Selling car with private plate

[Bobton125]

Someone wants to view and hopefully buy my car which has a private plate on it. I said to them that if they agree to buy it then it’ll take 3-5 days for dvla to assign the original reg onto it. They said that as they’re coming from far away, rather than making the journey twice, if they can buy it and transfer their own private plate to it and send my private plates back to me.

Is there anything I should watch out for by selling the car this way?

Ps. My private plate isn’t worth anything and doesn’t spell anything, I only liked it because it was 6 digits and hid the age.

[Truckosaurus]

If you're definitely selling the car then stick the plates on retention ASAP then it is done and dusted and you don't have to trust the buyer to sort the paperwork or delay the sale waiting for it to be done.

[Bobton125]

But if the person decides not to buy the car then it’ll be on its original plate for no reason?
Also as he’s coming at quite short notice, would I have time now to do the switch?
would the car instantly revert to its original plate as soon as I put my plate on retention online? - As if so, this could be an option to change the plates over straight after he’s bought it and stick the original plates on before his journey home?

[InitialDave]

Bobton125 said:

But if the person decides not to buy the car then it’ll be on its original plate for no reason?

But it isn't for no reason, you're still going to sell it to someone else if they don't buy it.

[Scrump]

If they buy the car with your private plate on then they just assign their private plate you will lose your plate.
If you want to keep it then it must be put on retention. I wouldn’t trust a buyer if you wish to keep the plate.

[Bobton125]

Is it possible to put my plate on retention after he’s agreed to buy the car? As it looks like it only takes 5 mins to apply online and then I can just wack on the original plates while he’s waiting?

[Bobton125]

InitialDave said:

But it isn't for no reason, you're still going to sell it to someone else if they don't buy it.

The car isn’t actually listed for sale, it’s a friend of a friend

I may still keep the car for another year if this chap decides it’s not for him

[Fore Left]

Bobton125 said:

if they can buy it and transfer their own private plate to it and send my private plates back to me.

Don't do this. He will need to put your plate on retention first - for which there is a fee. Assuming he does that, his name will then be on the retention certificate and he will need to make you the nominee (or something like that).

Of course he's under no obligation to do either as one you do the v5 transfer your plate becomes his.

Edited by Fore Left on Friday 4th November 13:55

[redandwhite]

Bobton125 said:

Is it possible to put my plate on retention after he’s agreed to buy the car? As it looks like it only takes 5 mins to apply online and then I can just wack on the original plates while he’s waiting?

You can, but your V5 will have your private plate on it....

Ideally you need to do that and have the V5 with original plate on it, at the time of sale.

[WIWs]

Bobton125 said:

Is it possible to put my plate on retention after he’s agreed to buy the car? As it looks like it only takes 5 mins to apply online and then I can just wack on the original plates while he’s waiting?

When you transfer online it automatically reverts back to original plate instantly, but you have to wait a few days for the new V5 to arrive in the post so won't be able to transfer ownership until the new V5 arrives.

Your options are:
-Dont transfer the plate, and lose it
-Transfer now online and ask seller to wait for V5, it will probably take a week or so to arrive
-Transfer now online and let the seller take the car, if they take the car away without the V5 and commit crimes the car will still be in your name and you'll have to deal with the consequences (pay fines etc) as the car is in your name

[Bobton125]

Thanks all

I’ve applied to take it off. Hopefully the new v5 arrives next week before he arrives, they’re usually fairly quick with issuing our new v5’s

[redandwhite]

WIWs said:

When you transfer online it automatically reverts back to original plate instantly, but you have to wait a few days for the new V5 to arrive in the post so won't be able to transfer ownership until the new V5 arrives.

Your options are:
-Dont transfer the plate, and lose it
-Transfer now online and ask seller to wait for V5, it will probably take a week or so to arrive
-Transfer now online and let the seller take the car, if they take the car away without the V5 and commit crimes the car will still be in your name and you'll have to deal with the consequences (pay fines etc) as the car is in your name

With option 3 , it will be in the new keepers name not the sellers (as done online a few minutes prior).

As an aside i always provide a duplicated handwritten receipt with VRM, date/time on it, should there be any naughtiness when it left my possession.

[redandwhite]

Bobton125 said:

Thanks all

I’ve applied to take it off. Hopefully the new v5 arrives next week before he arrives, they’re usually fairly quick with issuing our new v5’s

Fingers crossed, mid pandemic i sold my old volvo and waited weeks for the new V5 to come back - in the end i let i go with the plate on as i had multiple willing buyers. I am sure things have much improved since then though.