to the DVLA to get a refund of the £80 transfer fee.

6. Want a plate off a classic? If it’s been off the road a while it’ll need to be MOTd even if it’s exempt. Likewise, it’ll need to be SORN or taxed. Lost paperwork will require proof of the car’s identity to get a new V5C issued, if it has been off the road a long time.

7. Buying a plate from Facebook or similar? Do it in person and apply the plate online, with their retention certificate details, rather than giving out your V5C information There are no fees to pay to apply the plate. Only pay once the DVLA confirms the plate has been applied to your car.

Can you buy a private plate if it hasn’t been issued?

Early in the days of vehicle registration, councils could sell a specific combination but that stopped as car sales boomed. In 1989 the DVLA introduced a new cherished number scheme. This includes auctions of desirable numbers and a published pool of available plates you can search online .

Prices start at £250 including assignment fee and VAT, even for older numbers still in the system. Ordering plates ahead of new registration dates and combinations is now actively marketed, though the best are saved for auctions.

Lease cars, company cars, and private plates

If you are leasing or contract hiring a car, you can ask your lease provider to apply your registration. You’ll have to pay admin fees, and in the process you transfer your right to the number to the leasing company as the registered keeper. We don’t recommend it, as a rule, unless the car is particularly unusual or a very long lease.

A DVLA Cherished plate, prefix-style, on 2007 Mazda MX-5 Mk3

DVLA cherished numbers can be bought in advance of new registration dates. Provide the dealer with the V750 to register the car from new on your number, and remember to have it transferred off before the lease ends if you want to keep it.

Cars on PCP or finance deals, usually registered in your name, are entirely safe to apply the number to. You will need to inform the finance provider of the change.

Styles of private plate in the UK

Starting in 1904, cars were registered with a region identifier of one or two letters and up to four digits, such as A 1, or KS 1234. That system expanded up to three letters and numbers (A BC 123) in 1932, then as demand increased in the 1950s reversed to three numbers and letters (123 A BC ), or up to four numbers and one region identifier.

Car registrations varied wildly between regions, so some locations were still on the system introduced in 1932 at the start of the ‘60s.  Pressure on allocating numbers was so great that a new system, adding a year-related suffix, was introduced. On 1 January 1963, the first A-suffix cars were registered (the format being A BC 123A), but it wasn’t consistently applied to all registration offices until 1 January 1965, so A and B suffix cars are rarer.

In 1983 the suffix became a prefix – A123 A BC – and in 2001 the system we use now was introduced, with a location of first registration, a six-month year identifier, and three random letters. AB 51 ABC. Cars registered in March display the actual year of registration. Prefix and current plates that haven’t been issued can be bought online via DVLA easily.

Plates issued in Northern Ireland (below), characterised by including the letters I and Z, can be legally applied to cars in England, Scotland and Wales. These combinations of up to three letters and four numbers date from 1966. Because these plates are dateless, they are popular with owners of older luxury or sports cars.

A dateless NI plate on an Audi A3

Although plates still refer to local offices, the DVLA closed local registration offices in 2013. If your last experience of a plate transfer predates that, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the progress made. Whatever your chosen cherished number, it will need to be displayed on a legal plate .

Can I change a private plate online?

Yes, you can change your number plate to a cherish plate online with the right documentation and for a transfer fee of £80. You must follow the process of assigning your plate over before driving away with it on.

Can I put my private plate on my car straight away?

You’ll first need to follow the legal process of assigning your private plate to your car. To do so, you’ll need a V750 certificate of entitlement and a V778 retention document. You can read more about what you need to do to assign a plate to your vehicle on the government website.

Is a cherished plate worth having?

Don’t be fooled into believing they’re an investment. Very few are, and they’re usually already overpriced or in the hands of the only person who would want them.

If you can find a combination that makes you happy and is affordably priced though, there’s absolutely no harm in having one. If you look at your three-year old car registration as a new one comes out, and it makes you want a new car, it could even save you money.

There’s no denying that an apt and legal plate, like ‘LO02 WET’ on a plumber’s van or ‘BA55 LNE’ for a DJ, can raise a smile in traffic.

A cherished private plate hides the age of a car and can add a personal touch

Blog DVLA digital services

https://dvladigital.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/09/it-now-costs-less-to-retain-your-personalised-registration/

It now costs less to retain your personalised registration

From today (9 March 2015), the law has changed to reduce the fee to retain a personalised registration from £105 to £80. This will apply to both paper and online transactions.

This change sees the removal of the £25 fee currently in place to renew the retention of a vehicle registration number on an annual basis. The renewal period is also extended to 10 years. There is another added benefit, the fee is being removed to add or change nominee details.

Customers will see a significant reduction in turnaround times following the introduction of this service. DVLA systems will be updated in real time and the service will provide instant confirmation that the application has been successful.

So what happens next? The vehicle registration certificate (V5C) with the replacement registration number and retention certificate is issued by post to the registered keeper on DVLA’s records. There will no longer be a replacement MOT certificate issued to the keeper as the original remains valid.

Today also sees DVLA launching its online Take a Registration Number off a Vehicle service which allows keepers and the motor trade to apply to retain a number online. The service will be launched as private beta and rolled out to the trade only for a 2 week period. The service is scheduled to be available on GOV.UK as public beta on 23 March 2015.

The service is now available and can be found on GOV.UK

Once the online service is available to all, the next online service to be launched will be ‘Assign a personalised registration number’. Any registration number on retention (V778 certificate) or bought from DVLA (V750 certificate) can be assigned via the online service.

I’ll provide more detail on this service over the coming weeks...

Sharing and comments

Share this page, 58 comments.

Comment by Julie posted on 09 March 2015

What about cherished TRANSFERS - are there any further developments here?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 10 March 2015

Hi Julie, following the introduction of this service into public beta we will be releasing the next online service which will allow customers to assign a number to a vehicle. This will allow customers to complete the full cherished transfer process. Thanks

Comment by David Stephenson posted on 09 March 2015

At last, well done and thanks

Comment by Rod Lomax posted on 10 March 2015

This new service looks to be great and is something members of the Registration Numbers Club have been advocating for some time. It should make our lives much easier. Look forward to the next stage when the full cherished transfer can take place on-line. Rod Loma, Publicity Officer, Registration Numbers Club http://www.The RNC.co.uk

Comment by Andrew Robertson posted on 11 March 2015

I have had my reg no. On retention for 3 years and it's due to expire on 27/3/15. The assignment fee has already been advanced but I just want to carry on keeping it on retention. Do I send the retention document back as normal with the £25?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 12 March 2015

Hi Andrew, as the expiry of entitlement for your retention expires on 27/3/15 then you will not be required to pay the £25 to extend. Any number which is on retention and due to expire on 9/3/15 or later will no longer be required to pay the £25 fee. Thanks

Comment by nino posted on 11 March 2015

thanks for the article

Comment by Nick posted on 12 March 2015

I have just about to send my retention certificate in to get the nominee changed and the registration put onto a vehicle, do I need to send any fee?

Hi Nick, From 9 March there is no longer a fee to change the nominee details. You should send the retention certificate back with the change of nominee details without the fee. Thanks

Thanks for the help.

Comment by Jonathan posted on 12 March 2015

I presume the £80 retention fee also includes assignment when I come to put the number back on a car?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 13 March 2015

Hi Jonathan, yes the initial fee of £80 includes the assignment fee to assign the number on to another vehicle. Thanks

Comment by Bob posted on 16 March 2015

Hi - I renewed a retention in early Feb and paid £50 for two years. Can I claim a refund please?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 16 March 2015

Hi Bob, unfortunately you cannot apply for a refund as the legislative change only came into force on 9 March 2015, for certificates that expired on or after 9 March. Thanks

Comment by T Townsend posted on 16 March 2015

I need to take a registration off a car I am selling this week. Can the dealer now do this instantly online without having to wait for the docs to come back in the post? What is the link to get to the relevant page as all the info on the website that I can see appears to be out of date?

Hi, the service will be available to the public and all the motor trade by 24 march 2015. It's currently available to a select few from the motor trade as we test our services in a private beta phase. Anyone in the motor trade looking to join the private beta phase should contact us at [email protected] Thanks

Comment by Alberto Franchitti posted on 17 March 2015

Hi,i have three retention documents coming up for renewal in april and may do i still have to send them in for a new document,The retention document renewal i received on monday is valid till 2025 can you advise. Many thanks

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 18 March 2015

Hi Alberto, Yes the retention documents still needs to be returned for renewal as previously. They will then be renewed for 10 years with no fee applicable. Thanks

Comment by Jay posted on 18 March 2015

Hi, Is this service definitely going live for the public and motor trade by the 24th? I am buying a car from a dealership, and they can't sell it to me until the cherished plate has been taken off. Will this online service allow them to instantly remove the cherished plate from the car? And will a standard reg be applied instantly as well?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 19 March 2015

Yes, the new service to retain a private registration mark will be available to all by 24 march 2015. This service will allow the motor trade to instantly retain the number from your old vehicle and a replacement registration mark will be allocated to the vehicle as part of the online service.

Comment by Mr y ravat posted on 18 March 2015

Hi I would like to know own if after 10 years the registration is not assigned to a vehicle will the registration be lost or will I still be able to retain it

You will be sent a renewal reminder to renew the retention period before the 10 years has expired and you will be able to renew for another ten years with no fee applicable.

Comment by Kim Beresford posted on 19 March 2015

Will the online retention service be available on the 23rd (as originally intended) or the 24th of this month to the public?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 23 March 2015

Hi Yes, the service will be available from 23 March 2015.

