Private numberplate transfer

[FezzaDude]

Hi there,

My friend has kindly let me use his unused private plate currently on retention. Having never done this before how do I go about doing this as the dvla site seems to be a minefield. Can this be done online or will I have to send physical documents to the dvla via post?? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Ta!

[Dog Star]

If you have the V5 reference number of the receiving vehicle and the V778 retention document you can do it online.

I know this because I did it for the first time this evening and it was awesome! Must have taken 2 minutes tops. It really was that easy; it's taken me longer to type this post.

We are with quotemehappy too, so I changed it over with them instantly (no charge) and went out and put the new plate on.

I bet there aren't many places in the world you can do all that from your desk in a couple of minutes.

You'll have to wait til the morning though as it only works 7am -7pm (but 7 days a week)

Edited by Dog Star on Thursday 1st September 21:20

[FezzaDude]

Dog Star said:

If you have the V5 reference number of the receiving vehicle and the V778 retention document you can do it online.

I know this because I did it for the first time this evening and it was awesome! Must have taken 2 minutes tops. It really was that easy; it's taken me longer to type this post.

We are with quotemehappy too, so I changed it over with them instantly (no charge) and went out and put the new plate on.

I bet there aren't many places in the world you can do all that from your desk in a couple of minutes.

You'll have to wait til the morning though as it only works 7am -7pm (but 7 days a week)

Edited by Dog Star on Thursday 1st September 21:20

That does sound easy. The only thing throwing us is that the plate is in his name and obviously my car is in my name so the difference here means another route to registering may need to be taken?? If both plate and car are registered in the same name them the online registration is the best way..

[interstellar]

Here is the link

https://www.gov.uk/put-registration-number-vehicle

I am sure you will still be able to do it. On the screen it asks you if you are the grantee (which you aren't) or the nominee (which you are) and I am sure it will steer you from there.

Let us know what it does please as its good to know.

[Jim AK]

You may have an issue if your pal has not put you as a `Nominee` on the retention sheet as it used to need the name on the V5 to be the same as the retention sheet, or an explanation ie Company owners car but registered as car owned by company.

At one time they would not accept that Jim was a short version of James with mine, even though Surname & address were the same!!

[FGB]

Dog Star said:

I bet there aren't many places in the world you can do all that from your desk in a couple of minutes.

You'll have to wait til the morning though as it only works 7am -7pm (but 7 days a week)

I bet there aren't too many websites with opening hours either

Always made me chuckle that notice - I'd assumed it would just be a temporary thing when it first started.

Visions of some bloke turning up for work and turning on the Web Server .

[Dog Star]

FezzaDude said:

That does sound easy. The only thing throwing us is that the plate is in his name and obviously my car is in my name so the difference here means another route to registering may need to be taken?? If both plate and car are registered in the same name them the online registration is the best way..

Sorry! Been on the Xbox.

No, grantee and registered owner can be different people - I transferred my v778 retained plate onto the OHs volvo (registered in her name).

It really is that easy.

[FezzaDude]

Just to update anyone interested. Spoke to DVLA and yes I do need to send both V5 and V778 via post to DVLA as addresses differ from both these documents. Such a shame this can't be done online..oh well need to wait 2 weeks now until the plates can go on 😕

[mdianuk]

Bringing this thread back to life. Is it still the same now. I have a V778 document in the sellers name/address and obviously want to transfer it onto my car. Can I simply use the online transfer system and it will assign it to my name/address as the owner of the car (via the V5C), or will it trigger an issue because the names/addresses don't match?

According to this website, it doesn't matter?

In May 2015 DVLA launched an online service enabling the Grantee or Purchaser to put a private plate on a vehicle without adding a nominee. The online assign a number plate facility is quicker & easier as there is no longer a requirement to have a match between the names on the V778/V750 and the V5C registration document (log book).

Edited by mdianuk on Friday 27th January 19:30

Edited by mdianuk on Friday 27th January 19:30

[Kuzy]

mdianuk said:

Bringing this thread back to life. Is it still the same now. I have a V778 document in the sellers name/address and obviously want to transfer it onto my car. Can I simply use the online transfer system and it will assign it to my name/address as the owner of the car (via the V5C), or will it trigger an issue because the names/addresses don't match?

According to this website, it doesn't matter?

In May 2015 DVLA launched an online service enabling the Grantee or Purchaser to put a private plate on a vehicle without adding a nominee. The online assign a number plate facility is quicker & easier as there is no longer a requirement to have a match between the names on the V778/V750 and the V5C registration document (log book).

Edited by mdianuk on Friday 27th January 19:30

Edited by mdianuk on Friday 27th January 19:30

Hello, still an open topic even in 2023 I think! I was wondering if you ever got an answer to this question. I have my updated V5C on the way and my V778 has all the correct details apart from my address is my old address. Do you know if I need to send it back to be updated to the correct address before I can assign it to my car or will it work despite the addresses not matching?

Thanks!

[Scrump]

Kuzy said:

Hello, still an open topic even in 2023 I think! I was wondering if you ever got an answer to this question. I have my updated V5C on the way and my V778 has all the correct details apart from my address is my old address. Do you know if I need to send it back to be updated to the correct address before I can assign it to my car or will it work despite the addresses not matching?

Thanks!

No need to send it back. Just assign it online, different addresses will not matter.

[drmike37]

I have a number that I don’t want (it came on a car and I took it off). Said number is now on retention V778.

If I read things right, I can sell it on a.n.other auction site and the steps will be:
1. Find buyer
2. Receive payment
3. Post v778 to buyer
4. They then can assign the number to their car online

OR
1. Find buyer
2. Receive payment
3. Buyer lets me know their car details and I assign the number to their car online


Sounds too easy. And yes I have read the gov website but that’s clear as mud.

[smokey mow]

drmike37 said:

I have a number that I don’t want (it came on a car and I took it off). Said number is now on retention V778.

If I read things right, I can sell it on a.n.other auction site and the steps will be:
1. Find buyer
2. Receive payment
3. Post v778 to buyer
4. They then can assign the number to their car online

OR
1. Find buyer
2. Receive payment
3. Buyer lets me know their car details and I assign the number to their car online


Sounds too easy. And yes I have read the gov website but that’s clear as mud.

That’s pretty much it. I went for the first option with one I sold on eBay and posted the V778 recorded delivery. That way there was a record of the buyer having received it and less opportunity to reverse payment through eBay at a later date.