DVLA Private plate change timeframe?

[Stedman]

Chaps,

I'm looking at purchasing another car, but would like to move my private plate from current vehicle onto the 'new' one.

Does anyone have any recent experience of this as I haven't done it for quite a while, and the last time I DID do it you could actually visit a DVLA office.

Thanks!

[eybic]

Easiest/ quickest way would be to put the plate on retention then apply it to the new car when you get it.

Towards the end of last year the timeframe was approximately 6 weeks due to all the offices closing and it being done centrally.

[sue20]

I've just put one on retention. It took 8 days to get the V5 back, the retention certificate arrived 2 days later and then yesterday, 2 days after the retention cert arrived, the tax disc and MOT arrived - so all within 2 weeks.

[MelonMan]

I put a plate on retention before selling and had the same experience as sue with everything coming at different times within 2 weeks.
Bought the new car and sent off the V5c with the retention document 10 days ago and still haven't received anything yet :-(

[Number 5]

Ive just took one off, put it on retention and then decided to transfer it to a car, I've now got all of the paperwork back with the plate on the car all within two weeks, i sent all of the paperwork recorded delivery.

[Dolf Stoppard]

Recent experience was less than two weeks to put a plate on to retention and about the same to put it back on to the new car. V5 is now meant to come back first whereas it used to follow the new tax disc and plate authorisation letter.