Comment by Bill F posted on 19 March 2015

Can you advise how will payment be collected for the £80? If it is to be a 'card payment' system, can Motor Dealers set up an Account - or pay using bank details?

Payment can only be made by credit or debit card.

Comment by Chris posted on 19 March 2015

My registration is on a V750 certificate at the moment and I need to add a nominee to the certificate. Do I still need to pay £25 to do this?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 20 March 2015

Hi, no you should return the V750 certificate with the requested nominee's details. No fee is applicable. Thanks

Comment by Emma Robo posted on 19 March 2015

Hi, I am due to sell my car asap to a dealer as part exchange for a newer car. I want to retain my current reg plate on the car I am selling, would it quicker to wait for the online portal to open than to send paper copies to you?

Also, how quickly does this take effect if I complete the application online on 24 March? Once I complete the process online do I have to wait for new plates and paperwork to arrive before I can part exchange or can I take the plates off and sign over to dealers without plates?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm so confused and I need to sell my car asap. Thank you very much!

Hi, the application will be completed quicker via the online service. Once the application is complete you will be instantly provided with the replacement registration number (on screen) which has been allocated to the vehicle.

The vehicle cannot be driven on the public road with no number plates and you should await the delivery of the new V5C (which can be sued to make up the number plates) with the replacement registration number and ensure the correct number plates are attached to the vehicle before passing it on.

The V5C certificate will be received 3-5 working days after the successful online application and should be handed to the dealer.

Comment by Emma Robo posted on 20 March 2015

Thank you very much for your reply!

Comment by Geoff Hancocks posted on 21 March 2015

Hi Jason, I have a number plate which is presently on retention, but it expires this May after 3 years. I don't want to allocate it to a vehicle just yet, so would like to extend the retention up to the new 10 year period. Is this possible online ?? If so, how do I go about it ?? I have the V778 retention document in my name. Thanks in anticipation

Hi, There is no facility currently available to renew a V778 retention certificate online however, this is being looked at as part of the future developments for the online service. To renew your retention you should apply in the normal way and return the document to DVLA by post. Thank

Comment by Geoff Hancocks posted on 23 March 2015

Thanks Jason, much appreciated.

Comment by Graham Witt posted on 21 March 2015

Hi – I renewed a retention in Feb and paid £75 for three years and I noted I can't claim a refund. Please can you advise why I was not advised of the law changes in the renewal letter as i would have only paid for one year?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 24 March 2015

Hi, Prior to the legal changes on the 9 March, customers continued to have the facility to retain their Certificates for either 1,2 or 3 years and pay the appropriate fee of £25 for each year. While the Agency were in the process of reviewing the fee structure prior to the 9 March, no confirmation of the changes could be communicated prior to the law being formally updated. Thanks

Comment by Nikki posted on 22 March 2015

Hi, we are due to part exchange our car in this week at a dealers which has a private plate we would like to change to our new car. Should we wait for them to do it in the dealership or start the process now with the paper copies. Any advice o the process would be great as I have never done this before.

Thank you in advance.

Hi, You can apply to retain the registration number online now using the new service. The V5C with the replacement registration mark and the retention certificate will be issued to you within 3-5 days.

This would allow the dealer to take the part exchanged vehicle and have the correct V5C for it as well as applying to assign the personalised registration number to your new car. Thanks

Comment by D J Lewis posted on 23 March 2015

I had posted an enquiry, which was 'awaiting moderation', but now seems to have disappeared??

Has the new facility to retain/transfer a number plate 'gone live' as your blog suggested, as I cannot find it yet....?

Hi, the service is now available and can be found on GOV.UK

Comment by Edawrd King posted on 23 March 2015

Does this mean we can now transfer out private plate to our next purchase as long as to got all the paper to do so .

Once the online application is successful, you can use the retention certificate which will be issued by post to assign the personalised registration to a new vehicle.

Thank you Jason got all the paper work will set the ball rolling .

Comment by Jessica posted on 23 March 2015

Are these changes now available to the public today? If so, what is the web address?

What do you do with the old logbook? Do we just destroy it or do we need to return it to the DVLA?

Comment by Melissa posted on 23 March 2015

Hi when is the online service going to be live? I would like to have my current number plate retained. Thanks.

Comment by Lee posted on 23 March 2015

I have applied to change the nominee on my retention certificate and I sent the documents off about a week a go with the £25. Does this mean they will not cash my check and return the documents with the change applied?

Yes, we will return the fee (cheque unbanked) and update the documents as normal.

Comment by Jay posted on 23 March 2015

Hi, After using the online service, do I have to wait for the new V5 to arrive by post before I can get a plate for the new dated registration made and put on my car? Or can I get the new plate printed as soon as the online process is complete (but before the new V5 arrives)?

Yes, you have to wait for the delivery of the V5C which will allow you to get the plates made up. The V5C should take between 3-5 working days to arrive.

Comment by zac posted on 23 March 2015

Hi Jason - my v778 is due to expire in may and I intend to renew for ten years. Reading through the comments it seems this renewal is not possible online so I will have to send by post. The question is how much fees are due for the ten years? Is it just £80. Many thanks

Hi Zac, there are no fees to extend the retention period to ten years if a number is already on retention. You will need to send back the V778 to renew in May. Thanks

Comment by Phil D posted on 23 March 2015

I have a plate in the format :

AA 9999 (an old registration) on a 2004 car.

Can I use the online service to retain this.?

The web site guidance says it has to be registered after 1998, does this refer to the age of the plate or age of the donor vehicle?

Hi, yes the service can be used for any vehicle which was registered after 1998. Thanks

Comment by Dawn posted on 24 March 2015

Was eagerly awaiting this new way of putting number plate on retention, to sell the car privately whilst awaiting our new car on order. Was so easy to do, got retention certificate number within seconds. I already had the original plates for the vehicle (kept them when we purchased the vehicle). When should i put them on and inform my insurance company of the reg change? Now or wait for new V5C & V778? Also should i just destroy my old V5C with the private number plate or give a copy of the new owner, as the MOT certificate is marked with my private plate, I believe I wont be issued with a new MOT certificate will I ? Thanks

Hi, thanks for your feedback and I am glad you found the service easy to use.

Once you receive confirmation that the registration number has changed, you can instantly change the number plates of the vehicle and inform your insurance company as the service updates DVLA records in real time. The old V5C can be destroyed on receipt of the new one and replacement MOT's are no longer issued as a result of a retention as the old MOT remains legally valid.

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Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

What is the total cost of buying a number plate from DVLA?

All online / telesales registrations include VAT and the £80 assignment fee. This means there is nothing else to pay except for the costs of having the actual physical plates made up. NO HIDDEN CHARGES! This applies to registrations sold from our online/telesales business.

The prices advertised for registrations being offered for sale at our auctions / timed auction sales are reserve prices. Bidding will start from these prices and exclude the assignment fee, VAT and buyer's premium.

Registration Styles

'Current' style are the registrations currently used for new registrations and are made up of the form; 2 letters, 2 numbers and then 3 letters.

'Prefix' style are the registrations that were used prior to 2001 and consist of; 1 letter, 1-3 numbers and then 3 letters.

'Suffix' style are the registrations that were used prior to 1983 and consist of; 3 letters, 1-3 numbers and then 1 letter.

'Dateless' style fixed price are registrations that can be assigned to any age vehicle and consist of; 3 letters and 3 numbers.

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assignment fee private plate

Private (personalised) number plates

Give up your right to use a private number.

You might get a refund of £80 if you have the right to use a private number but you decide not to assign it to a vehicle.

This refunds the £80 fee you paid when you either:

  • bought the number (the fee was included in the cost)
  • took the number off a vehicle

You can apply for a refund if:

  • the number was not assigned to any vehicle after you paid the fee
  • you have the latest V778 or V750 document - if you’ve lost it and it’s still valid you can get a replacement from DVLA

If the document was issued before 9 March 2015, you can only get a refund once it expires. You cannot get a replacement document if it’s expired.

Tick the ‘Give up the right to this registered number (surrender)’ section of the V778 or V750 document, sign it and send it to:

DVLA Personalised Registrations Swansea SA99 1DS

You cannot use the private number after you give up your right to it.

There’s a different process if the person with the right to use the private number has died .

Part of Get a private (personalised) number plate: step by step

Step 1 : buy a private number.

  • Find out how you can buy a number

Step 2 : Assign your private number to a vehicle

  • Apply to assign a private number to a vehicle

or Keep your private number

You do not have to assign your number to a vehicle.

You must renew your right to use the number every 10 years.

  • Check how to renew your number

Step 3 : Get a new number plate made

If you assign your private number to a vehicle you must get a number plate made up from a registered supplier.

  • Check the rules for number plates
  • Check what documents you need to get a number plate made
  • Find your nearest number plate supplier

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MotaClarity Home

All You Need To Know About Private Number Plates

Can i put a private registration plate on my motability car.

How do you react when you see a personalised number plate on a car, van or WAV? Maybe you admire the owner's exhibitionism or the plate makes you smile? Perhaps it gets you thinking about what your personalised plate would say. Our personalised plate (aka private plate) guide covers the full process – from buying one to making sure you stay on the right side of the law.

  • 1. Why Buy A Private Plate?
  • 2. How Much Do Personalised Plates Cost?
  • 3. Different Kinds Of Private Plates
  • 4. Where To Buy Your Personalised Plate?
  • 5. How Much Does A Private Plate Cost?
  • 6. The Law And Private Plates
  • 7. Offensive Personalised Plates
  • 8. Transferring Personalised Number Plates
  • 9. Personalised Plates And Motability Vehicles
  • 10. What Will Your Personalised Plate Say?

