Can I buy a used car from dealer and move my private plate?

[Blue Oval84]

Hi all,

Quick question, I've seen a car that I'm thinking of buying tomorrow, it's used, and from a Toyota main dealer. If I buy it, I want it quickly (same day, or maybe next morning)

Can I do so, and keep the private plate from my swapper with ease? Or is it going to cause considerable ball ache?

Also, on a side note, Mazda 3 2.0 Sport, worth a punt on a 56 plate at £5K with a year's warranty less than 40K miles?

[littleredrooster]

No.

Ballache and expense. And at least two weeks.

Don't do it.

[HTP99]

Put it on retention and worry about putting on the new car when you've got it, transferring a plate takes around a couple of weeks.

The dealer may still let you do a quick turnaround with letting you trade in your car and may be happy to wait for the new log book for the swapper, they may not.

Plate transfers and retentions are a pain in the arse.

Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 3rd January 23:21

[Blue Oval84]

Ah right, ok well I'll write off the idea for now and just send off to put my plate on retention so that I'm ready to hit the ground running when I need to be.

Thanks guys

[Kentish]

I did the same thing on 22nd Dec, sent docs to DVLA on new years eve and got it all back yesterday morning. So, about 3 working days. I delivered docs to them by hand though.

[TheTurbonator]

Won't dealers usually transfer it for you? You may have to wait a couple of weeks for it to all go through but if you pay a deposit or in full, at least you get to secure the car you wanted.

[rocketdogbert]

Done exactly this with Mini main dealer on 18th Dec, documents still not back from DVLA

[ajb85]

TheTurbonator said:

Won't dealers usually transfer it for you? You may have to wait a couple of weeks for it to all go through but if you pay a deposit or in full, at least you get to secure the car you wanted.

I think the dealer would also prefer if the plate was put on retention, as the whole lot speedier than a transfer. They are not going to want to have a part exchange sitting around for weeks and weeks that they can't do anything with, because the logbook is with the dvla.

[Ari]

Blue Oval84 said:

Ah right, ok well I'll write off the idea for now and just send off to put my plate on retention so that I'm ready to hit the ground running when I need to be.

Thanks guys

Why?

See dealer, do deal if like car, get plate put on retention and transferred to new car once got paperwork.

[Blue Oval84]

I'm away with work for at least a month after today, hence if I was going to change then it had to be done, dusted and handed over today.

In the end I spoke to a very helpful trader who was happy to do this, but then decided that I'd be better off waiting to see what comes up next month rather than rushing a change through.

My Focus rewarded me by breaking down within 3 hours of me making that decision.

Fortunately a new coil pack and set of HT leads seem to have sorted it, but now the bloody yellow check engine light won't go out

[jontymo]

Dealer sorted out my plate transfer on my last 2 cars which included going back and having the plates supplied and fitted for free when the documents came through! even gave me the tax disc back of the px.