Personalised number plate from car that has been scrapped?
Discussion
I was desperately hoping anyone might have some advice - I can see a thread from 2013 with people asking about getting plates from a car that has been scrapped and something about changes may be coming in.
Recently my car with personalised number plates was at the garage and could not be fixed so needed to go to the scrap yard. The garage agreed to hold on to the car until I transferred the plates. I've just found out the garage took the car to the scrap yard with my personalised plates on without telling me and before the agreed date without my permission or knowledge or the V5C.
My mum bought me and my brother those plates before she died and I am distraught that I have lost them because of a misunderstanding. As far as I understand if a car is scrapped with the plates on the plates are now gone forever - I have the original licence plate and V5C for the car before the personalised plates. Obviously I would be very happy to buy them back at auction or any other options.
I've rang the DVLA and sent a email. Over the phone they said there's probably nothing that can be done and they were going to email me a complaints form but I've not got it yet.
Has anyone else had any luck with something similar or has any advice or any email addresses?
Recently my car with personalised number plates was at the garage and could not be fixed so needed to go to the scrap yard. The garage agreed to hold on to the car until I transferred the plates. I've just found out the garage took the car to the scrap yard with my personalised plates on without telling me and before the agreed date without my permission or knowledge or the V5C.
My mum bought me and my brother those plates before she died and I am distraught that I have lost them because of a misunderstanding. As far as I understand if a car is scrapped with the plates on the plates are now gone forever - I have the original licence plate and V5C for the car before the personalised plates. Obviously I would be very happy to buy them back at auction or any other options.
I've rang the DVLA and sent a email. Over the phone they said there's probably nothing that can be done and they were going to email me a complaints form but I've not got it yet.
Has anyone else had any luck with something similar or has any advice or any email addresses?
Same, when I said to the guy at the garage but I haven't given you the V5C he said you don't need to. I have the original plates and V5C for the original car (not personalised) which I was going to scrap under. I now have both V5C's at home. Does this change anything? Is there anything I can do because of this?
Cas62439 said:
Same, when I said to the guy at the garage but I haven't given you the V5C he said you don't need to. I have the original plates and V5C for the original car (not personalised) which I was going to scrap under. I now have both V5C's at home. Does this change anything? Is there anything I can do because of this?
There can only ever be one valid V5C for a single car. A new one invalidates the older one. What are the issue dates on the V5Cs in your possession?Cas62439 said:
So when I bought the car it came with a v5C for it's original licence plate, I then registered it under the personal one so the date is 2016 on the V5C for the personal plate. (The year I bought the car) I presume the previous one is older then 2016 but I'm at work so can't check.
Does not matter as the old V5C is no longer valid, the only V5C that matters is the current oneDid you transfer the plate correctly originally
Bemmer said:
Yet another 1st post drama... You CAN NOT scrap a vehicle with out the V5C. The End.
To educate and take you off your high horse just to let you know I rang the scrap yard and you can scrap a car officially WITHOUT a V5C they just use the chassis number. Maybe next time consider replying with kindness and compassion independent of it being someone's first post or not.Cas62439 said:
Bemmer said:
Yet another 1st post drama... You CAN NOT scrap a vehicle with out the V5C. The End.
To educate and take you off your high horse just to let you know I rang the scrap yard and you can scrap a car officially WITHOUT a V5C they just use the chassis number. Maybe next time consider replying with kindness and compassion independent of it being someone's first post or not.This begs the question ‘how long’ did you leave the about to be scrapped car at the garage? Considering you could likely transfer the plate onto retention online within minutes, if you expected them to hang onto it for weeks then this sounds like an error on your part. Particularly given the explanation above that scrapping a car without V5 is not an instant process.
This appears to be the gov.uk page on scrapping vehicles, but it does not seem to include anything on scrapping without a V5C:
https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicl...
Random websites seem to provide information that might be relevant, e.g.:
https://www.car.co.uk/scrap-my-car/faqs/documentat...
https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicl...
Random websites seem to provide information that might be relevant, e.g.:
https://www.car.co.uk/scrap-my-car/faqs/documentat...
carwow website said:
What will you need to send to the DVLA?
The DVLA have no problem if you need to scrap a vehicle without a V5, but it is your legal responsibility to make sure you provide them with the information they require to keep their records up to date.
Again, the information you’ll need to send will be what is normally filled in on section 9 (or section 4 on documents created after April 2019) of the V5 – similar to the change of owner details section – but instead, detailing your intention to sell or transfer your car to a trader, dismantler or insurance company.
Details should include:
Date of the sale or transfer
Name, address and VAT number of the scrap dealer you’re selling to
Your signature and the current date
The signature of the person collecting your car
It’s a good idea to write a letter before collection – leaving space for the person who’s collecting your car to complete their details. When complete, this letter should be sent to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AR
The DVLA have no problem if you need to scrap a vehicle without a V5, but it is your legal responsibility to make sure you provide them with the information they require to keep their records up to date.
Again, the information you’ll need to send will be what is normally filled in on section 9 (or section 4 on documents created after April 2019) of the V5 – similar to the change of owner details section – but instead, detailing your intention to sell or transfer your car to a trader, dismantler or insurance company.