Why Buy A Private Plate?

Personalised number plates have been around for decades now and they're bought for all sorts of reasons. For the most distinctive and desirable plates, this includes their investment potential. According to personalised plate specialist Speedyreg, the number plate 'F1' (bought for £440,625 in 2008) is now listed for sale at £10-£14 million!

According to the RAC, we spend well over £100 million on private plates every year! A personalised number plate is a great way to make your vehicle unique. Maybe you fancy a play on your name, or something subtler that only you and a select circle of family and friends understand.

Alternatively, perhaps you like the idea of raising a smile on other motorists' faces, or you just want to shock as far as the law and available number plates allow! Each, as they say, to their own; the reasons for choosing a private plate are as varied as drivers' personalities.

How Much Do Personalised Plates Cost?

What's your budget and how much are you willing to pay? You could buy a personalised plate that's unique to you for a couple of hundred pounds on a DVLA approved website.

To get something with a more widely understood meaning will take deeper pockets. You'll probably be looking at thousands of pounds. Plus you'll probably need to go through a broker or deal directly with a current licence plate owner for a private sale.

Once you get into really special plates, the sky is the limit. Visit the website of leading independent private number plates specialist Regtransfers and you'll see the stratospheric prices that plates such as '25 O' (for a classic Ferrari 250 GT) or 'RR 1' command.

Generally, the fewer characters a plate has, the more it will cost. Because of this, unless you're 'squillions rich', and assuming they come up for sale, these plates probably won't be gracing your Skoda or Vauxhall any time soon. But it's fun to dream…

Different Kinds Of Private Plates

As of 2023, four kinds of personalised number plate are available in the UK: current; prefix; suffix; and dateless.

As the title suggests, current plates are the kind issued for new car registrations now. Their seven-character design has been used since 2001.

Prefix-style plates were issued between 1983 and 2001; the prefix descriptor comes from the fact that the first letter indicates the car's age. For example, an 'F' prefix plate indicates first registration in August 1988.

Going back even further, seven-character suffix-style plates (1963–1983) started with the letter A and end with another letter that signals its age.

Before 1963, plates consisted of any combination of up to four numbers and three letters. An example would be the 913 PHT on an Austin Mini that a colleague remembers from their childhood in the early 1960s. With nothing indicating the vehicle's age, they're very desirable.

Where To Buy Your Personalised Plate?

So, you fancy a private plate, but where do you start to look for yours? In the UK, there are currently three possibilities: the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); private brokers; or a private sale, negotiated directly with the plate's owner.

DVLA This is a great starting point, where, according to the DVLA, you can access over 50 million registrations in a few seconds. Prices start at £250 (which includes VAT and an £80 assignment fee). If you can find the plate you want here, there's no better way to avoid outlay and intermediaries' costs. The DVLA also runs conventional and online auctions several times a year, where you can bid for dateless, current and other style registrations.

Brokers Independent brokers are dealers who specialise in buying and selling personalised number plates. Brokers who have signed up to the DVLA's terms and conditions of trading practices include TopReg, Regtransfers and New Reg.

Private sale For some of the rarest – and most expensive – registration plates, try the classified ads in motoring magazines, online owners clubs and forums, and buy directly from the current plate owner.

Search For A Private Number Plate

How Much Does A Private Plate Cost?

The DVLA website states that personalised plates are available from as little as £70 at its auctions. Otherwise, their starting prices are the aforementioned £250. Beyond this, prices are market-led, depending on each number plate's rarity and distinctiveness. And how much the buyer wants it!

The Law And Private Plates

Personalised plates are just number plates with a special significance for the owner. The same strict laws apply to personalised number plates as any other plate. Here are the legal requirements for private number plates at the time of writing.

As well as not making your car appear newer than it is, its number plates must:

  • be made of reflective material
  • display black characters on a white background (front plate)
  • display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
  • not have a background pattern
  • be marked to show who supplied the number plate
  • be marked with a British Standard number (‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021).

The characters must not be removable or reflective. If fitted after 1 September 2021, they must be a single shade of black.

Your number plates can have 3D (raised) characters, display certain flags, symbols and identifiers, and display a green flash (for a zero-emission vehicle ).

For anyone reading this who has an interest in typography, all number plates used in the UK must use a specific font specified by the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. That font, which most of us probably see hundreds of times each day, is a sans serif font called Charles Wright 2001. It's the latest version of a typeface originally designed by the Charles Wright company in 1935.

The size of the characters and their positioning on your number plates are also strictly controlled. Clever adjustments of the character spacing to further personalise your number plate are strictly forbidden, except for so-called 'show plates' used off road.

Offensive Personalised Plates

Owners often fit personalised plates to show their sense of humour – sometimes risqué humour! However, that doesn't mean anything goes when you're choosing your private number plate. The DVLA regularly publishes lists of banned combinations that could offend or provoke for sexual, political, religious or other reasons. If you're planning something that might prove controversial, you might want to check the latest list first!

That said, some cheeky private number plates do seem to have crept under the radar. A recent article in the Mirror  revealed how plates such as ORG 45M and B19 NOB are legal and, potentially, available – at a price!

Transferring Personalised Number Plates

What happens if you decide to change cars and want to keep your personalised plate? Whether or not you have a replacement car to put the plate on, the DVLA will transfer it for an £80 fee. You can then put the private plate on the new car when you're ready.

According to the Gov.uk website, the vehicle's original registration number is usually reassigned to it automatically when the private number is removed.

Personalised Plates And Motability Vehicles

The official Motability Scheme website includes detailed guidance on adding personalised plates to a Motability Scheme vehicle. If you lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme, here's what you need to know about putting a private plate on your Motability car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) .

According to the site, Motability say customers can add personalised number plates to their car or WAV, so long as they follow DVLA criteria and ensure that the plate will not cause offence to others.

The Motability Specialist at the dealership will be able to give you advice and help if you need it. 

If you're adding personalised plates at the start of the lease, you'll need to get either a Certificate of Entitlement (V750) or a Retention Certificate (V778) from DVLA.

You can add, remove, or keep your personalised number plates through your Motability online account . With access to all necessary information, including the V5C document reference number, and seamless guidance through the DVLA's online personalised plate service , this is the quickest, easiest way to manage changes during your lease.

It's advisable to check with Motability before proceeding if you're having trouble with the online instructions. 

Motability also gives clear advice about what to do when removing plates at the end of a lease. The procedure varies depending on whether you want to put your private plate on another Motability Scheme car, keep them for use on another car or give up your rights to use them. You have the option to keep or remove your personalised plate within your online account. Alternatively, if you prefer not to do so, Motability will send you a letter approximately four weeks prior to the end of your lease, providing further details on the process for removing your personalised plates.

Motability Scheme Private Number Plate Advice

What Will Your Personalised Plate Say?

Whatever your reason for wanting personalised plates, and whether it's a Motability vehicle or not, you should be able to add this most personal of modifications to your car. Every year, millions of motorists find this to be straightforward and enjoy individualising their vehicle. Whether you just want to include your initials, or like the idea of raising a smile with a witty alphanumeric combo, there's sure to be a personal plate out there for you!

A writer, marketeer and business owner with a degree in Politics, James has worked in the Motor Industry for over 25 years, specialising in customer service and automotive marketing. He was previously the Marketing Director at Pentagon Motor Group, where they won several Autotrader and other key industry awards. He was also a part of the team who were twice named National Group of the Year at the Motability Scheme Dealer Awards. Car reviews are written in conjunction with Motoring Journalist Jonathan Crouch.

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How to buy or sell a private number plate: Complete guide

Learn how to buy or sell a private number plate in the UK, with our useful guide.

Why do people buy private number plates?

People usually buy private (or personalised) number plates to cosmetically enhance their vehicle, or as a gift to someone for their vehicle.

How to buy a private number plate 

Purchasing, assigning and fitting a private number plate is a relatively straightforward process. Here we show you how.

How to sell a private number plate

Perhaps you’re wondering, how do I sell my number plate?

We’ll also cover how to sell your number plate here so read on to find out more…

Personalised Numberplates

The key steps in the process of buying a private (personalised) number plate are:

  • Buy your new number plates

Assign the number plates at gov.uk

Get the number plates manufactured.

  • Tell your insurer you have bought a new private number plate

Update any relevant automatic payment accounts

  • Fit the new number plates

Where can I find private number plates for sale?

Once you’ve decided that you want to buy a private number plate, then begins the search for your new number plates.

There are 3 main options as to where you can buy number plates:

Buying number plates from the DVLA website

The cheapest option is to use the  DVLA plate website .

Not many people are aware that it is possible to buy number plates from the DVLA.

This government website also holds auctions around 5 times a year so you have the chance to buy especially sought-after number plates.

How much does it cost to buy number pates from the DVLA?

The total cost for buying number plates from the DVLA website starts at £250.

How can I find out what registrations the DVLA will be selling?

You can see a  list of the new registrations coming up for auction on the DVLA website .

Buying private number plates from a private firm

There are a large number of firms from which you can buy private number plates, you’ll find many of these dealers online.

What is the downside of buying private number plates from a private firm?

Bear in mind, buying your new number plates from a private firm may be more expensive than buying number plates via the DVLA website.

What is the positive of buying private number plates from a private firm?

Buying number plates from a private firm is likely to offer a wider choice than buying from the DVLA.

This means that there is more chance that you will be able to purchase a private number plate along the lines of what you seek.

Buy number plates privately 

You can buy a number plate from a private seller in the same way you would from a private firm.

What is the positive of buying number plates privately?

Buying privately often means a better deal for both buyer and seller, as you can deal directly and negotiate on price, and cut out the fees of the middlemen- the private dealers.

