Transferrring/Retaining a number plate on sold car

Transferrring/Retaining a number plate on sold car

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Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
I have just taken a deposit for the wife's car sold privately. It still has a private plate on it, that she is either going to transfer to her bike or put on retention.

Firstly she is away on business, and not back until Friday night. From everything I have read (https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/transferring-a-registration-number ) it is the registered keeper (wife) that needs to do this, and not the owner/name on original number plate purchase (me) that can do it, so Monday will be earliest we can do anything.

1) Is that correct - has to be registered keeper?

The buyer wants the car ASAP, but is happy to wait til Monday if necessary.

I hoped to get her to pop to Maidstone DVLA office and do this, but from here it appears to be closed:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dvla-local-offi...

However Sidcup appears to have an office:-

http://www.dvlacontactnumber.com/DVLA_Offices_Numb...

2) Anyone know if this office is actually open?

If either office is open, and we can do the transfer it will make life much easier - however I know that DVLA will give new tax disc, but will have to get a new V5 issued from Swansea. If they do this for us:-

3) What do we give to the new keeper? I assume if we send off the completed transfer of V5 the DVLA will get confused? Will we need to wait for new V5 and then send off?

If no office is open and we have to send the forms off - what do we do with regards the V5 for the new keeper? I assume the same as question 3 above!

Or am I reading too much into this? Should we just send off the documents to DVLA, and when it all comes back, complete the V5. I don't like the idea of someone else driving around in the car with our name still on the V5.

I will call DVLA tomorrow, but was hoping someone here may know what to do.

Thoughts?

Bungleaio

6,324 posts

201 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
The golden rule is to transfer the plate before you sell.

I'm in a similar situation, I'm selling my car to a dealer and I need to keep the plate but I haven't got chance to transfer as they want the car friday morning. They have said they can take care of the transfer but if I lose the plate I will be gutted.

The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
How would they know whether it was signed by your wife, or by you made to look like your wife's signature? wink

Also, if the office is open, you're allowed to do the paperwork for someone else assuming everything is present and correct.

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
To take a reg off takes a few weeks afaik and they will take the V5 from you and then post it back. Better to sort before you sell really.

TX.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
The Moose said:
How would they know whether it was signed by your wife, or by you made to look like your wife's signature? wink

Also, if the office is open, you're allowed to do the paperwork for someone else assuming everything is present and correct.
Fortunately (for me) I don't look like my wife. Was not sure if I could therefore do the in DVLA office.

Understood re the signature wink.

Is more what the situation is with regards to the V5 doc for new owner to retain. I am sure this is not an unusual situation but that does not mean I expect an easy process from DVLA!

With regards to the sort it before it sells. Is a valid point, but only put the car up for sale yesterday to gauge interest and it has sold!

Terminator X said:
To take a reg off takes a few weeks afaik and they will take the V5 from you and then post it back. Better to sort before you sell really.

TX.
Too late for that!

The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
If you can't find an office that's open, I think you're cream crackered I'm afraid...

Sir Bagalot

6,463 posts

180 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Don't let the car go until you get the V5 back. Expect this to take 7-10 days. If you let it go before then there is a chance of you losing the plate.

Bungleaio said:
They have said they can take care of the transfer but if I lose the plate I will be gutted.
I'm sorry but laugh

Either tell them they have to wait or get it in writing that they will sort out the transfer and return to you or compensate you with market value.

MrReg

1,930 posts

221 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
All local offices are closed now.
Everything done by post to Swansea.

Bungleaio

6,324 posts

201 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Sir Bagalot said:
I'm sorry but laugh

Either tell them they have to wait or get it in writing that they will sort out the transfer and return to you or compensate you with market value.
Yeah it's far from an ideal situation and it breaks my golden rule of transferring before selling but it's the situation I have been forced into.

They have said they will give me the plate back and this will be in writing. Fingers crossed they don't screw it up!

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Firstly - correct above. ALL DVLA offices are now closed despite what their website says re some local offices being open.

It took 3 phone calls to DVLA, but I finally managed to get to someone that has managed to confirm what can be done here, with minimal hassle. The lady admitted the DVLA do not like it, but it is possible to do the number plate transfer, and the transfer of ownership on V5 at the same time.

For future reference in case anyone needs to do this:-

1) Complete the V5c with new keeper details, and get countersigned etc. Give new keeper portion of form to the new owner.

2) Complete form V317. For a transfer the new owner signs the left hand side. The owner of the vehicle being transferred to completes the right hand side.

