Number plate transfer
Author
Discussion

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Sorry if this is a boring repost but Search didn't throw up an answer.

I am trying to sell my TVR, with a personal plate on it that I would want to retain but not put on my BMW as I might also trade that in and just have one car.

If the TVR doesn't sell I will keep it so don't want to swap the registration until I have got a confirmed buyer.

The DVLA website and phone line is pretty useless so other than knowing I've got to use a V317 form, the timescales quoted mean I might have to keep a ptoential buyer waiting while the change goes through, which I'd rather not do.

Can I go to my local DVLA office (Brighton)and get the intial transfer onto one year's retention done while I wait?
Or can I get an agreement from the new owner that he uses the current number until the transfer goes through.

AndrewW-G

11,968 posts

239 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
All that will happen if you go to your local DVLA office, is that they will accept and verify your documentation and key it into the system, you'll still be waiting 3 weeks or so for the new docs to arrive

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Cheers - I did wonder if that would be the case.

volvoforlife

724 posts

185 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
The retention of the plates happens quite quickly (about a week) but the V5 docs can take up to 6 weeks. Its normally taken about 2-3 weeks for the V5 to arrive back.

So really if you want to sell your car, then you should apply for the retention ASAP or you can tell your buyer that collection of the car can only happen 3 weeks after leaving a deposit.

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
A local friend of the guy interested has just left to give a good report so he may be down at the weekend to look at it.
I wouldn't turn down the sale for the sake of the plate - it's not that precious as it's only a low number and my initials but it would be nice to hang on to it.
If it was more of a done deal I would do it now but I'm not letting the TVR go for silly money so would keep it, hence the desire to wait for now.

Dog Star

17,256 posts

190 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
AndrewW-G said:
All that will happen if you go to your local DVLA office, is that they will accept and verify your documentation and key it into the system, you'll still be waiting 3 weeks or so for the new docs to arrive
Not true! This happened about 10 years ago but not any more.

Certainly in Manchester you get in a queue, someone checks you have the right forms and you sit and wait - I've waited less than a minute on occasion for the cherished transfer queue.

Last time I went in I transferred a plate from my old car to my bike, original plate back to old car and a plate off retention onto my new car. I walked out with all the docs and tax discs in about 15 minutes.

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

194 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Not true! This happened about 10 years ago but not any more.

Certainly in Manchester you get in a queue, someone checks you have the right forms and you sit and wait - I've waited less than a minute on occasion for the cherished transfer queue.

Last time I went in I transferred a plate from my old car to my bike, original plate back to old car and a plate off retention onto my new car. I walked out with all the docs and tax discs in about 15 minutes.
yes All of the paperwork can be done at the DVLA office!

R60EST

2,364 posts

204 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
In the past I've sold a car with my number still on it, on the understanding the buyer lets me keep all the necessary documentation to complete the transfer / retention. I usually provide copies of the V5 and MOT for the new buyer and sign a receipt explaining the original documents have been retained and in the event of an accident / offence the new owner is responsible for the vehicle from the date and time of the receipt.

The only downside for the buyer is that he needs to insure the vehicle with the cherished number and then change it over once the new documents have been received.

Jobbo

13,576 posts

286 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
AndrewW-G said:
All that will happen if you go to your local DVLA office, is that they will accept and verify your documentation and key it into the system, you'll still be waiting 3 weeks or so for the new docs to arrive
Not true! This happened about 10 years ago but not any more.

Certainly in Manchester you get in a queue, someone checks you have the right forms and you sit and wait - I've waited less than a minute on occasion for the cherished transfer queue.

Last time I went in I transferred a plate from my old car to my bike, original plate back to old car and a plate off retention onto my new car. I walked out with all the docs and tax discs in about 15 minutes.
Sadly I've had differing experiences each time I've been to the DVLA local office with my paperwork (about half a dozen times now).

A couple of times they've printed me a new tax disk and MOT there and then, and given me an authorisation form to allow me to put the plate on the new car. However, the V5 still takes 2-3 weeks to come back from Swansea; they don't ever print one of those.

This week, as has happened a few times before they simply acted as a postbox for the DVLA and gave me nothing, not even a receipt to say I'd handed two V5s and two MOT certificates into them (despite my asking).

I guess their policy changes but for the moment, don't expect to do it over the counter in the Birmingham local office.

