Buying a car privately with a private Reg on

[sam_you26]

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for this basic question but basically I’m meant to be purchasing car privately on Tuesday.

This car has a private plate which the seller wants to keep (and I don’t want).

Just got this text off the seller:

…..Hi

Just looking at changing the plate over and it looks a bit more complicated than I expected, I honestly thought I could transfer at the same time as doing the V5 new keeper details but it would appear the DVLA don’t like to make things too easy…!
So, 2 options, each involves a little trust but I’m happy to roll with what you are comfortable with. Option 1 is to leave the plate on and once you get the new V5 through, put the plate on retention for me (I’ll cover costs obviously), this would involve changing the nominee to me from you once it comes through if that makes sense?
Option 2 is that I do it now and send you the V5 once it comes through, usually about a week at the moment. That’s the simplest way but the new keeper details can’t be completed on the day. I do have 2 other V5s to go with it, the current one and the last with with the previous plate on. I’ll also issue you a detailed receipt which should cover any issues.

Does that make sense..? I’m free most of the weekend if you want to call and talk it through?…….

What is the best option?

Thanks

[Scrump]

Postpone the purchase and wait until seller has taken the plate off and has a new V5C showing the ‘normal’ registration.

[NDA]

He can put the plate on retention online. It's immediate and will cost him £80. He can then transfer it to another vehicle or keep it on retention for 10 years.

https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.servic...

[Scrump]

NDA said:

He can put the plate on retention online. It's immediate and will cost him £80. He can then transfer it to another vehicle or keep it on retention for 10 years.

https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.servic...

He will still have to wait for the replacement V5C to arrive by post. If I was a buyer I would want to see the correct V5 c before purchase.

[interstellar]

But if you don’t want to lose the sale take option 1 and you are in control.

He has much more to lose than you have

[nick1871]

I was in this situation last year, I took the car without the new V5 and the seller wrote me out a receipt so I could prove ownership. The seller recorded me as the new registered keeper online when the new V5 arrived and I then taxed the car. All went very smoothly.

[The Rotrex Kid]

Option 2 is the most logical.

[Julian Thompson]

Obviously can’t guarantee it but I have had dealings with DVLA on about six vehicles in the past 3 months and all the logbooks have been with me in less than one week. Including 2x plate on retentions like this.

[Notreallymeeither]

There will be some additional hassle amd cost for you with option 1 (changing number plates, changing insurance, change tax).

[BertBert]

I did option 2 when buying in the same circs. Had a photocopy of the old V5 and a receipt. All fine.

[Boringvolvodriver]

The process is very quick if you do it all on line - I bought a car last Friday and by the following Thursday I had my private plate back on it!

First V5 came on Wednesday, did the transfer with retention certificate on Thursday and new V5 came yesterday.

When took number off old car, did it in line Saturday and V5 came Wednesday

[sam_you26]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies.

So I went for option 1 - keep the plates on. Bought this evening.
But now I’m thinking, if I tax it (I know I need to do this asap!!)…do I have to then tax it again once I’ve got the original plates back on? Or should I put his private plate on retention now and tax with the non private plate that I’ll be putting back on? Obviously I don’t have the v5c yet as he’s sending it off to dvla.

Thanks for any more help :-)

[Deep Thought]

sam_you26 said:

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for this basic question but basically I’m meant to be purchasing car privately on Tuesday.

This car has a private plate which the seller wants to keep (and I don’t want).

Just got this text off the seller:

…..Hi

Just looking at changing the plate over and it looks a bit more complicated than I expected, I honestly thought I could transfer at the same time as doing the V5 new keeper details but it would appear the DVLA don’t like to make things too easy…!
So, 2 options, each involves a little trust but I’m happy to roll with what you are comfortable with. Option 1 is to leave the plate on and once you get the new V5 through, put the plate on retention for me (I’ll cover costs obviously), this would involve changing the nominee to me from you once it comes through if that makes sense?
Option 2 is that I do it now and send you the V5 once it comes through, usually about a week at the moment. That’s the simplest way but the new keeper details can’t be completed on the day. I do have 2 other V5s to go with it, the current one and the last with with the previous plate on. I’ll also issue you a detailed receipt which should cover any issues.

Does that make sense..? I’m free most of the weekend if you want to call and talk it through?…….

What is the best option?

Thanks

I got caught a little on the hop with my 630i when a surprisingly keen buyer drover 90 miles to buy it and paid for it there and then to take it with him.

I opted for option 1. He's been really good. We've been in touch via whataspp re getting the plate on to a retention after he got the new v5c and the retention cert is now in the post via special delivery.

I guess there was a risk on my part in that had something went wrong with the car post sale he could have been a dick about it, or simply not engaged with me post sale at all.

[sam_you26]

Deep Thought said:

sam_you26 said:

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for this basic question but basically I’m meant to be purchasing car privately on Tuesday.

This car has a private plate which the seller wants to keep (and I don’t want).

Just got this text off the seller:

…..Hi

Just looking at changing the plate over and it looks a bit more complicated than I expected, I honestly thought I could transfer at the same time as doing the V5 new keeper details but it would appear the DVLA don’t like to make things too easy…!
So, 2 options, each involves a little trust but I’m happy to roll with what you are comfortable with. Option 1 is to leave the plate on and once you get the new V5 through, put the plate on retention for me (I’ll cover costs obviously), this would involve changing the nominee to me from you once it comes through if that makes sense?
Option 2 is that I do it now and send you the V5 once it comes through, usually about a week at the moment. That’s the simplest way but the new keeper details can’t be completed on the day. I do have 2 other V5s to go with it, the current one and the last with with the previous plate on. I’ll also issue you a detailed receipt which should cover any issues.

Does that make sense..? I’m free most of the weekend if you want to call and talk it through?…….

What is the best option?

Thanks

I got caught a little on the hop with my 630i when a surprisingly keen buyer drover 90 miles to buy it and paid for it there and then to take it with him.

I opted for option 1. He's been really good. We've been in touch via whataspp re getting the plate on to a retention after he got the new v5c and the retention cert is now in the post via special delivery.

I guess there was a risk on my part in that had something went wrong with the car post sale he could have been a dick about it, or simply not engaged with me post sale at all.

Sounds good.
I’d like to know what he did with regards to taxing thE vehicle. The reading I’ve found suggests once he’s taxed it with your private plate on, he then has to do it again with the old plates?

[Deep Thought]

sam_you26 said:

Sounds good.
I’d like to know what he did with regards to taxing thE vehicle. The reading I’ve found suggests once he’s taxed it with your private plate on, he then has to do it again with the old plates?

No it automatically changes. There was nothing more he needed to do other than buy new plates and stick them on.