Private plate - switching
Discussion
Would appreciate some advice on how I approach this in the most efficient way.
We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
As things stand, you WILL be putting the plate on retention, as that's the way it works. Plate\CAR1 > Plate\Retention > Plate/CAR2. So, it's a matter of timing to get away with as few insurance fees as possible. The only way I have found to get away with none is to do it just after renewal, and making sure I tell them that it will be happening, and they generally waive the fee. If you have the new plate for CAR1 on retention, you just need to tell insurer1 that it will be changing to Plate2, and insurer2 that it will be changing to Plate1 on e.g. the 29th, and voila.
Thanks.
I just had a look and I don't think our insurers actually charge for plate changes (General Accident). Even so, order of events is important!
If I take the current private plate off car 1 and put it on retention without buying the new private plate, will the original plate be reissued? I am thinking I could put that back on (still have the pair) and then purchase the new plate afterwards?
I just had a look and I don't think our insurers actually charge for plate changes (General Accident). Even so, order of events is important!
If I take the current private plate off car 1 and put it on retention without buying the new private plate, will the original plate be reissued? I am thinking I could put that back on (still have the pair) and then purchase the new plate afterwards?
Edited by ro250 on Monday 25th April 10:44
ro250 said:
Do you know, will the original plate be issued when we take the private plate off?
It certainly should be. If you put the private plate on, then it will be. The only reason I can think of for it not to be, is if Mr XP51OYG was involved in the removal and thought "how lucky!" 
I would suggest form V317.
My mother and I did the following a while back:
• Switch ABC123 from her car to mine
• Put XYZ321 on her car at the same time (it was on retention)
Use form V317 to swap the private plate from car A onto car B, and include the retention document for the registration you want to then assign to car A with a covering letter explaining what you want to do. Make sure everything is signed etc and include the cheque. Ours got bounced as mother didn't sign the retention certificate for XYZ321!
You can do this online, but would have to wait for the new V5 for car A before applying the new registration.
You can then deal with insurance in one go, without waiting for V5s etc
My mother and I did the following a while back:
• Switch ABC123 from her car to mine
• Put XYZ321 on her car at the same time (it was on retention)
Use form V317 to swap the private plate from car A onto car B, and include the retention document for the registration you want to then assign to car A with a covering letter explaining what you want to do. Make sure everything is signed etc and include the cheque. Ours got bounced as mother didn't sign the retention certificate for XYZ321!
You can do this online, but would have to wait for the new V5 for car A before applying the new registration.
You can then deal with insurance in one go, without waiting for V5s etc
ro250 said:
Would appreciate some advice on how I approach this in the most efficient way.
We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
If you are not getting charged by GA it’s as simple as this….We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
- using the DVLA online portal put the private plate from car A onto retention. This is instant and they will give you right there and then a 1. retention doc reference 2. tell you to stick the original plate on car A.
- using the retention doc reference you just got you can then stick the private plate onto car B. You can do this straight away, no need to wait for the document as you have the reference.
- wait a few days and the new V5s will arrive for car A and car B.
The main thing is that you can move the plate from car A to car B in just a few minutes, just do it all online. You don’t need to wait for the retention document. I’ve done this myself two weeks ago.
Dog Star said:
ro250 said:
Would appreciate some advice on how I approach this in the most efficient way.
We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
If you are not getting charged by GA it’s as simple as this….We have 2 cars. One has a private plate which we want to move to the other car. The car which currently has the private plate, we will be purchasing a new private plate.
I'm struggling to work out how best to do this whilst minimising changes on insurance etc. There's no rush to put the existing plate onto the other car so I considered putting the current private plate on retention but then I will have to inform insurers of a plate change twice.
Advice welcomed!
- using the DVLA online portal put the private plate from car A onto retention. This is instant and they will give you right there and then a 1. retention doc reference 2. tell you to stick the original plate on car A.
- using the retention doc reference you just got you can then stick the private plate onto car B. You can do this straight away, no need to wait for the document as you have the reference.
- wait a few days and the new V5s will arrive for car A and car B.
The main thing is that you can move the plate from car A to car B in just a few minutes, just do it all online. You don’t need to wait for the retention document. I’ve done this myself two weeks ago.
That sounds like it works. Then, as a stage 2, we can purchase a new private plate for car A, and put it on.
I assume there is a grace period for a lot of this in terms of getting plates made up etc.
This will teach me to get the 'new' car and her to keep the 'old' car!
Dog Star said:
If you are not getting charged by GA it’s as simple as this….
- using the DVLA online portal put the private plate from car A onto retention. This is instant and they will give you right there and then a 1. retention doc reference 2. tell you to stick the original plate on car A.
- using the retention doc reference you just got you can then stick the private plate onto car B. You can do this straight away, no need to wait for the document as you have the reference.
- wait a few days and the new V5s will arrive for car A and car B.
The main thing is that you can move the plate from car A to car B in just a few minutes, just do it all online. You don’t need to wait for the retention document. I’ve done this myself two weeks ago.
Just coming back on this to confirm it was as quick and easy following the process you described. Just awaiting the new V5s.- using the DVLA online portal put the private plate from car A onto retention. This is instant and they will give you right there and then a 1. retention doc reference 2. tell you to stick the original plate on car A.
- using the retention doc reference you just got you can then stick the private plate onto car B. You can do this straight away, no need to wait for the document as you have the reference.
- wait a few days and the new V5s will arrive for car A and car B.
The main thing is that you can move the plate from car A to car B in just a few minutes, just do it all online. You don’t need to wait for the retention document. I’ve done this myself two weeks ago.
General Accident didn't charge for the reg change although the receiving car insurers (esure) did. I get admin fees, but for something you do online yourself, doesn't seem fair they charge £15 (although esure systems couldn't cope with it so they contacted me to do it over the phone!).
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