Private Plate Ownership After Car Stolen?

[dazzsaward]

Hi,

Four years ago, my car was stolen and it had a personalised plate registered to it. The insurance were very good and paid out for the car fairly swiftly. However, I did not realise until a friend told me the other day, that the personalised plate now belongs with the car and hence is now the property of the insurance company

Is there any way of getting the plate back or is it lost forever? My mate thinks if I go to the DVLA and offer to pay the retention fees for the past 4 years, I may get the plate back.

Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Dog Star]

You have to wait a full year before you can have the plate back and (don't take this as gospel as my memory on this dates back ten years) you have a very short window in which you can apply to have the plate back.

[AndrewW-G]

You can apply to the DVLA to get the plate back after 12 months, you'll need a letter from your insurance co. stating that they no longer have an interest in it, this generates a letter from the DVLA that will allow you to transfer it onto another car etc.

[dazzsaward]

Thanks guys. Is this still the case even though it has been 4 years?

[Dog Star]

I'd call DVLA or check on their website.