Transferring Cherished Number Plates and Car Insurance

Do you own a cherished or personalised number plate?

What do you do if you are buying a new car and wish to transfer it from the old one? How do apply for insurance before taking delivery of the new car if you are transferring the registration?
How can you sell or trade your car against another, or scrap the car while retaining your cherished number plate?

If you are trading in your car against another at a main car dealership or purchasing direct from them, the dealer will most likely be able to transfer your registration number from the old car to the new one at the time he taxes the new one and changes it into you name so you can pick up your new car with your registration number already on it. You will need to provide insurance details before picking up the new car. The car insurance is rated on many factors but number plate is not yet one of them, although it could be argued that personalised number plate holders are more inclined to look after their motors, it could equally be argued that personalised or cherished number plate holders are more likely to drive modified or unusual vehicles that present a greater risk.

Vehicle to Vehicle number plate transfer

You will need to:

* complete a V317 application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number – if the number is being transferred to someone elses vehicle, then both registered keepers must complete the application
* enclose the GBP80 transfer fee

Also enclose for both vehicles:

* the registration certificate or logbook
* or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C
* a test certificate – needed for cars and motorcycles over three years old.

If the new keepers supplement has been stamped by a DVLA local office you will need to complete a V62 application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C before you can apply.

If either vehicle needs taxing, enclose:

* a completed V10 application for a tax disc or the V11 reminder
* a certificate of car insurance or valid cover for the vehicle
* the payment of vehicle tax

Take or send the completed application to your nearest DVLA local office.
This type of transfer has one big drawback in that you need both cars simultaneously , if you let the old car go to a new owner before the transfer is complete you have let the registration number go with it, conversely if you transfer the number to a car not yet registered in your name you have given your number away.

Conditions for retaining a cherished registration number

To retain the registration number, the vehicle must be:

* registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
* available for inspection
* of a type that needs an MOT
* currently taxed

However, if the vehicle is not taxed, you can still apply to retain provided:

* there is no break between the date the tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN
* and the tax disc run out no more than 12 months before the date you apply

How to apply

Take or send the following to your nearest DVLA local office:

* a completed V317 application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number
* the registration certificate for the vehicle
* the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C
* a test certificate for cars and motorcycles over three years old.
* the fee to retain – GBP105 for one year, GBP130 for two years or GBP155 for three years

The V778 lasts for 12 months and can be used to assign the number to a car registered in your name with no transfer fee to pay. If you fill in the nominee section at the time of application with your wifes, husbands or other suitable persons name , it is free at application time and means you could put the number on their car instead. Change of nominee costs GBP25 after the V778 has been issued.

for more information visit the DVLA website