3) Send a covering letter explaining what you are doing!

That apparently is how it is done. The new owner will receive the new tax disc, and the MOT returned within 2 weeks. The transferred to owner of 2nd vehicle will receive the same for theirs. The V5 will arrive with new details for both vehicles to respective owners approx 2 weeks later.

First two people told me it was not possible, and forms would need to be completed first, and then transfer later. However that is not how it reads on the form V317.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

264 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
New owner is screwed though regarding how to insure the car on what plate and will prob get pulled by the police now it's all electronic.

Never sell a car or buy a car on a private plate, it's mega hassle.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
New owner is screwed though regarding how to insure the car on what plate and will prob get pulled by the police now it's all electronic.

Never sell a car or buy a car on a private plate, it's mega hassle.
No more screwed than current owner would be if putting their plate on retention. There is always a gap when the numbers are switched at DVLA, and documents are in the post. Unfortunately since the government decided to shut the DVLA local offices, the process of posting is always likely to cause some issues.

Whether it is the new keeper, or existing keeper that is driving the vehicle the risk is the same. All you can do is put the plates on the vehicle on the day that you receive the new tax, and MOT returned, and inform your insurance company.

I actually think if this all works out and DVLA do not screw it up, that the process for transfer of plates, and new keeper tied in together could work. It just does not seem that DVLA like it. Probably means walking from one side of the office to the other!

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Terminator X said:
To take a reg off takes a few weeks afaik and they will take the V5 from you and then post it back. Better to sort before you sell really.

TX.
This.

I did it when I sold my old Range Rover and it took about three weeks in the end.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
So back to this thread again. Ignore the doomsayers that say you must transfer a registration number before selling a car. It is absolute rubbish!

There is a process that works, and it is as I stated above.

The buyer received the V5, Tax and MOT to their address, and we (the seller) received the retention document in correct name to our address. No hardship at all to the seller or the buyer. It didn't even take any longer than a normal retention (I know as I also put my car on retention the same day, and both came back on the same day).

If anyone wants a template on how to do this use the following:-

"DVLA Personalised Registrations,
Swansea
SA99 1DS
<INSERT DATE>

Dear Sirs,

Following on from a verbal conversation I had with DVLA on <INSERT DATE>, this covering letter is to explain the request for Retention of Personalised Registration at the same time as Transferring vehicle to New Keeper.

The details are.

New Keeper details for <INSERT Vehicle>

<INSERT NEW KEEPER ADDRESS>

1. V5 form completed with new keeper information, and countersigned.
2. New Keeper details section provided to new keeper at point of sale

Retention of registration


1. Form V317 signed by new registered keeper of <INSERT Vehicle> (<INSERT BUYER NAME>)
2. Form V317 signed by current registered keeper, and Grantee (<INSERT SELLER NAME>)
3. Tax details for <INSERT Vehicle> enclosed
4. MOT for <INSERT Vehicle> enclosed.
5. £105 transfer fee enclosed for transfer of registration


Expectation from conversation with DVLA is that the following will happen:-

1) New Tax and MOT will be sent to <INSERT Vehicle> new keeper (<INSERT BUYER NAME>) within 10 working days of receipt
2) Number plates on vehicle will be switched on receipt of Tax and MOT
3) New V5 will be sent to <INSERT Vehicle> new keeper (<INSERT Buyer Name>) within 10 working days of tax and MOT being sent
4) Retention document for <INSERT retained number plate> will be sent to current keeper (<INSERT Seller Name>)

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact via phone on .............

Yours sincerely, "




Hope this helps next time this question comes up. It will also work if you want to transfer rather than retain, by tweaking the text a bit.



Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
It's not absolute rubbish at all. Once the car is sold the rights to the plate transfer to the new owner. You can have him sign any bit of paper you like, but without his compliance during the transfer you're stuffed. Unless the plate is worth thousands are you really going to take him to court?
Add to that the extra layer of faff factor to the sale and you can easily put off the more cautious buyer.

Empty the boot and the glovebox. Run the fuel down, give it a wash and retain the plate. Then advertise it for sale.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
Impasse said:
It's not absolute rubbish at all. Once the car is sold the rights to the plate transfer to the new owner. You can have him sign any bit of paper you like, but without his compliance during the transfer you're stuffed. Unless the plate is worth thousands are you really going to take him to court?
Add to that the extra layer of faff factor to the sale and you can easily put off the more cautious buyer.