What are the negatives of buying number plates privately?

Buying a number plate privately can pose a little more risk, as unfortunately, there are scammers out there.

Advice of buying a number plate privately

If the registration number is still currently assigned to the seller’s car, to ensure the relevant paperwork for the transfer of the registration is completed as quickly as possible, to make sure you don’t get left empty-handed after handing over any money.

Number plate transfer fee

You should note, when  buying number plates, the cost will include an £80 transfer fee.

Buy the personalised number plates

Before you pay for your new number plates, note that some number plates cannot be fitted to older cars.

This is because you cannot use a personalised number plate to make a vehicle look newer than it is.

Next, pay for your plates using a debit or credit card.

If buying private number plates from the DVLA, having bought your private number plates, you should get an email order confirmation. This can also be done by post.

V750 and V778 certificates

If buying brand new plates from the DVLA or a private firm, you will receive a V750 Certificate of Entitlement, which proves you own the number plate.

If buying a pre-used registration, you will receive a V778 certificate.

What’s the difference between the V750 and V778 certificate?

When you buy a private plate you will get either a V750 or a V778 certificate. Both documents are essentially the same thing – a certificate proving who owns the registration number – but a V750 is pink and a V778 is green.

The pink V750 is for a registration that has never been allocated to a vehicle before,  the green V778 is for a reg  that has already been on a vehicle.

If the vehicle is registered to you, once you have the V750 Certificate of Entitlement or V778 Certificate, you can  visit gov.uk  to assign the number plate online.

This can be done immediately assuming your vehicle does not need an inspection.

How to assign the number plates at gov.uk?

Simply follow the instructions on visit gov.uk .

You'll need to enter:

  • your new number plates
  • your old number plates
  • your logbook reference number
  • your V750 / V778 reference number.

You should then get an email confirmation stating the change has gone through.

The vehicle that you wish to assign the registration to, must have been taxed for the last 5 years with no gaps or have been declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)

Once the online application has been completed, you should then get an email confirmation stating the change has gone through.

Can I assign my number plates by post?

Yes, you can also apply to assign the registration with the DVLA by post.

If the vehicle is:

  • a used vehicle you just bought - wait for DVLA to send you  a new V5C in your name before you apply online or by post
  • brand new - give the dealer your V750 or V778 document and ask them to apply
  • registered to someone else and you want the private number to be transferred to them - apply online or by post

How much does it cost to assign number plates with the DVLA?

It’s free to apply online or by post.

What happens once I have assigned my number plates with the DVLA?

After you've assigned the number plates you'll receive a new log book (V5C). You'll need to show this to the number plate supplier in the next step.

That's right, even though you just bought your number plate - the DVLA doesn't send you an actual set of number plates. You’ll need to get these manufactured. You could go with a straightforward number plate or an embossed/3D number plate. Search online for manufacturers that can meet your needs.

What are the rules on getting number plates manufactured?

Number plates must be manufactured to the British Standard and must be fully reflective.

You must use a registered UK number plate supplier.

What documentation will I need to get number plates manufactured?

The manufacturer will need to see an original document showing your name and address, such as a driving licence or bank statement from the last 6 months.

They will also need to see a document showing you’re allowed to use the registration number.

The most common are:

  • vehicle registration certificate (V5C or V5CNI)
  • green ‘new keeper’ slip from the V5C or V5CNI
  • certificate of entitlement (V750 or V750NI) to the number
  • retention document (V778)
  • a renewal reminder for vehicle tax or SORN (V11 or V11NI)
  • temporary registration certificate (V379 or V379NI)

Number plates

How to upgrade your number plates with flags, symbols and identifiers

When ordering your new number plates online, you can choose to have a flag or national identifier added. These are:

  • Union flag (aka Union Jack)
  • Cross of St George
  • Cross of St Andrew - (aka the Saltire)
  • Red Dragon of Wales

The letters, or national identifiers, you can add are:

  • GREAT BRITAIN, Great Britain or GB
  • UNITED KINGDOM, United Kingdom or UK
  • CYMRU, Cymru, CWM or Cwm
  • ENGLAND, England, ENG, Eng
  • SCOTLAND, Scotland, SCO or Sco
  • WALES or Wales

What are the rules on adding flags, symbols or identifiers to your number plate?

Any national identifiers that you add to your registration must be placed on the left-hand side of the number plate.

The supplier's website should make it easy and clear as to how your number plate must be laid out by law.

Note that to drive your car in some countries (Spain, Cyprus or Malta) you must have a UK sticker (formerly a GB sticker), no matter what you add to your number plate.

Find out more about driving in Europe

Insurance Company Call Centre

Tell your insurer you have changed your number plates

Inform your insurance company of the change in number plates.

You can normally tell your insurer that you have changed number plates online for a small fee.

Update any relevant automatic payment accounts with your new number plate details, such as:

  • the Congestion Charge
  • the Low Emission Zone Charge
  • the Ultra Low Emission Zone Charge
  • the Dart Charge
  • charges for driving in Clean Air Zones

If you don’t you may receive a penalty charge.

Update your registration details with your breakdown provider

You’ll also need to inform your roadside breakdown cover provider that you have changed your number plates to ensure your vehicle will be recognised on your policy in the event of a breakdown.

If you are a current Start Rescue customer, you can update your vehicle details here:

Customer lounge

Don’t currently have breakdown cover?

You can get affordable and reliable cover from Start Rescue in three simple steps, just by clicking on the link below:

Buy breakdown cover

Fit your new number plates

Once you've received your new number plates, you can fit them yourself, or get your local garage to do it.

The process for selling a private number plate:

The  key steps in the process of selling a private number plate are:

  • Advertise and sell your number plates
  • Receive payment
  • Add number plates to a retention certificate with the DVLA
  • Send the Certificate Number to the new owner for assigning
  • Don’t forget about the £80 fee for deregistering the plates - and make sure your sale price covers it

Does the DVLA buy number plates?

If you are looking to sell a personalised number plate, the DVLA will not buy your private number plate.

It only holds and sells number plates that have never been issued to a vehicle before.

So, how to sell a private number plate?

Best place to sell a private number plate: Where can I sell my private number plate?

You can sell your number plate either using a number plate dealer - who will charge you commission - or you can sell privately.

Selling your private number plate is possible on eBay, Gumtree, or one of the many other classified ad sites.

You can also choose to sell your plates on a dedicated number plate selling website. Search online to find these.

How do I value my number plate?

Wondering how much is my number plate worth?

If you’re looking to sell your number plate, you no doubt want to know how much it is actually worth before selling it.

It's possible to get a valuation on your number plates, but how useful or accurate these number plate valuations are is open to debate.

In short a number plate is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. And this all depends on how desirable it is to other people.

When looking to see how much your number plate is worth, look to find similar number plates as a benchmark for working out the number plate value.

What are the most popular number plates?

Generally speaking, number plates which feature names or words tend to be sought after so are more likely to attract a higher price tag.

Similarly, number plates with dates and initials are popular

Discover the world's most costly number plates

How to transfer the number plates to the new owner

Once you have sold your number plate, assign the number plate to the new owner online.

It's better to do this with the buyer present in person if possible - especially if the plates have achieved a high price.

The buyer will probably want to see a photo of your logbook (V5C) before proceeding with payment.

When providing these documents, make sure you conceal the certificate number/reference number. This is because with these numbers someone to instantly transfer your number plate to their car.

Also conceal the VIN number because they can apply for a new logbook with this. Scamming is rare but it does happen.

How to put a personalised number plate on retention

What is retention.

You may hear the term “on retention” a lot when you’re buying or selling a private number plate.

Retention is referring to a plate that currently isn’t allocated to a vehicle, but it is owned by someone.

Add number plates to retention certificate with DVLA

Once you've received payment, use the DVLA number plate website to de-register the plates from your vehicle and add them on to a retention certificate .

DVLA number plate retention costs £80 including the Assignment Fee.

You can use the V317 application form to apply for your number plate retention by post.

Send Certificate Number to the new owner

You should then send the new owner the Certificate Number with which they can assign the registration to their vehicle instantly online, through the DVLA website.

How do you add a new number plate to your car once you have sold your private number plate?

If the plate has been through the transfer procedure and is now on a vehicle, the new owner to who you have sold the number plate won’t hold a V778 until they apply to the DVLA and pay to have the registration number put on retention.

Once this has happened, your car that had the private number will either be issued with its original number, if it had one and if it’s still available, or a brand-new number appropriate to its date of registration. 

Don’t forget to tell your insurer (and your breakdown provider ) that you have changed your number plates.

Selling car with private number plate: Can you sell a car with a private number plate?

Yes, you can indeed sell a car with a private number plate.

Selling on your vehicle complete with private plate sometimes even adds to the car’s value, especially if you have a sought after personalised number plates, such as one with a name, dates, initials or words.

Can I keep my private number plate if I sell my car?

Yes. If you sell your car, it is possible to retain the registration plate and attach it to another car, hold on to it or even sell it on individually.

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Assignment Of A Private Number To A Vehicle

The transferring of a private registration plate from a certificate (V750/V778) to a vehicle is commonly known as 'assignment' or assigning a number plate to a car.

You will need to send the full V5C (log book) for the vehicle, and the certificate, to the DVLA who will arrange to assign the number plate, and you will receive a replacement V5C back in the post showing the new registration. At this point you can inform your insurer of the assignment of a private number plate and display the acrylic plates on the vehicle. Any applicable tax and MOT records will be automatically updated to reflect the newly assigned registration.

