Registration Question

[neil.b]

I'm about to buy a second-hand car but the owner wants to retain the private reg.

What should the correct procedure be for re-registering the car? I wanted to collect it at the weekend but would it be legal to drive it while it still had the plates with the private number on?

What about insurance? Can you insure a car on the chassis number (as the new reg won't be known to me at that point)

[gone]

neil.b said:

I'm about to buy a second-hand car but the owner wants to retain the private reg. What should the correct procedure be for re-registering the car? I wanted to collect it at the weekend but would it be legal to drive it while it still had the plates with the private number on? What about insurance? Can you insure a car on the chassis number (as the new reg won't be known to me at that point)

1. It is legal to drive it with the cherished number attached. Any penalty triggered by that number will be sent to the owner of it. That person will no doubt fill in the Section 172 notice with your details (he/she would be stupid not too )

2. You need to attend your local vehicle licensing office with the registration document and fill in the appropriate form to get a new (or the old) index number. They will be able to tell you straight away what that number will be whilst they are dealing with you. They will also make you pay the relevant road fund licence at that point. The transfer fee for the number is minimal.

3. They will issue you with a form which will be stamped by them authorising a shop which makes up plates to do them for you.

4. When you attend the number plate shop, you will need to take 2 types of ID with you plus the stamped authorisation form. One must be a driving licence (with photo) or passport and a recent utility bill otherwise the shop will not make up the index number.

5. You can then drive the car home and fit the new plates, make sure you put the tax in the window only when you have put the new plates on the car in case you are stopped by the Police who notice the tax has a different number on it to that on the car.

6. The new V5 will be sent to you within a couple of weeks and you can drive from the point you have attahced the new number.



>> Edited by gone on Wednesday 16th June 12:07

[neil.b]

gone said:

neil.b said: I'm about to buy a second-hand car but the owner wants to retain the private reg. What should the correct procedure be for re-registering the car? I wanted to collect it at the weekend but would it be legal to drive it while it still had the plates with the private number on? What about insurance? Can you insure a car on the chassis number (as the new reg won't be known to me at that point) 1. It is legal to drive it with the cherished number attached. Any penalty triggered by that number will be sent to the owner of it. That person will no doubt fill in the Section 172 notice with your details (he/she would be stupid not too ) 2. You need to attend your local vehicle licensing office with the registration document and fill in the appropriate form to get a new (or the old) index number. They will be able to tell you straight away what that number will be whilst they are dealing with you. They will also make you pay the relevant road fund licence at that point. The transfer fee for the number is minimal. 3. They will issue you with a form which will be stamped by them authorising a shop which makes up plates to do them for you. 4. When you attend the number plate shop, you will need to take 2 types of ID with you plus the stamped authorisation form. One must be a driving licence (with photo) or passport and a recent utility bill otherwise the shop will not make up the index number. 5. You can then drive the car home and fit the new plates, make sure you put the tax in the window only when you have put the new plates on the car in case you are stopped by the Police who notice the tax has a different number on it to that on the car. 6. The new V5 will be sent to you within a couple of weeks and you can drive from the point you have attahced the new number. >> Edited by gone on Wednesday 16th June 12:07

Brilliant, thanks for the info (point 6 was the one I was concerned about the most)

[fergus]

gone said:

.. They will also make you pay the relevant road fund licence at that point...

I presume you can then claim a refund on the (now invalid) tax disc?

[streaky]

You can, of course, get the plates made up without all the pointless hassle - Streaky