Unable to Retain a Number Plate
Discussion
I'm selling my car which has my private plate on it. So I went online this afternoon and filled in the info, pressed enter then a message came back saying, "This registration number cannot be retained online". I put the private plate, which I bought from DVLA, on the car 2 years ago.
At the moment DVLA telephones are not in service during Covid. So I have downloaded and completed the form V317 ready to send off with a cheque (don't have a chequebook so her indoors will have to pay
) but this of course will take more time.
The other car registration number went straight through no bother. Any idea what might have caused this message to appear?
At the moment DVLA telephones are not in service during Covid. So I have downloaded and completed the form V317 ready to send off with a cheque (don't have a chequebook so her indoors will have to pay
) but this of course will take more time. The other car registration number went straight through no bother. Any idea what might have caused this message to appear?
Given the Welsh lockdown, i’m afraid you can expect a sizeable delay in having the transfer done manually. Mine took 8 weeks from late March, assuming all being equal again DVLA will be back on skeleton staff and prioritising based on need.
It’s likely the car wasn’t taxed or SORN at some stage before you owned it, hence they won’t do it online. it’s a pointless and s
t rule that i’ve never been able to fathom the point of.
It’s likely the car wasn’t taxed or SORN at some stage before you owned it, hence they won’t do it online. it’s a pointless and s
t rule that i’ve never been able to fathom the point of. Jefferson Steelflex said:
Given the Welsh lockdown, i’m afraid you can expect a sizeable delay in having the transfer done manually. Mine took 8 weeks from late March, assuming all being equal again DVLA will be back on skeleton staff and prioritising based on need.
It’s likely the car wasn’t taxed or SORN at some stage before you owned it, hence they won’t do it online. it’s a pointless and st rule that i’ve never been able to fathom the point of.
Possible that they know damn well they don't check the MOT status properly any more, so to stop folks just taxing an unrestorable barn find, and getting a valuable plate?It’s likely the car wasn’t taxed or SORN at some stage before you owned it, hence they won’t do it online. it’s a pointless and s
t rule that i’ve never been able to fathom the point of. Just an update for anyone possibly doing the same thing.
Emailed DVLA asking why it could not be done online. 5 days later a reply saying I must send it in to them. No explanation at all.
So I send off the V5c and then send a second email asking for an explanation. Looks like a standard reply, "The previous reply was correct" and "You must send the application by post" with a warning that "Currently it is taking between 6-8 weeks to process". Oh, just great....
Getting pissed off now I send in a formal complaint which to date has not been answered. In the meantime and after just 7 days the transfer is complete and the new V5c is returned. Immediately contact my potential buyer only to discover he's bought another car.
No doubt this is all our good friend Covid-19's fault..........
Emailed DVLA asking why it could not be done online. 5 days later a reply saying I must send it in to them. No explanation at all.
So I send off the V5c and then send a second email asking for an explanation. Looks like a standard reply, "The previous reply was correct" and "You must send the application by post" with a warning that "Currently it is taking between 6-8 weeks to process". Oh, just great....
Getting pissed off now I send in a formal complaint which to date has not been answered. In the meantime and after just 7 days the transfer is complete and the new V5c is returned. Immediately contact my potential buyer only to discover he's bought another car.
No doubt this is all our good friend Covid-19's fault..........
Final Update: email today from DVLA says the reason for the postal application was the car I took the private plate off was reported as stolen recovered in its past history.
When I bought it from a dealer I was given an HPI report giving it all clear and Autotrader did not flag it. Spoke to HPI who have clarified why it does not show on their report. Seems that once the police and/or insurance marker is removed then it will not show on the database, usually when the car is recovered quickly with no damage. Only DVLA would show this.
HPI say that DVLA should have flagged up this issue when I put the private plate on, online, in the first place.
When I bought it from a dealer I was given an HPI report giving it all clear and Autotrader did not flag it. Spoke to HPI who have clarified why it does not show on their report. Seems that once the police and/or insurance marker is removed then it will not show on the database, usually when the car is recovered quickly with no damage. Only DVLA would show this.
HPI say that DVLA should have flagged up this issue when I put the private plate on, online, in the first place.
Cold said:
This horse has bolted, but next time make sure your car is ready to be sold before putting it up for sale.
This includes emptying the glovebox, peeling off the PH smiley and retaining the cherished registration number.
Funnily enough I do know a little about selling cars. I was doing diagnostic work at a trader's and he said he had a customer wanting a car like mine. I was thinking of selling anyway so we agreed a price. Pity really, as the hassle of haggling does not fill me with joy. Oh well....This includes emptying the glovebox, peeling off the PH smiley and retaining the cherished registration number.
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