Selling a Cherished Number, how to let buyer become Grantee?
Discussion
Hi there,
Bit of an odd one, but I imagine very common...
- I have a Cherished Number which is currently on a V778 Retention Document in my name. Let's assume I don't have a car.
- I have someone wishing to purchase the Cherished Number off me, but they have no plans to assign it to a vehicle in the foreseeable future. Let's assume they don't own a car at the moment either.
How do I proceed?
I can't seem to assign a new Grantee by sending off a V778... I can only use Section 2 to add a Nominee. Understandably, this does not float for the buyer as, once sent off to the DVLA, the new V778 will return to me, still in my name but with them added as a Nominee. And I completely reason with them. They want definitive rights to the Cherished Number they're paying for.
It seems, the only 2 options are:
1) I go out and buy a car with the sole purpose of assigning the number plate onto it. Once the new V5 arrives, I then use a V317 form to retain the number plate, tick 'NO' in Section 4 and provide the buyer's details. This way the generated V778 will be in the buyer's name and address.
2) I send off my V778, completing Section 2 to add the buyer as a nominee. When I get the replacement V778 back, I then hand it over to the buyer who then needs to assign it to a car using Section 1, and then as soon as they receive the V5 in their name showing the Cherished Number, they apply for a retention, alas reaching the desired outcome of a V778 showing the Cherished Number in their name (as the Grantee, not the nominee).
These seem like incredibly longwinded walkarounds, and very expensive if neither buyer or seller have a car. I have contacted DVLA and they simply shrugged.
There must be a way round this? Surely Regtransfers / National Numbers etc have to do this on a daily basis, and somehow manage?
Many thanks
Bit of an odd one, but I imagine very common...
- I have a Cherished Number which is currently on a V778 Retention Document in my name. Let's assume I don't have a car.
- I have someone wishing to purchase the Cherished Number off me, but they have no plans to assign it to a vehicle in the foreseeable future. Let's assume they don't own a car at the moment either.
How do I proceed?
I can't seem to assign a new Grantee by sending off a V778... I can only use Section 2 to add a Nominee. Understandably, this does not float for the buyer as, once sent off to the DVLA, the new V778 will return to me, still in my name but with them added as a Nominee. And I completely reason with them. They want definitive rights to the Cherished Number they're paying for.
It seems, the only 2 options are:
1) I go out and buy a car with the sole purpose of assigning the number plate onto it. Once the new V5 arrives, I then use a V317 form to retain the number plate, tick 'NO' in Section 4 and provide the buyer's details. This way the generated V778 will be in the buyer's name and address.
2) I send off my V778, completing Section 2 to add the buyer as a nominee. When I get the replacement V778 back, I then hand it over to the buyer who then needs to assign it to a car using Section 1, and then as soon as they receive the V5 in their name showing the Cherished Number, they apply for a retention, alas reaching the desired outcome of a V778 showing the Cherished Number in their name (as the Grantee, not the nominee).
These seem like incredibly longwinded walkarounds, and very expensive if neither buyer or seller have a car. I have contacted DVLA and they simply shrugged.
There must be a way round this? Surely Regtransfers / National Numbers etc have to do this on a daily basis, and somehow manage?
Many thanks
elanfan said:
The way I did it was to buy a cheap moped transfer the number on to that then put it on retention in my name. Make sure the moped has a long MOT or you could be into expense as you won't be able to transfer without an mot. Sell moped for same money. Job done.
Doesn't it seem ludicrous that this is the extent you had to go to?!Thanks for the suggestion though - did you not have to insure the Moped so that it showed up on the MID?
Yes it's ludicrous but you wanted to know how to solve the problem. Mine was before continuous insurance requirements. You don't need to insure if declared SORN but you'll need it to be taxed to do the transfer. Beauty of a mooed is it takes up virtually no space. Won't be your problem anyway but your buyers as the moped will need to have a v5 in their name. Think my Honda 70 cost all of £75 and if I recall correctly I sold it for £100
This problem was around for years when the DVLA made the sale of numbers between owners difficult administratively.
In 2015, the transfer of registrations changed. There's no annual £25 retention fee, the £80 covers you for 10 yrs. Also, when taking a number off a car, you can give up the rights to the number, i.e. give someone elses details as the grantee. See section 4 of latest form (I realise the OP is aware of this):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
When a V778 or V750 is renewed (now free!), it will be in place for 10 yrs giving any nominee plenty of time. You could sign the renewed form, leave the date blank and give the form to them. There's no charge for adding or changing a nominee now either.
Transferring the reg number on a vehicle and then pay another £80 to get it off again seems to be the only way to have your ownership of the reg completely eradicated if it is already on a V778.
I think DVLA secretly don't like the idea of regs being held by people who don't intend to use them. In fact, I was surprised when they reduced the fees at all by removing the annual £25 charge. The £80 fee hadn't changed in 20 yrs either!
In 2015, the transfer of registrations changed. There's no annual £25 retention fee, the £80 covers you for 10 yrs. Also, when taking a number off a car, you can give up the rights to the number, i.e. give someone elses details as the grantee. See section 4 of latest form (I realise the OP is aware of this):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
When a V778 or V750 is renewed (now free!), it will be in place for 10 yrs giving any nominee plenty of time. You could sign the renewed form, leave the date blank and give the form to them. There's no charge for adding or changing a nominee now either.
Transferring the reg number on a vehicle and then pay another £80 to get it off again seems to be the only way to have your ownership of the reg completely eradicated if it is already on a V778.
I think DVLA secretly don't like the idea of regs being held by people who don't intend to use them. In fact, I was surprised when they reduced the fees at all by removing the annual £25 charge. The £80 fee hadn't changed in 20 yrs either!
Edited by ianwayne on Wednesday 12th October 16:46
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