Checklist before Assigning a Number Plate To a Car

Before contacting the DVLA about assigning a number plate to a car, there are some criteria that must be met to assign a registration to a vehicle:

  • The vehicle must either hold both current MOT and tax; be taxed and MOT expired; or MOT expired and tax expired less than six months.
  • The vehicle must be subject to MOT testing at some time during it's life.
  • You can't use a number plate to make a vehicle look newer than it is e.g. you can't assign a 68 series registration to an 51 registration car. You are allowed to use an older registration.
  • You can't perform a number plate transfer onto a Q registered vehicle.
  • Be registered with DVLA in the UK
  • Be able to move under its own power
  • Have been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
  • Be available for inspection

DVLA will check your number plate assignment application and contact you if your vehicle needs an inspection.

How To Apply Assignment To A Registration Plate

If the vehicle is registered to you, you can apply online or by post.

If it is a used vehicle that you have just bought, you will need to wait for the DVLA to send you a new V5C in your name before you apply to assign the private registration plate online or by post.

If your vehicle is brand new, give the dealer your V750 or V778 document and ask them to apply.

If registered to someone else and you want the private number to be transferred to them, you can apply online or by post.

If you already have a private number on your vehicle, apply to take it off first. You could lose the right to use the number if you do not.

Assign a Number Plate Online

When you assign a number plate online, the new registration number will be assigned immediately if your vehicle does not need an inspection. Be ready to put new number plates on the vehicle as soon as you've applied to assign a number plate online.

DVLA Online Registration Transfers Service

This service is open from 7am to 7pm. It's also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Assign A Number Plate To A Car

Assign a Number Plate By Post

You will need to send all of the following documents to DVLA:

  • The completed V750 or V778 - the address is on the form
  • The vehicle’s log book (V5C) or green ‘new keeper’ slip with a completed V62 ‘ Application For A Vehicle Registration Certificate V5C ’
  • If you’re assigning the number to someone else’s vehicle, add them as a ‘nominee’ - complete section 2 of the V750 or V778.

To tax your vehicle at the same time, include the following:

  • A V10 ‘application for vehicle tax’ form
  • The right amount of vehicle tax

After you assign a private number plate by post you’ll be sent a new log book (V5C).

You must then:

  • Put new number plates on the vehicle before you drive it
  • Tell your insurance company your new registration number

You can keep the original plates - the registration will likely be reassigned to the vehicle should you take off the private number.

You must not sell or get rid of a vehicle until you get the new log book (V5C).

Assigning A Number Plate To A Vehicle That Is Not Yours

If the registration plate is to be assigned to a vehicle that is not registered in your name - for example, the private plate is for a gift - you will need to add them as a ‘nominee’ and complete section 2 of the V750 or V778.

How Much Does it Cost to Assign a Number Plate?

As the transfer fee is paid upfront when acquiring a certificate, there is no further charge to assign the registration to a vehicle i.e it's 'free' to apply online or by post.

How Long Will It Take To Assign My Private Number Plate And Receive My Documents?

The time it takes to assign your registration plate will vary depending on how you assign it.

  • Online - The car registration will be assigned immediately if your vehicle does not need an inspection.
  • By Post - This can take up to 2 weeks if your vehicle does not need an inspection.

It may take between 4 to 6 weeks to receive your new log book (V5C) from the DVLA.

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Assign private number plate from V750 Certificate of Entitlement

Got a pink v750 certificate of entitlement from us.

You cannot use the registration number on your vehicle till you have re-registered your vehicle under the new private number plate. To do that you need to apply to the DVLA, and await confirmation this has been done.

How to assign number plate from V750 Certificate

Here's what you need to do to get your new private registration number onto your vehicle

Apply to the DVLA to have your new private registration number assigned to your car (or other vehicle).

Assign your private number plate online:

In many cases your private number plate can be assigned online. But be aware that it MAY be declined if the DVLA wish to do detailed checks or if your MoT / tax is not valid. You must deal direct with the DVLA if this happens.

assign number plate online - step 1

Have your documents ready

You will need these 2 documents:

  • V750 Certificate of Entitlement
  • V5C Registration Document

Please check that your vehicle meets the required criteria (such as MoT and tax) before you start.

assign number plate online - step 2

Click on the link below to start assignment:

https://www.gov.uk/put-registration-number-vehicle   

(opens new window).

Follow the instructions online.

You will receive immediate notification online that your assignment has been successful. You will also receive email notification (if you asked for it). A replacement V5C will be sent by the DVLA in the post (usually within a few days).

Some online assignments may be declined. If this happens, please follow online instructions or contact DVLA for assistance. Also check our instructions (below) on how to assign your private number plate by post.

assign number plate online - step 3

Swap your number plates

Assignment online is immediate. So swap the number plates over as soon as you can. If you need to get them made up, take ID with you. See Getting number plates made up for details (opens new window).

You do not need to wait for the V5C to start using the registration number on your car.

assign number plate online - step 4

Tell your insurance company

Call your insurance company to let them know the registration number for your vehicle has been changed. The DVLA will not do this for you.

They will update their records and send you a replacement Policy Schedule. Some insurance companies make an admin charge for this.

assign number plate - step 5

Replacement Documents

DVLA will send you a replacement V5C Registration Document, displaying your new registration number. Should arrive a few days or so later.

A replacement MoT will not be sent, but the DVLA's computer systems will be updated.

assign number plate - step 6

We hope you get lots of enjoyment from your new personalised registration number.

assignment fee private plate

Assigning by post:

Some online assignment requests may be declined. You may be asked to send your request in the post. This is often because the DVLA wish to double check your vehicle documents before processing the assignment.

assign number plate - step 1

Complete the V750 Certificate of Entitlement

Complete section 1 ONLY "Assigning this vehicle registration number".

See highlighted section on the image to the left.

The Certificate you receive from us will already be signed and stamped in Section 1. If you have a Certificate from elsewhere, ensure it is signed by the "Purchaser" named on the Certificate or refer to where you purchased it from.

Leave the rest of the V750 Certificate (on the right) blank.

show me how to fill in a V750 Certificate of Entitlement

Step 2: Your vehicle documents

You will need to get your vehicle documents together. You need:

  • V750 Certificate of Entitlement (section 1 completed as per Step 1)
  • V5C Registration Document (you do not need to sign anything)

The Registered Keeper on the V5C must be the same as the person named as nominee on the V750 Certificate.

Don't have the V5C Registration Document?

That's usually the case if you have just bought your vehicle and haven't received the V5C in your name yet. You should have the V5C/2 (small green slip) from the Registration Document. You can send this with a completed V62 form instead of the V5C Registration Document.

show me DVLA V62 form and V5C/2

What happens to my MoT and tax?

If you're still in doubt, contact the DVLA for help.

assign number plate - step 3

Step 3: Send to DVLA Swansea

Address is printed on the back of the V750 Certificate.

There are no more fees to pay for the assignment of your new private registration number to your vehicle.

assign number plate - step 4

Step 4: Wait for DVLA. Can take 2-3 weeks.

The DVLA will take up to 15 working days to change the registration number for your vehicle. In the meantime, continue to drive your vehicle as normal. You don't need to change anything at this point.

Do not swap your number plates yet!

DVLA confirmation of assignment

Step 5: DVLA confirm number plate assigned

You will receive a letter from the DVLA confirming your new private registration number has been assigned to your vehicle.

You will NOT receive a replacement MoT Certificate, but the DVLA's systems will be updated. Just take your vehicle from MoT as usual.

Step 6: Replacement Documents

DVLA will send you a replacement V5C Registration Document, displaying your new registration number.

assign number plate - step 7

Step 7: Swap your number plates

Change your number plates as soon as you can after you have been notified by the DVLA.

assign number plate - step 8

Step 8: Tell your insurance company

assign number plate - step 9

Step 9: Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions:

What happens to the existing number plate on my car?

What happens to my MoT and tax when I put a private number plate on my car?

What happens to my private number plate when I change my car?

My Certificate has expired, or is about to expire. What do I do?

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DVLA Auction Fees Calculator

Wondering what that number plate will actually cost at a DVLA auction?

Use our free DVLA Auction Calculators below to calculate the final cost of any number plate sold in a DVLA auction , or work out the highest bid you should place based on your maximum budget.

Calculate the total auction price including fees

What will it cost? Using this calculator, enter a final sale price (hammer price) of a number plate to find out exactly what fees and VAT will be applied on top.

It will reveal the total cost and a breakdown of all added fees.

Enter the price at which the auction is won, referred to as the Hammer Price.

Calculate a maximum bid price based on your budget

What can you afford? Assuming you have a fixed auction budget, this calculator will show you the maximum price you should bid for a number plate.

This will ensure that fees and VAT do not take you over budget.

Enter the maximum price you are willing to spend.

What are the DVLA auction fees?

For every number plate sold in a DVLA auction, there are four additional fees that are added to the sale (hammer) price.

  • VAT on the hammer price (20%)
  • Buyer’s Premium (7% – although previously 8%)
  • VAT on Buyer’s Premium (20%)
  • £80 Assignment Fee

This means winning a DVLA auction can have significant extra costs that not all potential buyers may be aware of.

Although the DVLA make it abundantly clear what these additional fees are whilst you are bidding on a number plate auction lot, it can be hard to work out what costs you may incur beforehand when budgeting for a number plate.

We’ve built this free calculator to clearly show how much each of these additional fees will cost you, including a grand total number plate cost.

You can then set a suitable bidding budget and be sure that you will not be met with any unexpected costs.

What is the buyer’s premium?

A buyer’s premium is a fee charged by most auction houses for hosting and facilitating an auction. It’s almost always charged as a fixed percentage of the selling price of an item.

