Retaining personal registration after theft

[miniman]

Sadly my lovely Discovery 4 was stolen this week and I want to retain my number plate. The info on gov.uk is somewhat odd. It states that I need to send a V317 retention form AND a V62 replacement V5 form. Insurer has confirmed that I should send off to DVLA before I send the V5 back to them, and to send them the replacement V5 when I have it.

Can I just use the online service? I already have a new car so I'm not sure why I can't just transfer the number over. Theft has been reported to Police, total loss claim in progress.

Anyone done this recently?

Edit - actually, reading the info again, I suspect the oxford comma is important here! "the vehicle’s log book (V5C) or green ‘new keeper’ slip with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’"

[Panamax]

Because once a vehicle is reported stolen the plate can't be put onto another vehicle within 6 months of the theft (unless your vehicle is recovered).

[miniman]

Reported stolen to who? DVLA? I haven't done that yet, the site implies that I should do the registration plate bit first.

[Panamax]

"The police will tell DVLA about the theft and if the vehicle is found."

[PurpleTurtle]

https://www.gov.uk/what-to-do-if-your-vehicle-has-...

You must apply within 2 years and 6 months of telling DVLA your vehicle has been stolen.

You can only get your private registration number back if:

1) you told the police about the theft
2) the vehicle had a valid MOT certificate when it was stolen
3) the vehicle had up-to-date vehicle tax when it was stolen

Those are the rules.

I'm not entirely sure that rules two and three are fair - what if it is just SORN and in storage? Seems a tad unfair.

[Krikkit]

PurpleTurtle said:

2) the vehicle had a valid MOT certificate when it was stolen
3) the vehicle had up-to-date vehicle tax when it was stolen

Those are the rules.

I'm not entirely sure that rules two and three are fair - what if it is just SORN and in storage? Seems a tad unfair.

Agreed, it's bullst.

[Sir Bagalot]

Krikkit said:

PurpleTurtle said:

2) the vehicle had a valid MOT certificate when it was stolen
3) the vehicle had up-to-date vehicle tax when it was stolen

Those are the rules.

I'm not entirely sure that rules two and three are fair - what if it is just SORN and in storage? Seems a tad unfair.

Agreed, it's bullst.

Think about it.

You have a car that is beyond repair but has a nice plate. You get it stolen. Then apply for retention. DVLA will say not happening.

Matey who owns OO 39 could have a problem, MOT expired 17 years ago. I'd say unless the car is recovered then the plate is gone also

[Panamax]

Interesting. Doesn't seem to say "had a valid MOT if it needed to have an MOT" but simply says "had a valid MOT".

That sounds like one for old car owners with fancy number plates to watch out for.

[RSTurboPaul]

Perhaps I am not thinking things through properly as it's getting late and I am getting tired...


... but why does DVLA care whether the vehicle is MOTd or not?

What bearing has it on ownership of (the right to display) a VRN?

The DVLA do not (now) re-issue plates when they are lost / expired from a Retention Certificate or vehicle that is scrapped, so why do they care if someone might be attempting to retain possession of the right to display a plate that the DVLA has no ability to make any money from and is ultimately neither here nor there to them whether it exists or not (as it's just a digital entry in a massive database that requires minimal human input)?

Or is it the DVLA / the Government actively seeking to prevent the plebs from profiting from potential assets?


Like I say, I'm probably missing something...

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Thursday 18th July 21:17

[Panamax]

RSTurboPaul said:

What bearing has it on ownership of (the right to display) a VRN?

Because there's a long history of DVLA not allowing old numbers to be transferred off "rusted wrecks" in scrapyards or rotting behind barns. Similarly, before the days of "retention", they didn't let people park an expensive cherished number plate on an old moped.

Whether the reason for all of this is justified I cannot say, but back in the day "personalised registrations" were rare things, not the everyday commodities they have become. And, of course, DVLA make a lot more £££ out of selling new registrations than they do from transfers.

[wilksy61]

Just gone through this myself, it is a fairly easy process, I didn't have the V5C because it was in the car so I just filling in the V317 form and sent a letter explaining why I had no logbook (plus £80.00 retention fee), by recorded post and had the original V5C and the retention certificate back in less than two weeks.

The only issue is, as already said, is you can't transfer it to a new vehicle for 6 months.

[THE 80Y]

If you reassign your personal reg to another vehicle after 6 months surely there would still be a police 'stolen' marker on the reg Could the police pull you over thinking your new car is stolen?

I'm not sure if these markers are automatically removed after 6 months. But if this was the case that means all stolen vehicles are only on the police database for 6 months.

[Muddle238]

Panamax said:

Interesting. Doesn't seem to say "had a valid MOT if it needed to have an MOT" but simply says "had a valid MOT".

That sounds like one for old car owners with fancy number plates to watch out for.

It's a tricky one, a grey area. Many classic vehicles are exempt from requiring an MOT, so theoretically those vehicles shouldn't be retrospectively required to have an MOT to retain their plate if stolen.

I have a vehicle from the 60s, it's registered in the historic tax class and is MOT exempt. It has a private plate. Although I have MOT'd it in my ownership, it currently doesn't have a valid MOT certificate, due to the exemption. It has however, been continuously taxed throughout my entire ownership.

If it was stolen, and DVLA played hard ball when it came to retaining the plate, I would argue the toss that you cannot insist a stolen vehicle has something that wasn't required before it was stolen.

But I agree, one to watch. I wouldn't trust the DVLA not to screw it up somehow.

[Panamax]

Their rules seem clear; if you want to transfer a plate you need a current MOT certificate.

As you may know, if they have any doubts about a transfer DVLA can inspect the vehicle for existence/condition before allowing a transfer. But if it's been stolen you wouldn't be able to produce it for inspection so they wouldn't allow the transfer. If I had a valuable plate I wouldn't run the risk for the sake of £50 a year MOT test.

[THE 80Y]

If you have a private plate I think the best rule of thumb is always make sure the vehicle is taxed and has an MOT, or put the plate on retention. This could save potential problems later on.

I think the reason DVLA tell you a vehicle needs and MOT before you can transfer or retain the plate is to prove to them that the vehicle 'exists'.