Empty the boot and the glovebox. Run the fuel down, give it a wash and retain the plate. Then advertise it for sale.
If you sold the car with the plate you are correct. I never sold the car with the plate.

I sold the car, and retained the plate by getting the correct paperwork signed and sent off. I sent the documentation (as the seller is responsible for). If the buyer wanted to purchase the car, they had to comply with signing the paperwork. If they did not comply, they did not buy the car.

The point I was making was a number of people believe that you have to transfer/retain the plate before selling the vehicle. This is not a true statement. It is a "rubbish" statement. Effectively it is a myth, and that is why people think it is a faff. As stated You can easily and confidently sell a car, and do transfer/retention at the same time. There is no faff. Unless signing one more piece of paper as a buyer is classed as a faff?

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
Impasse said:
It's not absolute rubbish at all. Once the car is sold the rights to the plate transfer to the new owner. You can have him sign any bit of paper you like, but without his compliance during the transfer you're stuffed. Unless the plate is worth thousands are you really going to take him to court?
Add to that the extra layer of faff factor to the sale and you can easily put off the more cautious buyer.

Empty the boot and the glovebox. Run the fuel down, give it a wash and retain the plate. Then advertise it for sale.
Good advice and after having experience of selling a car with a private plate attached I can confirm that all of us could do without that hassle!

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
Impasse said:
It's not absolute rubbish at all. Once the car is sold the rights to the plate transfer to the new owner. You can have him sign any bit of paper you like, but without his compliance during the transfer you're stuffed. Unless the plate is worth thousands are you really going to take him to court?
Add to that the extra layer of faff factor to the sale and you can easily put off the more cautious buyer.

Empty the boot and the glovebox. Run the fuel down, give it a wash and retain the plate. Then advertise it for sale.
If you sold the car with the plate you are correct. I never sold the car with the plate.

I sold the car, and retained the plate by getting the correct paperwork signed and sent off. I sent the documentation (as the seller is responsible for). If the buyer wanted to purchase the car, they had to comply with signing the paperwork. If they did not comply, they did not buy the car.

The point I was making was a number of people believe that you have to transfer/retain the plate before selling the vehicle. This is not a true statement. It is a "rubbish" statement. Effectively it is a myth, and that is why people think it is a faff. As stated You can easily and confidently sell a car, and do transfer/retention at the same time. There is no faff. Unless signing one more piece of paper as a buyer is classed as a faff?
So your buyer insured the car on the original numberplate even though the replacement tax disc, MOT and logbook hadn't been issued and received? Well lucky he didn't get pulled by the plod as the car would't have been insured!

Howard-

4,950 posts

201 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
The fact of the matter is that the plate belongs to the car, not the owner of the car. Once money has changed hands and the car belongs to its new owner, this new owner can do with the plate what they please, whether that means deciding to cooperate with your request to have the plate transferred back to you, or not.

If you want to keep the plate, or anything attached to a car, remove it before selling it. Simples.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

228 months

Wednesday 30th April 2014
quotequote all
St John Smythe said:
So your buyer insured the car on the original numberplate even though the replacement tax disc, MOT and logbook hadn't been issued and received? Well lucky he didn't get pulled by the plod as the car would't have been insured!
Of course he didn't. He would be retarded if he did that!

He insured the vehicle on the private plate, and he had the green new keeper supplement (showing private plate), and with existing tax disc. He had a copy of the MOT certificate. The private plate was still physically on the car.

The MOT certificate (that he had seen the original) was sent to the DVLA with the other paperwork (including the Tax Disc number). When he received the new tax disc, log book, and MOT with re-issued number plate he switched the plates, and called his insurance company to tell them of the change.

As he had informed them previously (like I had when I retained my plate on my own car) that he was doing this, there was no admin charge for this change.

As stated above he was of no more risk driving the car I sold, that I was of driving my car where I had retained the number plate, during the period DVLA were doing their "thing".

I don't understand why this is perceived as awkward.

I am not saying there is a little bit more work involved doing it all at once. I need to collect the old plates if I want them back, and I had to use a little bit more ink from my biro to sign an additional form, and a bit of printer ink to print the letter above. If possible is easier to remove the plate first (as I have done with my car) - but if you are in a position where the car sells before you remove the plate, there is a process that works, and has no (or little) risk, to the buyer or seller.

Hopefully if anyone is searching for this they can see a real life example of how this works, rather than a lot of opinions of potential issues, that are not true!