All DVLA auctions are run by BCA Ltd, who specialise in vehicle auctions across the country.

What is the assignment fee?

The assignment fee is a fixed £80 cost for all number plates won at auction, no matter the hammer price or final selling price

It is the fee charged by the DVLA to put your new number plate on to your vehicle. It is essentially an admin fee to transfer the registration of your vehicle from your old registration to your newly purchased registration.

Are there any other fees?

There are no further fees, however the only other outstanding costs you may face would be for purchasing and fitting a set of physical number plates for your vehicle. These are not included in the DVLA price.

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Personalised number plates: what they mean for your car insurance

Back Back to Solved

14 September 2018

assignment fee private plate

Fancy the registration plate ‘F 1’ on your motor? That went for £440K in 2008 and could now be yours for a cool £10m. ‘M 1’ was bought for £331K in 2006, perhaps by a fan of the 193 mile north-south artery.

While those top-end plates are the preserve of the wealthy, you can pick up a less exclusive one for a few hundred pounds. People are choosing to do so in increasing numbers, with almost 375,000 sold last year by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

UK's most expensive car number plates

Source: Regtransfers

But it’s not just the initial cost of a personalised plate that could dent your bank balance. You may find it affects your insurance cover too.

How to buy a personalised plate 

It’s simple enough to buy one, either from a private dealer or the DVLA, which holds auctions across the country about six times a year. You can search its dedicated website here to see what plates are available. Once you’ve found your desired plate, it even mocks up an image of how it would look on your motor of choice. 

Aston Martin with personalised number plates

The registration plate AG53 EAS would have cost £250 inclusive of VAT and the DVLA £80 assignment fee at the time of writing.

Once you’ve paid, you’ll get a V750 certificate of entitlement. This is to prove that you have the right to use a private number plate. You then need to assign the plate to your car, which you can do online or by post. 

You can keep hold of the original registration number, which will be reassigned to the vehicle when you take off the private number. 

The rules 

It’s illegal to display a registration number other than that shown on the vehicle’s log book, or V5C as its known. 

Plates must conform to a set of specifications: 

  • be made from a reflective material
  • display black characters on a white background (front plate)
  • display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
  • not have a background pattern 

 If they don’t you could fail your MOT, get fined and lose the registration number.

You aren’t allowed to display a registration bearing a year code later than the vehicle’s date of original registration. For example, if you purchase a 62 current style registration, it can only go onto a vehicle that was first registered as new on or after 1st September 2012.  

Check you’re covered 

Most car insurance providers won’t cover personalised number plates, according to 2018 research by GoCompare. In fact, only 19 out of 302 comprehensive car insurance policies studied by the price comparison site covered the loss of a personalised number plate in the event a car was lost or stolen. Some treat personalised number plates as a car modification, although check with your insurer.

Drivers are also being warned that if their car is written off after an accident, then they must act quickly to arrange for their personalised registration number to be transferred to another vehicle or retained on a certificate. Otherwise they could simply lose it alongside the vehicle. 

What’s more, according to GoCompare, if a car with a personalised plate is stolen and isn’t recovered, its owner must wait 12 months to get the number plate back. And to do so, they’ll have to prove that the car had a valid MOT and tax at the time of theft.

The important thing is to check your car insurance policy before to see if the costs of your personalised number plate would be included in an insurance payout. And when you register a personalised number plate, inform your insurer immediately, or your policy could be invalidated. 

Go to Solved to read more about driving, the rules of the road and road safety .

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Private Number Plate Frequently Asked Questions

Some of our most frequently asked questions are below. If you can't find what you are looking for, please feel free to contact us

Latest FAQs

What happens to my present registration number show.

 If you want to keep your present registration you will have to pay the Department For Transport fee to retain it. If not the registration becomes void. You then remove the old registration plates, dispose of them and fit your new registration number when all documentation is complete from DVLA. We have found when you eventually remove your new registration from your car the old registration is, in most cases reissued to the car.

Why are some of the prices subject to VAT? show

Some private number plates are + vat because they are owned by a company/indivual who is VAT registered and has also purchase the plate through the company. If the registration is actually owned by Platehunter.com or is of Government Issue, VAT will on some occasions be added. Registrations that are not subject to VAT are usually being sold on behalf of a third party and are not owned by Platehunter.com

My car windows are etched. Does this affect the chance of being re-issued with the number presently showing on my vehicle, when I transfer my Private show

You may request the old number to be re-assigned to your car only if the windows of the vehicle are etched with the mark and the DVLA may call your vehicle in to be inspected. They do this to verify your claim. There are no guarantees that the governing bodies shall re-issue the mark but in Platehunter’s experience it is highly likely.

What happens to my payment if I change my mind before the transfer has been completed and I no longer want the registration I have agreed to purchase show

We expect all purchase agreements to be honored, just as you would expect platehunter to honor its terms of business. However, we do recognise that some situations may change. Platehunter will endeavor to advertise your Private Plate and sell the registration on your behalf after it has been transferred to your vehicle or payment has been made to Platehunter.com in full.

Can I pay using methods other than credit/debit card? show

We accept most major credit and debit cards (exept Amex), you will save the 2.5% +vat credit card processing fee if you use your bank debit card. You can also  pay via Cheque, the easiest way is to use are online payment facility.

I paid a part payment by credit card and now I wish to pay the rest by credit card also. Is this okay? show

Yes. You may pay the remainder of the outstanding purchase amount by credit card although we shall charge an additional fee depending on how much the transaction is. Debit cards such a Switch do not incur an additional handling charge.  

What does DVLA & DOT stand for? show

Department for Transport.

How can I find out about the status of my transfer? show

You can contact us at any time during office hours for a progress report.

Who provides the acrylic plates? show

We can provide you acrylic plates at a very competitive price.

How long does a transfer take? show

The average time is usually two to three weeks. Plate Hunter endeavors to ensure that every transfer is completed as quickly as possible. However you need to help us. Plate Hunter can not start the transfer process until we have received all your required documents. Plate Hunter Ltd makes every possible effort to take all reasonable care of your documents, however we cannot accept any responsibility for their safety once passed into the hands of the Department of Transport. However Plate Hunter has very rarely experience such problems.

What happens if I need to tax or MOT my vehicle while the transfer is being processed? show

This presents no problem to Plate Hunter, you simply send the appropriate fee with a V10 form   to us, ensuring that you state the old registration number on the application form. In the case of a new MOT, again you must ensure that the garage MOT the vehicle under the old mark and DVLA's system will update automatically once done.

Is it possible to transfer a mark to a vehicle with a "Q" mark? show

Under current law it is not possible to transfer Private number Plates to "Q plate" cars.

Do I have to keep the registration on my vehicle for a certain time before I can transfer it again? show

There are no time restrictions and transferring a mark is a simple procedure which may be applied for yourself. Please note you may not re-advertise you plate with PlateHunter.com until the transaction has been completed and full payment has been made.

If the recipient already has a mark can I transfer both at the same time? show

Yes. This is called a double transfer. It presents no problem for Plate Hunter but you shall need to immediately supply all the documents of the third vehicle involved and an extra £80 cheque payable to the Department of Transport. If no third vehicle is available then the mark can normally be retained on a Department of Transport retention certificate in accordance with the governing Regulations, the current fee has been reduced to  £80.

What if my vehicle has been scrapped? show

Scrapping occurs when a vehicle, whether an insurance write-off or not, is broken up for spares or otherwise destroyed. Once a vehicle ceases to exist its registration number is cancelled. If your vehicle has been scrapped, you will not be able to transfer its registration number. The person who actually breaks up or destroys the vehicle must notify the governing bodies that the vehicle has been scrapped and return the V5 registration document.

Are there any restrictions on my choice of number plate? show

You can't make your vehicle look newer than it is. For example you cannot put a Y registration number on a T registered vehicle but you could choose any prefix range from an A to a T. Each registration has an issue date which is what you must check to ensure you don't make your vehicle appear newer than it is.

What happens if I'm buying a personalised registration as a gift or on behalf of someone else? show

If you are buying a DVLA personalised registration for, or on behalf of another person you will be recorded as the purchaser and the person for whom the registration has been bought for will be recorded as the nominee. The registration mark will then be able to be put on a vehicle registered in your name or that of the nominee. If you are buying a registration on behalf of a company we will record the company's name as the purchaser.

What happens once I have a bought a personalised number from PlateHunter? show

After you've made a purchase from Platehunter we will send you a Certificate of Entitlement (V750). Keep this safe, as this is the form you will need when you are ready to put your personalised registration mark onto your vehicle

Do I have to put the registration straight onto a vehicle? show

No. You have until the expiry date shown on your V750 to put the mark onto a vehicle. If you are still not ready to put your registration mark onto your vehicle before the expiry date printed on your certificate of entitlement, then you can extend the entitlement period for a further 10yrs, please call one of our agents to discuss fees for this. Your application must be made before the certificate expires but only within 28 days of the expiry date.

How do I add or change the nominee details on my certificate of Entitlement (V750)? show

Please call one of our advisors who will arrange this for you.

How do I change my address on my Certificate of Entitlement (V750)? show

This can be arranged online via DVLA as long as there are at least 5 days before the expiry of the certificate. Please note this will also change your online account address. Alternatively simply complete section 4 of the certificate of entitlement (V750) and return it to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea, SA99 1DN. Please allow up to 15 days for the certificate to process. View a sample V750 certificate

How do I extend my entitlement period? show

Please call us to arrange this for you.