Details should include:
Date of the sale or transfer
Name, address and VAT number of the scrap dealer you’re selling to
Your signature and the current date
The signature of the person collecting your car
It’s a good idea to write a letter before collection – leaving space for the person who’s collecting your car to complete their details. When complete, this letter should be sent to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AR
chrisch77 said:
This begs the question how long did you leave the about to be scrapped car at the garage? Considering you could likely transfer the plate onto retention online within minutes, if you expected them to hang onto it for weeks then this sounds like an error on your part. Particularly given the explanation above that scrapping a car without V5 is not an instant process.
Yeah you are correct, I left it with them for a couple of months because I talked with the guy at the garage and he said it was ok and he said he would let me know if he needed the space, he knew it was a personalised plates. They never contacted me. I should have put it on retention but he said he would hold onto it untill I got a new car and could transfer directly. It's a hard lesson to learn. He also lied and said they scrapped it 2 weeks ago when the scrap yard said they got it 7 weeks ago. ChatGpt Says:-
The main problem is this:
• If the car has been officially scrapped and the DVLA notified, and the private plate hadn’t been retained or transferred before the scrapping date, then the rights to the plate are normally lost permanently.
• The DVLA treats the vehicle as the “host” of the private plate, and when the host is destroyed without the plate being legally retained, the plate dies with it.
What Might Still Help (Depending on Timing)
1. Was the Car Actually “Notified as Scrapped” to DVLA?
• Find out exactly when the vehicle was marked as scrapped with the DVLA.
• If the scrap yard hasn’t yet sent off the destruction certificate, there is a chance the plate can still be retained or transferred.
Action: Call or visit the scrap yard ASAP. Find out:
• If the car has been crushed yet
• Whether they submitted an online scrapping notification
• If they still have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and parts
If it hasn’t been crushed or officially destroyed in DVLA’s system, you may still be able to apply for plate retention online or by post using a V317 form (https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/keep-a-registration-number).
2. Retaining Plates After the Fact (If Notified as Scrapped)
Unfortunately, if the car is already officially destroyed and recorded as such on DVLA systems, and no retention was done beforehand, then:
• The plate is considered dead.
• DVLA’s current policy (as of recent years) is no recovery of lost plates after scrapping — even with proof of ownership or sentimental value.
But, you can still:
• File a formal complaint (this can escalate the issue)
• Provide documentation showing an agreement with the garage (that they would hold the car for the retention)
• Emphasize the sentimental value and how the garage acted without consent
• Ask the DVLA if they would consider a grace exception — rare, but occasionally granted under emotional hardship and error not caused by the keeper
Use the DVLA complaints form or write to:
DVLA Complaints Team
Longview Road
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Or send via their online complaints process:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver...
3. If the Number Plate Is Re-Issued in the Future
If the plate ever does get returned to the available pool (which is rare, but sometimes happens):
• You can set up a DVLA auction alert or use a number plate broker to try to re-acquire it.
• You could write to DVLA stating your desire to buy back the plate if it ever becomes available (include all proof of ownership and emotional tie).
The main problem is this:
• If the car has been officially scrapped and the DVLA notified, and the private plate hadn’t been retained or transferred before the scrapping date, then the rights to the plate are normally lost permanently.
• The DVLA treats the vehicle as the “host” of the private plate, and when the host is destroyed without the plate being legally retained, the plate dies with it.
What Might Still Help (Depending on Timing)
1. Was the Car Actually “Notified as Scrapped” to DVLA?
• Find out exactly when the vehicle was marked as scrapped with the DVLA.
• If the scrap yard hasn’t yet sent off the destruction certificate, there is a chance the plate can still be retained or transferred.
Action: Call or visit the scrap yard ASAP. Find out:
• If the car has been crushed yet
• Whether they submitted an online scrapping notification
• If they still have the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and parts
If it hasn’t been crushed or officially destroyed in DVLA’s system, you may still be able to apply for plate retention online or by post using a V317 form (https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/keep-a-registration-number).
2. Retaining Plates After the Fact (If Notified as Scrapped)
Unfortunately, if the car is already officially destroyed and recorded as such on DVLA systems, and no retention was done beforehand, then:
• The plate is considered dead.
• DVLA’s current policy (as of recent years) is no recovery of lost plates after scrapping — even with proof of ownership or sentimental value.
But, you can still:
• File a formal complaint (this can escalate the issue)
• Provide documentation showing an agreement with the garage (that they would hold the car for the retention)
• Emphasize the sentimental value and how the garage acted without consent
• Ask the DVLA if they would consider a grace exception — rare, but occasionally granted under emotional hardship and error not caused by the keeper
Use the DVLA complaints form or write to:
DVLA Complaints Team
Longview Road
Swansea
SA6 7JL
Or send via their online complaints process:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver...
3. If the Number Plate Is Re-Issued in the Future
If the plate ever does get returned to the available pool (which is rare, but sometimes happens):
• You can set up a DVLA auction alert or use a number plate broker to try to re-acquire it.
• You could write to DVLA stating your desire to buy back the plate if it ever becomes available (include all proof of ownership and emotional tie).
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