Car purchase, private plate question

[Gad-Westy]

Hi gathered wisdom. I bought a project car and it's being delivered tomorrow (the car has no tax or MOT). It currently has a private plate which the seller wishes to keep however he has not done anything to put it on retention as he didn't want to send the V5 to the DVLA. When the car is delivered tomorrow, I'll fill in the V5c like any other purchase.

So my question is, what happens next? Who does what to make sure the private plate remains with the former keeper and the car gets reassigned with a new plate?

[Sir Bagalot]

When did the MOT/Tax expire? If it expired in the past 6/12 months (can't remember which) then it's possible to get off.

Otherwise he'll have to wait until you TAX and MOT it and even then the plate will actually belong to you. If you're showing goodwill it will cost £80 to transfer it and £25 for a 12 month retention certificate and then £25 to change the Nominee name. Even then you will still legally own the rights to the reg until he places it on another car.

This is why it so much easier to do the transfer before selling.....

[Gad-Westy]

Cheers. Very helpful. I doubt the car has been taxed or mot'd for at least two years. I'd naively thought he would be able to put it on retention.

So from what you say, the only thing he can do is wait for me to get the car roadworthy and taxed? In all honesty that could be a couple of years away. Suspect the plate isn't going to be worth the hassle to him but will discuss with him tomorrow.

[Sid's Dad]

You can't assign a plate off a car without an mot, or put it on retention. You have bought the car with that plate. You own it. When you do finally get it mot'd it's up to you what you do with the plate....

[Gad-Westy]

Sid's Dad said:

You can't assign a plate off a car without an mot, or put it on retention. You have bought the car with that plate. You own it. When you do finally get it mot'd it's up to you what you do with the plate....

Cheers. I'll likely be a good Samaritan when the day comes to change to MOT the car though I suspect the previous owner may have lost interest by then. The plate in questions holds no value with me so I'm happy to transfer it as long as my costs are covered.

Thanks for the guidance.

[va1o]

Had this problem at the weekend with a friends car. In short, do not sign the V5 new keeper section as that will transfer the plate to you. The seller will need to contact the DVLA to put the private plate on retention and have the car reverted back to its original plate. That process will trigger the generation of a new V5 with the correct registration plate details, which you should then sign and complete.

Bit of a long process but its the only way.

[Gad-Westy]

va1o said:

Had this problem at the weekend with a friends car. In short, do not sign the V5 new keeper section as that will transfer the plate to you. The seller will need to contact the DVLA to put the private plate on retention and have the car reverted back to its original plate. That process will trigger the generation of a new V5 with the correct registration plate details, which you should then sign and complete.

Bit of a long process but its the only way.

Hmmm, wouldn't be over the moon with not signing the V5 after handing over the readies.

[randlemarcus]

Gad-Westy said:

va1o said:

Had this problem at the weekend with a friends car. In short, do not sign the V5 new keeper section as that will transfer the plate to you. The seller will need to contact the DVLA to put the private plate on retention and have the car reverted back to its original plate. That process will trigger the generation of a new V5 with the correct registration plate details, which you should then sign and complete.

Bit of a long process but its the only way.

Hmmm, wouldn't be over the moon with not signing the V5 after handing over the readies.

And will lose the cherished plate.

Tell him you'll be happy to stick it on retention with him as the grantee, when it gets its MOT etc, as long as he pays for it. Don't take the money now,take his email address, and tell him you'll ping him later.

He sold the plate with the car, as it is not currently transferable.