If I decide to give up the right to the registration mark can i apply for a refund of the £80 assignment fee? show

Only if you bought the mark after 1 May 1993 and the mark has never been put onto a vehicle. You will also only be able to do this after the expiry date shown on your certificate of entitlement (V750) and up to six years after this date. To do this you should complete sections 5 & 6 on your certificate and return it to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea, SA99 1DN. Once you have done this you will no longer be entitled to the registration mark. How Do I check the validity of a certificate? DVLA  now have an online facility to check this. You will need to have the registration number, and the certificate number to do this. Check the validity of a V750 certificate How can i put my registration on hold when I decide to sell my car? You will need to complete a V317 - Application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number. The cost to retain a registration number is £80.

I have seen my own registration number being offered for sale and do not recall giving authority, why is it listed? show

Platehunter provide details of the many available marks Nationwide. In addition to selling of our own stock items we also hold many public commissions and the stock and commissions of many other dealers throughout the UK. Occasionally, records are miss-typed and appear as an alternative combination that is in fact not for sale. Also there are circumstances where a recently acquired mark is still on our database due to the fact that the donor has failed to advise us of the sale and subsequent non-availability. If you have recently noted that your mark is listed and wish to provide us with further information or wish us to remove it from the web site, please send an email to info @platehunter.com not forgetting to specify the registration in question and the validation character off your V5 (log book) for confirmation. What is a registration number and who has entitlement to it? Registration numbers are not items of property in their own right. They are assigned, and may be withdrawn, by the Secretary of State as part of the basic registration and licensing process which is required by law. The registration number is a unique means of identifying a vehicle, primarily for taxation and law enforcement purposes. It is assigned to the vehicle, rather than its keeper, and unless it is transferred or retained the registration number normally remains with the vehicle until it is broken up, destroyed or sent permanently out of the country. An individual acquires entitlement to a registration number when he or she becomes the registered keeper of the vehicle which carries the number. When the vehicle changes hands, entitlement to its registration number will automatically pass with the vehicle to the new keeper unless use is made of the special facilities which have been designed to allow motorists to acquire and retain particular registration numbers. Namely, the Cherished Transfer, Retention and Sale of Marks schemes.

How do I get a specific number released if it has never been issued? show

In short there are no guarantees of getting any registration number issued that does not exist. Some marks are not issued because they are considered offensive, others just never made it to issue over the years. If you have a specific combination that you would like to acquire please complete this form and we will see what we can do for you - CONTACT US 

How can I safeguard my entitlement to a number? show

Entitlement to a number is effectively the right of the registered keeper of a vehicle to apply to have the number transferred to another vehicle (either his own or someone else's). The keeper is also entitled to apply to have the number of his vehicle put on retention, that is to say take the number off the vehicle and put it on hold pending re-assignment to another vehicle. It is important to note that the keeper may apply, but the application will only be granted if all the conditions relating to the retention and transfer facilities are satisfied. You can help to safeguard your entitlement, therefore, by ensuring that your vehicle is able to meet these conditions.

If you no longer have the vehicle which properly displays the number (ie it is in someone else's keepership or has been scrapped, broken up, destroyed or exported) then your entitlement to the number ceases.

If you no longer have the vehicle which properly displays the number (ie it is in someone else's keepership or has been scrapped, broken up, destroyed show

If your vehicle is stolen and has not been recovered after a year you can apply to have its registration number re-assigned to your replacement vehicle providing certain conditions are met. In order to qualify for the concession, the theft must have been notified to the police and recorded at DVLA as stolen for not less than 12 months. In addition, at the time of the theft the vehicle must have had a current test pass certificate and have had a current vehicle excise License (tax disc). The Agency will also require a letter from your insurers confirming that they have no objection to the number being re-issued. This must be provided because once insurers have settled your claim, they have a rightful claim to the vehicle should it be recovered.

Are there any special rules for motorcycles / mopeds? show

No, all motorcycles (including mopeds) can participate freely provided the normal requirements of the number transfer facility are met.

What happens to my registration number if I export my vehicle? show

You are legally obliged to notify the governing bodies if you are taking your vehicle abroad for more than 12 months. More information on this can be found in leaflet V100

What you need to do to secure the registration number depends on the circumstances. For example, you may be selling the vehicle overseas. In this case, you must either transfer or retain the number before you part with the vehicle. Alternatively, you may be going abroad with the vehicle for a few years and intend to bring it back with you when you return. In this case transfer or retention before you leave is not essential, as most vehicles on return to this country from overseas are able to pick up their GB registration numbers, provided documentary evidence to link the vehicle and the number is available.

The best course of action is to get advice from Customer Enquiries at DVLA, well in advance of the planned date of export. You can write to Customer Enquiries (Vehicles) at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Swansea SA99 1BL.

Please note: If you wish to transfer or retain your number you must do so before the vehicle leaves Great Britain - you cannot apply once the vehicle is out of the country. I have an old vehicle which is not registered at DVLA. Can I register the vehicle and transfer or retain its registration number? It is possible for the vehicle to be registered by the governing bodies. But you will not be able to transfer or retain its number.

What are the basic regulations surrounding transfers? show

The regulations regarding the transfer of registration marks from a donor vehicle to another (recipient) vehicle or to a retention certificate (V778) are : - • The donor must either hold both current MOT and tax; be taxed and MOT expired; MOT expired and tax expired less than six months. • A fee of £80 to the Department of Transport is payable for a vehicle to vehicle transfer and now it's also only costs £80  for placing the mark onto a retention certificate. The certificate is valid for ten years and can be renewed a month before it expires. • A donor vehicle must be subject to MOT testing at some time during its life. • Registration marks legally are owned by the Secretary of State for Transport - it is the right to display the mark on a vehicle which is granted or transferred. If you pass on a vehicle to a new keeper, then you lose control of the registration mark. • You can't use a mark to make a vehicle look newer than it is e.g. you can't assign a P registration to an M registration car. You are allowed to use an older registration. • You can't put a cherished number onto a Q registered vehicle. • Registration marks which have never been used on vehicles before, are issued in the form of certificates of entitlement (V750). So if you find the registration you've always wanted, you can keep it on a certificate until you have a suitable car. Marks on certificates are ideal to give as surprise presents since the actual vehicle documents aren't needed until after the event, so you can give the certificate and a pair of plates, attractively wrapped. • To assign a registration mark on a certificate to a vehicle, you need to post your registration document (V5) and V778/V750 Certificate to DVLA direct- usually in the telephone directory under "Transport, Dept. of". The assignment fee will already have been paid at the time of purchasing the mark, or placing it on retention, so there will be no more costs to pay.  Your V5 will be sent to DVLA, Swansea for the new registration to be put on and then returned direct to you. The V5 will not show another keeper. • The legal time in any registration transfer to actually change your number plates is when you receive back the updated Log Book (V5) with the new registration. • You can apply for tax at the same time as a transfer by sending us your insurance certificate or cover note, a completed V10 (This can be obtained from a post office and should, technically, be filled in with the existing registration mark) and the appropriate fee (cheques to the Department of Transport). • You can apply to put the vehicle into your name at the same time as the transfer by filling in the appropriate part of the V5. If you only have the small green part of the V5 (V5/2) you can use this to do a cherished transfer accompanied by a completed V62 form. • In general the documents needed for a cherished transfer are : - V5 & V317 (transfer form). We request these by letter and then submit them to the DVLA (formerly the DVLC) on your behalf. • When you take a cherished registration off your vehicle, you will be given back a registration mark suitable for the year of the car. Usually, nowadays, you will be given back the original mark. This simplifies DVLA records and, also, is better for drivers who have had their windows etched with the original reg. mark. • A cherished number can be put onto a brand new vehicle. This involves either sending the appropriate entitlement certificate to the car dealer or by us requesting the application for first registration (V55) from the car dealer.

Do you own all the registrations you are selling? show

No, whilst we do have a large number of stock registrations, a lot of our registrations come from individuals who are looking to transfer the marks off their own vehicles, and we also offer a vast range of as yet unissued Government stock.

I've received my tax disc and MOT but not my V5 (logbook), where is it? show

After a transfer is completed, the V5 log book is sent to Swansea for the necessary amendments to be made. This can take up to several weeks after the actual transfer is completed. You CAN use your new plates as soon as you have the new V5 Log Book bearing the new registration.

I've allowed my certificate of entitlement to expire, what do I do now? show

If the certificate has expired, it is very difficult to get it renewed. If the certificate is in your own name then you have to send it to the DVLA in Swansea along with a note giving a very good reason as to why it has expired. Late extensions are accepted in certain circumstances but each case is judged individually by DVLA. Their decission being final.

I've been told that the donor vehicle has been called in for an inspection. What does this mean? show

An inspection is where the DVLA check that the donor car is using the plates legally, by comparing the car chassis number with its log book. Whilst these checks do not happen very often they will slow down the transfer process by at least a week. This is primarily done for the safety of the person buying the plates. If it turns out that the car is stolen, then the DVLA can take the registration back, even after the transfer has been completed.

I've had plates made up, but have been informed that the transfer will not be going ahead. Will you compensate me? show

No. We do state in our paperwork that you should not have any plates made until AFTER you have received your V5 Log Book from DVLA with the new registration showing on it.

I cannot find the registration I want on your website. Can you find out who owns it? show

Not really. The only people who have access to that sort of information are the Police and the DVLA and neither of them will divulge it as it is covered by the Data Protection Act. The only hope you have got of finding the owner is if you spot the car on the road.

I know I can't put a registration on a car that's newer than the vehicle. What about Irish marks? show

Irish registration marks are effectively dateless. They can go onto a vehicle of any age, making them an attractive way of hiding the age of your car.

