Transferring number plate from retention to retention? How?

[ka90]

I've just sold one of my number plates and the seller just wants it on retention.
DVLA hasn't provided this as an option and various forums haven't returned a result.

So far all I've found is;
'You can put your private number on someone else’s vehicle either online or by post. Once it’s on there, they have the option to take the number off.'- https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

But, I've spotted that you can apply to change the name and address of the document..
Could I use this as a loop hole to assign the details of the plate to the seller? https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[iDrive]

Add the other party as Nominee?

Once they are named on the Certificate (you can add them on-line), the plate can be transferred to a vehicle registered in their name too.

http://dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk/help/search...

[Red Devil]

ka90 said:

I've just sold one of my number plates and the seller just wants it on retention.
DVLA hasn't provided this as an option and various forums haven't returned a result.

I think you meant the buyer.

I am assuming you have the number on retention rather than on your vehicle.
If so read the notes in bold on the back of the V778.
You, the Grantee have been given the right...... This right has been granted to you alone and is non-transferable.

All that adding a nominee will do is generate a new V778 which will be sent to the Grantee (i.e. you).

Now look at the first bullet point in Section A
A nominee does not acquire any entitlement to the VRM until it is assigned to his/her vehicle.

So he/she needs to do this asap.

Otherwise you, the Grantee, could pre-empt the buyer by assigning it yourself to any qualifying vehicle of your choosing using the online service.
All you would need is the reference number off a copy of the V778.

ka90 said:

So far all I've found is;
'You can put your private number on someone else’s vehicle either online or by post. Once it’s on there, they have the option to take the number off.'- https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

That's assigning the VRM - i.e. to a specific vehicle - not becoming the Grantee (see above).

ka90 said:

But, I've spotted that you can apply to change the name and address of the document..
Could I use this as a loop hole to assign the details of the plate to the seller? https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registrati...

You can only do name and address by post. It also requires supporting documents which are going to pose a problem for you. Its primary purpose is for women who adopt their husband's last name after marriage or revert to their maiden one after divorce. I may be wrong but I don't think the DVLA's system will permit that as a work round to give your buyer retention rights.

AFAIK the only way for the buyer to do what he desires is to put it on a qualifying vehicle of which he/she is the RK and then take it off again, retaining the VRM as the Grantee. Unless anyone can prove otherwise.

[iDrive]

I have sold plates - each time by adding the buyer as the Nominee.

Whilst it is possible for you to put the plate on a vehicle after the Nominee has been added, the Nominee has the option to put it on a vehicle immediately or trust that you won't take the plate back and keep it on the certificate.

[Red Devil]

You're reiterating what I already said.

The key point is that the buyer cannot do what the OP has told us he/she wants to - i.e. retain it - because he/she doesn't yet have any right to the VRM.
He/she can only acquire that right by first assigning it to a vehicle which is registered to him/her.
Until he/she does so the seller remains the Grantee with sole right to that VRM. The DVLA will not recognise any transfer.
Once the assignment has been completed and the DVLA records updated the buyer can then take it off again by putting it on retention in his/her name.
Only then will he/she become the Grantee with a V778 issued by the DVLA.

If the buyer is happy not to assign the VRM and accepts the risk involved that's his/her judgement call.

[ka90]

Thanks for all the help!
It seems strange that the DVLA don't have a mechanism for this process.
You'd think with the number of plates being used as investments, they'd find a better way to process it.
I suppose the DVLA would lose their assignment fee..

So if the buyer trusts me, then adding him as a nominee would work until he puts it onto his car in February and takes full ownership. Or transfer it onto the car of his choosing, costing him the £80 when he changes it onto his new car in February.