How to transfer your private number plate to your new vehicle

We take a look at what’s involved in buying a private registration number for your car, and the process you need to follow to transfer it to your vehicle.

If you’ve never transferred a number plate before the process can be quite daunting, but once you know what you’re doing it’s fairly simple. The DVLA have made the process as easy as possible so that anyone is able to remove their private number plate from their old car and have it transferred to another. We’ve created this short guide to give you all the information you need to get started and complete the process with ease.

Transferring a private number plate

When you buy a private number plate you are really buying the right to assign the plate to a vehicle, and this can be registered to a vehicle in your name, or in someone else’s name known as a nominee. You are able to transfer the plate from one vehicle you own to another, to a vehicle you are buying or to someone else’s vehicle, for example if you are buying it as a gift.

There are certain requirements that your vehicle must meet if you are transferring a plate:

• Both vehicles must be registered with the DVLA 
• Both vehicles must have passed an MOT check 
• The vehicles must have road tax or been declared SORN for 5 years 
• The vehicles must be ready for inspection if asked

You will not be able to apply for a number plate transfer if: 

• The plate is being transferred to an older vehicle to make it look younger. 
• The plate starts with ‘NIQ’ or ‘Q’ for Northern Ireland registered vehicles 

When applying to transfer your number plate you will need to fill out a V317 form which has replaced the previous V778 form which was more complicated. The form can be filled out online or via post, where you can print and send the document, or collect one at your local large post office. You will also need the have the plate transfer fee of £80 which can be paid via debit or credit card if applying online or via cheque if you apply by post. You will also need a copy of the V5C (logbook) for both vehicles if the plate is being transferred from one car to another.

Once the application to have the number plate removed has been approved, you can then apply to have the number plate transferred to another vehicle. To do so you will need:

• The V750 Certificate of Entitlement or V778 Retention Document you received when you had the plate removed off the old vehicle. 
• The log book (V5C)
• An MOT certificate if the vehicle is over 3 years old 

From here you can make your application to have the plate put on another vehicle. If, however, the plate is going to be placed on someone else’s vehicle then they will have to be added as a nominee. To do so, you will need to complete Section 2 of the V750/V778 document to add the nominee’s name. If you decide to sell your private number plate through a website, you will be given all of the information you need on how to change the registered owner of the number plate.

The process of having a private plate transferred from one vehicle to the other usually takes around 2 weeks, dependent on whether or not you have sent all of the correct documents. Once it has been approved you can have the number plate fitted onto your new vehicle.

Thanks for providing the advice in this article go to NewReg, experts in this field, a leading Number Plate specialist since 1991 and the first UK company to deliver on-line sales and transfer of car registrations.