Can t put plate on retention online

[-Cappo-]

As above. I’ve had a plate on a car for 20-odd years, which I want to take off and revert to original. The car is MOTd but until Saturday was SORN, not taxed.

I’ve gone to put the plate on retention online (which I’ve done several times with other vehicles in the past) but the gov website says it can’t be done online and I have to fill in a form and send to them (with a cheque! No idea if I still own a cheque book!) and they’ll consider and decide whether I can do this or not.

A quick question to AI at the weekend said “tax it and you’ll be able to do it online”. So I did, on Sat, but computer still says no.

Will it catch up with itself in a day or so and allow an online retention? Anybody know what criteria are stopping me from doing it? I don’t really want to lose the plate, even if I don’t reassign it any time soon.

[TheBinarySheep]

I had the same a couple of month ago. I had to complete and send the form to put the plate on retention, then had to do the same again when I wanted to put the plate on my new car.

Took 2-3 weeks to get the v5 back each time.

[Its Just Adz]

Have you ever had a gap where the car hadn't been MOT'd or taxed?
We had similar when taking a plate off mother in law's car. It had lapsed MOT one year just for a few days until we realised, and the DVLA system didn't like this so made us do it the long way like you have to.

[-Cappo-]

Thanks, that’s helpful. Yes, it did have a longish spell with no MOT some years back, so hopefully now it’s all in order it will be waved through.

[yeti]

Had this when part-ex'ing a car recently - basically had to give my plate up to get the deal to go through which was a shame.

As mentioned, if there has ever been a an untaxed period of 6 months +, you lose the right to be able to sort the plate online. Utterly stupid system.