Applying a registration to a car with a personal plate
Discussion
I recently tried to assign a new registration number to a car that already has a private plate, but the DVLA online system rejected the application.
The car was purchased around six years ago with its current private registration, which has no particular significance to us, so we had no intention of retaining it. I've transferred registrations directly onto vehicles with existing private plates in the past without any issues, so it appears the DVLA process may have changed.
I called the DVLA and was advised that the current registration must first be removed and placed on retention. A replacement V5C must then be issued before the new personalised registration can be assigned to the vehicle.
If that's the case, does it mean I need to:
Have number plates made up for the interim registration,
Update the insurance details,
And then repeat the whole process once the new V5C arrives?
Or is it acceptable to leave the existing plates and insurance details unchanged while waiting for the updated V5C, which could take a week or so?
Also, does anyone know why the policy has changed?
My thoughts are:
To reduce the risk of registration numbers being lost during transfers.
To require retention applications and therefore generate the £80 retention fee.
The car was purchased around six years ago with its current private registration, which has no particular significance to us, so we had no intention of retaining it. I've transferred registrations directly onto vehicles with existing private plates in the past without any issues, so it appears the DVLA process may have changed.
I called the DVLA and was advised that the current registration must first be removed and placed on retention. A replacement V5C must then be issued before the new personalised registration can be assigned to the vehicle.
If that's the case, does it mean I need to:
Have number plates made up for the interim registration,
Update the insurance details,
And then repeat the whole process once the new V5C arrives?
Or is it acceptable to leave the existing plates and insurance details unchanged while waiting for the updated V5C, which could take a week or so?
Also, does anyone know why the policy has changed?
My thoughts are:
To reduce the risk of registration numbers being lost during transfers.
To require retention applications and therefore generate the £80 retention fee.
I’ve only ever retained numbers for either “keeping in stock” or transferring to another car a little while later or I’ve just had assigned to the new vehicle I’ve bought so my reply might be a bit incorrect !
However I would assume that the procedure is basically the same.
Putting the first plate on retention would presumably see the “original “dated one appear along with a certificate allowing you 3 days to get the new plate made up.
Whether you choose to do this is your call assuming then that you cannot then reallocate your private plate until a few days later and you carry the email proof of this with you in the unlikely event you are stopped.
Obviously if you cannot do online in the first place then no such proof would exist but equally what would you be advising the insurer of ?
Waiting for the new V5 to then do the plate transfer might then be the right and first time to actually advise Insurers ?
I should have requoted your question so apologies for being slightly long winded !
However I would assume that the procedure is basically the same.
Putting the first plate on retention would presumably see the “original “dated one appear along with a certificate allowing you 3 days to get the new plate made up.
Whether you choose to do this is your call assuming then that you cannot then reallocate your private plate until a few days later and you carry the email proof of this with you in the unlikely event you are stopped.
Obviously if you cannot do online in the first place then no such proof would exist but equally what would you be advising the insurer of ?
Waiting for the new V5 to then do the plate transfer might then be the right and first time to actually advise Insurers ?
I should have requoted your question so apologies for being slightly long winded !
Mr Squarekins said:
My current car had a personal plate on it when I bought it used from BMW.
It meant nothing to me, so I put my own personal plate on it, and did not pay to retain the old one.
All in one step. It was no issue.
About 3 years ago.
Confused why they wont do it.
I did mine online.
That was my experience in the past and expectation that this would be possible but seems the DVLA process has changed. It meant nothing to me, so I put my own personal plate on it, and did not pay to retain the old one.
All in one step. It was no issue.
About 3 years ago.
Confused why they wont do it.
I did mine online.
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