Claiming back a private plate

[the-norseman]

Hi all, looking for some help.

When I was a kid (around 8 in 1996) my dad bought a 1961 Morris Minor from a local garage, registration number SFO 112.

Dad used it for a number of years and then it was taken off the road for repairs by my uncle, a family feud set in and it didn't get completed, it was stored at a garage who was a friend of my uncle. Where it sat for years. We heard through my Granddad a few yeas ago, just after my dad had died that the car had been scrapped.

It comes up on the MOT history site but has no history at all, the tax site however it doesn't exist. I've asked on MM Facebook groups nobody has info.

My sister has been cleaning out the loft at mums house and found loads of paperwork for SFO 112 and another MM dad had which is still around today, including a document that says SFO 112 was a cherished plate and documenting the old plate.

As far as we are aware, Dad was the last registered keeper. The car might still be around or has potentially been scrapped either legally or illegally.

If I write/Email to DVLA with a copy of dads death certificate and ask them firstly if he is still the registered keeper and secondly if it has been scrapped will I get answers or will they just quote GDPR? if dad is still the registered keeper can mum claim the "cherished plate SFO 112" back?

[paul_c123]

First things first - are you executor/administrator of the estate, or is your Mum or someone else?

[Jamescrs]

My understanding is that once the plate is assigned, if the vehicle is scrapped the plate goes with it, I can't see that you will be able to make any sort of claim to have the plate returned to you unfortunately, your best option may be to ask the DVLA to release the plate again for sale, which if they did it would likely go into one of their auctions where you would be able to bid on it.

Even if the plate was put back onto retention at some point and into your dads name which seems unlikely from what you have described, you have to keep the retention renewed to retain control of it.

There is no harm in contacting the DVLA but I would not expect them to gave a favourable response.

[the-norseman]

paul_c123 said:

First things first - are you executor/administrator of the estate, or is your Mum or someone else?

Mum is.

[the-norseman]

Jamescrs said:

My understanding is that once the plate is assigned, if the vehicle is scrapped the plate goes with it, I can't see that you will be able to make any sort of claim to have the plate returned to you unfortunately, your best option may be to ask the DVLA to release the plate again for sale, which if they did it would likely go into one of their auctions where you would be able to bid on it.

Even if the plate was put back onto retention at some point and into your dads name which seems unlikely from what you have described, you have to keep the retention renewed to retain control of it.

There is no harm in contacting the DVLA but I would not expect them to gave a favourable response.

My understanding is that, if its been done legally. Dad has never received any letters to say change of ownership or even the car has been scrapped. which would suggest either its sitting somewhere rotting or its been scrapped but DVLA not informed.

I did one of these car checks online and it reckons the log book was updated 30/01/2022 so well after dad died, they have/had lived at the same address for 36 years.

[paul_c123]

Step 1 would be for your Mum to fill in and send a V62 and see if DVLA send her a V5.

If that succeeds, Step 2 would be to SORN it. Then you could try to remove the plate but the problem is, these are the requirements:

The vehicle must:

be registered with DVLA in the UK
be able to move under its own power
be of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
be available for inspection - DVLA will contact you if they need to inspect your vehicle
have been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
be taxed currently or have a SORN in place - if it s had a SORN in place for more than 5 years, it must be taxed and have an MOT certificate

Edited by paul_c123 on Wednesday 23 July 19:02

[bad company]

Looks like the car is still around. Maybe he sold it?

[paul_c123]

bad company said:

Looks like the car is still around. Maybe he sold it?

The record doesn't prove anything - I've just tried a car I know is scrapped, and it comes up with similar info.

[the-norseman]

Sometimes they come up as scrapped, sometimes they dont.

We would of expected either a letter to say the ownership had been transferred or the car had been scrapped, we have had neither over the years.

[Ramona]

the-norseman said:

If I write/Email to DVLA with a copy of dads death certificate [...] or will they just quote GDPR?