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
I would phone the Brighton DVLA office but the number given on the website is the same as the national one and I had to listen to about 5 different option lists before I got even basic information.
I got bored before I could actually speak to anyone.

Thanks for all your input - PH comes up trumps again.
I'll see how the sale goes and then worry about it then.

volvoforlife

724 posts

185 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Having the number retained happens quickly but this is not enough to sell the car. You need the V5 to sell the car.

Although your local office will let you retain your cherished plate and assign the original plate back to your car, they will also send the V5 to DVLA Swansea for a new one to be made. Until you get this back you can't sell the car.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

268 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
If you're even half serious about selling the TVR you need to get that plate off it before you start. Otherwise all that will happen is you'll annoy potential buyers. Put the number on retention.

In the event you end up keeping the car it only takes a couple of days to get the number back on and your total costs won't be much over £100.

AndrewW-G

11,968 posts

239 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Last time I went in I transferred a plate from my old car to my bike, original plate back to old car and a plate off retention onto my new car. I walked out with all the docs and tax discs in about 15 minutes.
Bullst!

The V5 and retention certs come from DVLA Swansea, my guess is you left with tax discs and a V948 authorisation letter

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedR...

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Ozzie Osmond said:
If you're even half serious about selling the TVR you need to get that plate off it before you start. Otherwise all that will happen is you'll annoy potential buyers. Put the number on retention.

In the event you end up keeping the car it only takes a couple of days to get the number back on and your total costs won't be much over £100.
Thanks and a good point and if I had realised earlier I would have done - should have checked before shouldn't I!!
My advert did say number plate not included but maybe not clear enough now I understand the workings of the system.
I'll wait for this chap to phone me (hopefully today) and will explain the situation to him and then see what happens.

I may see about selling it with the agreement that I pay for the transfer after he has taken possession (as a condition of sale). It's unlilely that my initials will make him want to keep the reg.

Dog Star

17,256 posts

190 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
AndrewW-G said:
Bullst!

The V5 and retention certs come from DVLA Swansea, my guess is you left with tax discs and a V948 authorisation letter

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedR...
Apologies - that is what I meant eg. pretty well everything I needed.
No need for the "bullst!" I don't think.

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
It's got to the point that I now have 3 enquires with, hopefully, at least 2 viewings at the weekend so I'm going to write into the sale 'contract' the transfer of the plate at my expense (and their reasonable insurance charges) after the handing over of the car.

Thanks for all your help guys - I'll know next time but this is the first time I've ever sold a car privately (after 35+ years of driving).

Slade Alive

784 posts

181 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
Given that the DVLA ultimately 'own' registration numbers, is it safe to sell a vehicle with 'your' plate expecting to have it returned by the new owner. If they change their mind once in possession of vehicle and number, is a written contract legally binding? I don't know but if it were a plate I didn't want to lose I wouldn't take the risk. Not when retention is simple and not so expensive.

volvoforlife

724 posts

185 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
The plate is linked to the car hence nobody owns the plate as such. If you sell a car with the cherished plate on then its not rightfully yours anymore.

If the buyer changes their mind and keeps your plate, you can't do anything about it.

djt100

1,739 posts

207 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
AndrewW-G said:
Bullst!

The V5 and retention certs come from DVLA Swansea, my guess is you left with tax discs and a V948 authorisation letter

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/PersonalisedR...
THIS ^^ I know because i have just last week done it... all docs can be stamped at the DVLA local office but the V5 has to come from DVLA Swansea

DavidLScott

Original Poster:

1,048 posts

246 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
It's not life or death to be honest.
It's only a plate I bought after I got the TVR so it's not critical and a risk I'm prepared to take rather than lose a genuine sale.

I can fill in the form while the car is here and it will be signed and posted with me being the recipient of the retention certificate.
Number one buyer will want to put his own number on anyway and mine was only a relative cheapy from DVLA so only has value to someone with my initials.

On a change of tack - as it is obvious that I am not used to private sales, is there an etiquette for viewing and subsequent agreements. I am working on the first call gets first chance to view, and so on. Depending on value of offer (if I get one) I'll work along the list.

edited to make sense (twice frown).

Edited by DavidLScott on Thursday 17th February 10:31


Edited by DavidLScott on Thursday 17th February 11:15