If you have a personal number plate, you may wish to keep it for longer than the vehicle you own. It's very likely that you'll need to transfer it or retain it when you switch vehicles. You may choose to transfer it directly to another car, depending on your circumstances. If you don't have another vehicle available, you may need to transfer it to a Retention Document. A separate article discusses the process for transferring on to a Retention Document.
This is a step-by-step tutorial on moving a personal number plate from one car to another.
What process do you have to follow?
First of all obtain a V317 form from the DVLA or from a broker website
A V317 form can be downloaded via the internet.
Fill out the V317 transfer application with details of the two vehicles
To complete the form, you'll need the V5 Registration Document for each vehicle.
Send the V317 form and vehicle documentation to DVLA Swansea with a cheque for £80 made payable to DVLA.
You will need to ensure the vehicles are toad taxed and MOT tested where required although there is now an option to transfer to and from vehicles that have been declared SORN for no more than 5 years.
So, what's next?
Your application will be processed by DVLA if all of your paperwork is in order.
The transfer process could take up to 2-4 weeks to complete. When your application is approved, the DVLA will send you replacement V5C documents for both vehicles.
Your vehicle MOT and Tax status are updated on the DVLA system.
A new registration number is assigned to the donor vehicle and this is typically the same registration the vehicle had issued to it at first registration.
The replacement registration will always be a standard registration number indicative of the year of first registration for the vehicle. The personal number plate you are transferring will be referenced on the replacement V5C document for the recipient vehicle.
When the number plate transfer is processed, what happens next?
After receiving replacement documents from the DVLA you will know that your transfer has been approved, and you must then:
Purchase number plates for the vehicles and install them on the vehicles.
Notify your insurance provider of the change in the respective registration numbers for the vehicles.
There is nothing more that you need to do – it’s that simple.
What are the different ways to buy private number plates?
A personal number plate, often known as a personalized registration number, is a unique and distinctive car registration plate. The vehicle owner will have paid to have his or her own choice of numbers or letters on the plate, frequently making a recognizable phrase, slogan, or their name.
Apersonal number plate will have a price, which is primarily determined by the number and letter combinations, and the rarity of the registration. Personal number plates reveal a lot about the owner, so choose something that symbolizes your personality or a hobby that you enjoy. Obtaining a personal number plate begins with your reasons for requiring one. It doesn't matter if it's for personal or professional reasons; what matters is that it accomplishes your goal whatever that might be. Play with number and letter combinations to create your own personalized number plate and make a list of combinations you like at a cost you can afford.
You need to set your budget during this process as it will rule out some of the combinations in which you have an interest. You must always decide how much money you are willing to spend on your licence plate. It's possible that by not having a precise budget you will over commit yourself and overspend which may take away some of the pleasure.
Gather market information on the costs and how personal number plates are valued once you've decided on a budget and an ideal personal number plate combination. The number's rarity will drive up the price and you need to be aware of this. For the initial data collection, and market research you should use the internet. You can then contact brokers and compare costs and charges whilst trying to negotiate the best deal. This will help you to make an informed decision on where to spend your hard-earned cash. Ensure that the transaction is fully transparent and processed by a reputable business with relevant accreditation. If you're on a limited budget, you'll want to keep an eye out in the market place for deals as and when these are available.
There are additional options in purchasing already issued personalized licence plates. If you want to buy an already issued number plate, you need to make contact with a reputable number plate broker. You may also want to consider auctions where you may also develop a valuable network of personalized number plate enthusiasts who may be able to guide you in making the perfect purchase.
Conclusion:
If you are considering selling your current vehicle and you have a personalised number plate you can either transfer it ti another vehicle or hold it on a retention document for future assignment to a vehicle. The DVLA Licensing agency makes a significant amount of money selling unissued private registration numbers and charging for the transfer of existing registration plates to and from vehicles. Purchasing personal number plates appears to be a simple task but there are risks involved in the transfer procedure that can prove to be expensive. You need to research the market and find the ideal number plate for your budget without over committing your finances. You will find pleasure in owning your ideal personal number plate.
Sign in to leave a comment.