I've bought a registration from you, but it is still appearing on your website, what does this mean? show

Unfortunately it is unfeasible to update our website as soon as a plate is sold, so in a lot of cases plates appear on our site that have already gone. In these cases the plates are NOT available and will NOT be sold again. If you are really worried about this, please give us a call and we will manually update the record on our database.  

I've sold a registration elsewhere that I advertised on your site, but it is still appearing as available. What do I do? show

Let us know as soon as possible if you sell your registration elsewhere, this saves everybody a lot of time and effort and stops us contacting you in connection with the registration via phone calls, emails and letters.

I am looking to sell my registration but don't know what it is worth, can you help? show

Simply complete our online, FREE, no obligation www.platehunter.com/valuations form and we'll tell you instantly how much we think your registration is worth. Please note that we will also put your details onto our database and keep a record of the mark to assist us in answering questions about it if registrations were ever issued. If you'd like your details removing from our system, please just tell us and we'll be happy to oblige.

You have sent me a quote for a plate, but I don't agree with your valuation, what do I do? show

Simply inform us via email or phone the new figure you want to achieve. Please remember that we have been in this business for a long time and we try to send out quotes that are realistic. Whilst a plate may be worth several thousand pounds to the right person, it is more likely to sell at a slightly lower price, as it will appeal to more people. Occasionally people feel that we quote too highly as they are after a fast sale, in these cases, feel free to change the amount by as much as you like. If your valuation was issued online, just follow the instructions in the valuation email and you can tailor the quote to your liking.

What if my vehicle is stolen and not recovered? show

To apply, or for further information, write quoting the registration number to Cherished Transfer Section, D13, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre, Swansea SA6 7JL.

When do I get paid? show

There are different types of transfer and you will receive payment when appropriate evidence of the transfer completion becomes available:

If your registration is being transferred from your vehicle to the purchaser’s vehicle, transfer completion is officially recognised when the DVLA has concluded the re-registration of your vehicle. Platehunter will release funds to you when a photocopy or high quality scan of your vehicle’s replacement registration document (v5 or logbook) is received from you.

If your registration mark is held on a certificate, you will receive payment when the registration mark has been assigned to the purchaser’s vehicle and we receive evidence of this from the DVLA.

Where the purchaser does not wish to transfer the registration number to a vehicle but prefers to hold on a certificate, payment will be made when Platehunter has received the modified certificate of entitlement (v750) or, if transferred off your vehicle, the retention certificate (v778).

Please note: if applicable, you should not dispose of your vehicle until the transfer process is complete as the rights to the registration mark may be lost.

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  3. RENAULT DACIA DUSTER 💥 Private Reg Plate THE £80 DVLA ASSIGNMENT FEE IS

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  4. Assignment Fee: The (ULTIMATE) Guide

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  5. Assignment Fee: The (ULTIMATE) Guide

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  6. Assignment Fee: The (ULTIMATE) Guide

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COMMENTS

  1. Private (personalised) number plates: Assign a private number to a

    Assign a private number to a vehicle. To assign a private (personalised) number to a vehicle, you need one of the following: a V750 certificate of entitlement - you'll get this if you buy a ...

  2. 21.235 Reassignment of Special License Plates

    License Plate Assignment—the following must be submitted: The registration card in the license plate owner's name or the documents to register the vehicle to the applicant. The vehicle must be currently registered or the renewal fees paid. A Special Interest License Plate Application ( REG 17) or a Special Recognition License Plate ...

  3. DVLA Personalised Number Plate Fees Explained

    Here is a brief summary of the various types of fees and what they cover. Put a registration mark on retention; £80 (used to cost £105 - reduced 9th March 2015) This is simply when you wish to separate your private number plate from a vehicle and keep it on a retention document (V778), rather than transfer it to another vehicle.

  4. Request for License Plate Reassignment

    The reassignment transaction will cancel the plate and reassign. Make a copy of this form and file it in the customer folder. Attach the original reassignment form to the original Registration and Title Application and submit it to the RMV. Note: There is no need to fax this form to the RMV, however keep this document in your records as the EVR ...

  5. The Do's & Don'ts When Buying Private Number Plates

    You will always need to pay the DVLA transfer fee of £80 which is to assign the mark to your car. The assignment fee applies to all personalised / private number plates. These are mandatory fees in addition to the cost of your private plate. Many dealers are required to add on VAT (on VAT qualifying numbers).

  6. Private plates: how to transfer a registration number

    Prices start at £250 including assignment fee and VAT, even for older numbers still in the system. Ordering plates ahead of new registration dates and combinations is now actively marketed, though the best are saved for auctions. Lease cars, company cars, and private plates

  7. About DVLA Personalised Registrations

    Purchasing Online. By using our search, you can access over 60 million registrations in seconds.Prices start from £250 which includes VAT and £80 assignment fee. That means there is nothing else to pay except for the costs of having the actual physical plates made up - NO HIDDEN CHARGES! Once you have found your perfect registration simply click the BUY NOW button to purchase online.

  8. It now costs less to retain your personalised registration

    From today (9 March 2015), the law has changed to reduce the fee to retain a personalised registration from £105 to £80. This will apply to both paper and online transactions. This change sees the removal of the £25 fee currently in place to renew the retention of a vehicle registration number on an annual basis.

  9. Other Questions You Might Have

    All online / telesales registrations include VAT and the £80 assignment fee. This means there is nothing else to pay except for the costs of having the actual physical plates made up. NO HIDDEN CHARGES! This applies to registrations sold from our online/telesales business. The prices advertised for registrations being offered for sale at our ...

  10. Private (personalised) number plates

    Buy a private (personalised) number plate, ... You might be able to get a refund of the £80 assignment fee if: a private number was not assigned to a vehicle after the fee was paid;

  11. Private (personalised) number plates

    Give up your right to use a private number. You might get a refund of £80 if you have the right to use a private number but you decide not to assign it to a vehicle. This refunds the £80 fee you ...

  12. All You Need To Know About Private Number Plates

    Our personalised plate (aka private plate) guide covers the full process - from buying one to making sure you stay on the right side of the law. ... Prices start at £250 (which includes VAT and an £80 assignment fee). If you can find the plate you want here, there's no better way to avoid outlay and intermediaries' costs.

  13. Assign a private number to a vehicle

    Assign a private number to a vehicle You can use this service if your vehicle: is registered, taxed and used in the UK; is available for us to inspect; is of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate; Start now You can't: put a registration number onto a 'Q' or 'QNI' registered vehicle

  14. How to buy or sell a private number plate: Complete guide

    When you buy a private plate you will get either a V750 or a V778 certificate. Both documents are essentially the same thing - a certificate proving who owns the registration number - but a V750 is pink and a V778 is green. ... DVLA number plate retention costs £80 including the Assignment Fee. You can use the V317 application form to ...

  15. Assignment Of A Private Number To A Vehicle

    The transferring of a private registration plate from a certificate (V750/V778) to a vehicle is commonly known as 'assignment' or assigning a number plate to a car. You will need to send the full V5C (log book) for the vehicle, and the certificate, to the DVLA who will arrange to assign the number plate, and you will receive a replacement V5C ...

  16. Assign private number plate from V750 Certificate of Entitlement

    Step 3: Send to DVLA Swansea. Address is printed on the back of the V750 Certificate. There are no more fees to pay for the assignment of your new private registration number to your vehicle. Step 4: Wait for DVLA. Can take 2-3 weeks. The DVLA will take up to 15 working days to change the registration number for your vehicle.

  17. Private Number Plates UK Car. What do I need to know?

    Resellers of private plates often make them cheaper but exclude the initial assignment fee so aren't actually cheaper. Every time you change car and move your plate to that car you'll have to pay £80 for a re-assignment fee. You'll have to go to a dealership who prints the plate to get it printed. Insurance will make no difference at all.

  18. What's the process behind buying a personalised number plate?

    Once you purchase the number plate you will receive a v750, which is a certificate of entitlement. you can have this in your name or a nominee's name, doesn't make a huge difference. This already includes the £80 assignment fee, so if you want to use this registration on a vehicle you simply go to the DVLA website and fill in the form (V5C ...

  19. DVLA Auction Fees Calculator

    For every number plate sold in a DVLA auction, there are four additional fees that are added to the sale (hammer) price. These are: VAT on the hammer price (20%) Buyer's Premium (7% - although previously 8%) VAT on Buyer's Premium (20%) £80 Assignment Fee. This means winning a DVLA auction can have significant extra costs that not all ...

  20. Personalised number plates: what they mean for your car insurance

    The registration plate AG53 EAS would have cost £250 inclusive of VAT and the DVLA £80 assignment fee at the time of writing. Once you've paid, you'll get a V750 certificate of entitlement. This is to prove that you have the right to use a private number plate. You then need to assign the plate to your car, which you can do online or by post.

  21. Number plate fees : VicRoads

    Fee. The plate assignment fee is $137.90. Please note, this fee does not apply to heavy vehicle plates or the first time a custom or personalised plate is assigned to a registered vehicle. $137.90. Change of number for a light vehicle (two new general issue plates) $40.80. Change of number for a heavy vehicle/heavy trailer (two new national ...

  22. Number Plate FAQs

    Some private number plates are + vat because they are owned by a company/indivual who is VAT registered and has also purchase the plate through the company. ... and V778/V750 Certificate to DVLA direct- usually in the telephone directory under "Transport, Dept. of". The assignment fee will already have been paid at the time of purchasing the ...

  23. do I have to pay twice to put my private plate on a diferent car?

    Before you sell car put private plate on retention - costs £80. Do online, instant change and put original plates back on your current car to return or sell. When you have new car, allocate plate on retention to new car, no charge. Done online. again instant transfer so must put private plate on new car immediately.