The DVLA are so efficient and a pleasure to use.

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I had my car for sale and a chap came and looked at it on Wednesday,agreed to buy it,gave me a deposit and agreed to collect it on Monday.

Just after he left on the Wednesday I went online at the DVLA website and filled out the form to transfer my private plate to a retention certificate.I paid £80 to put it onto retention for up to 10 years.As soon as I paid it said that I could take the private registration off now and put on the new number they gave me which was the original number and as I still had it later on the day I put the original number on the car.They gave me the retention certificate number and said that I would receive the new V5 and the actual retention certificate in the next 3-5 days.The V5 came on the Friday and the retention certificate the next day.

I have also noticed on the DVLA website that when the buyer of my car comes to pay the balance and collect my car we do not have to use the paper V5.We put the details required including our E-mail addresses and when the form is complete and sent to the DVLA it will instantly send the buyer an E-mail to say he is the new registered keeper of the car and that a new V5 will be sent to him in the next 5 days.I as the seller will also get an E-mail to say I am no longer the registered keeper of the car and within 5 days will also get a letter to say I am not the owner of the car and a refund of any full months left on the car tax.

This also has the benefit that we both have an E-mail with the time that the ownership of the car changed hands so there will be no arguments regarding any possible motoring offences.

To me the above makes selling a car or/and moving a private plate very quick and easy.

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cologne2792 said:

Which Position of Oversight / Office do you hold at DVLA ?

I have no association with the DVLA,I am English,although I live in Cardiff and my wife and children are Welsh.

Everyone on hear gives the DVLA a tough time probably deservedly as getting to speak with someone is near impossible,the phone options are a joke and if you send something to them you are not guaranteed everything will be ok.

They seam to be offering new services on their website that will make them more efficient and make things quicker and easier for the public.

When people have bad service from them they criticise then and as I had good service I thought I would give them some praise.

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roofer said:

Having done similar recently, I can confirm it actually works.

Surprising considering its in Wales

Yes they are quite good at Rugby as well just like the Australians.

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InitialDave said:

Here's the thing, in fifteen years, I've never had a problem with the DVLA. Even when I've been trying to resolve stuff that I was expecting to be a complete pain, it's been sorted out with a phone call, and they were really helpful.

I don't doubt 90% of the people complaining about them have encountered genuine incompetence, but obviously you're going to hear more about that than you are people singing their praises.

I would doubt that 90% of the people that complained about the DVLA encountered genuine incompetence BY THE DVLA.

Probably more like 90% of the people complaining filled out the documents incorrectly.