As GDPR only applies to living individuals, whatever reasons DVLA give you for not providing the information should not include GDPR.

[the-norseman]

paul_c123 said:

Step 1 would be for your Mum to fill in and send a V62 and see if DVLA send her a V5.

If that succeeds, Step 2 would be to SORN it. Then you could try to remove the plate but the problem is, these are the requirements:

The vehicle must:

be registered with DVLA in the UK
be able to move under its own power
be of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
be available for inspection - DVLA will contact you if they need to inspect your vehicle
have been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
be taxed currently or have a SORN in place - if it s had a SORN in place for more than 5 years, it must be taxed and have an MOT certificate

Edited by paul_c123 on Wednesday 23 July 19:02

I was hoping to send V62 with a covering letter and they would send the V5 but we are going to fall foul of a few of the points below.

[Sir Bagalot]

I just ran a HPI check for you. Scrapped 9.11.22 and a Certificate of destruction issued

[omniflow]

I tried this a few years ago. My Dad had several cars that had interesting number plates due to their age. They were all scrapped and I had the registration documents for all of them.

Did loads of digging and the only way the DVLA would allow you to transfer the plate was with a valid MOT certificate. I wasn't dodgy enough to get bent MOTs, and even then I think DVLA can ask to see the vehicle.

[RotorRambler]

Shame it’s scrapped, not great but all is not lost yet:-

“ Recommended Actions (If You Think It Was Scrapped in 2022)
1. Submit DVLA Form V888
• Include death certificate and cover letter
• Ask if the vehicle was officially scrapped, and if your dad was the last registered keeper
2. Check for V778 (Retention Certificate) in the loft paperwork
• If you find one, the plate might still be legally yours
3. Write to the Cherished Transfer team at DVLA
• Ask for the status of registration number SFO 112
• Include all documents, any old cherished plate paperwork”

[Simpo Two]

The car seems to have gone from being a 1961 Morris Minor to a 1957 Morris Minor. Two cars or a mistake, and will it spoil the above plans?

[the-norseman]

I always thought it was a 1961 but turns out I was wrong its a 1957.

I'm going to fill in a V888 as my mum (with her blessing of course), send a copy of death certificate and see what comes back. I suspect the car has been scrapped and DVLA not informed hence why we have had no letters about it.

The car is one of them cars that is MOT exempt due to its age, so would it require one to put on or take of a private plate?

[the-norseman]

Sir Bagalot said:

I just ran a HPI check for you. Scrapped 9.11.22 and a Certificate of destruction issued

Ah well, if that is true. Just annoying that we havent ever received any letters about it, to either say somebody has claimed the log book or scrapped it.

I wrote off a car last year and got a letter soon after to say it had been scrapped.

[MustangGT]

the-norseman said:

Sir Bagalot said:

I just ran a HPI check for you. Scrapped 9.11.22 and a Certificate of destruction issued

Ah well, if that is true. Just annoying that we havent ever received any letters about it, to either say somebody has claimed the log book or scrapped it.

I wrote off a car last year and got a letter soon after to say it had been scrapped.

I doubt you would. It seems likely the relative has had the V5C transferred into his/her name, then scrapped it. They would have been notified, not you.

[t.boydy]

the-norseman said:

I always thought it was a 1961 but turns out I was wrong its a 1957.

I'm going to fill in a V888 as my mum (with her blessing of course), send a copy of death certificate and see what comes back. I suspect the car has been scrapped and DVLA not informed hence why we have had no letters about it.

The car is one of them cars that is MOT exempt due to its age, so would it require one to put on or take of a private plate?

Yes it would require an MOT

[the-norseman]

MustangGT said:

I doubt you would. It seems likely the relative has had the V5C transferred into his/her name, then scrapped it. They would have been notified, not you.

My dad was the registered keeper so dad would of received a letter, although we notified DVLA of dads death in 2018 so mum would of received the letter?