Can a number plate be put retention same day at DVLA?

[6BMW]

Have found a buyer for my car but it currently has a private plate on it. He is willing to pay asking price as long as I can give him the car before the bank holiday weekend. If I take the paperwork to my local DVLA office would it be possible to take the plate off and on to retention certificate there and then? Would they also reissue the MOT certificate there at the DVLA office with the old number plate?

I know that the V5 would have to follow later but the buyer has agreed we sign a contract to say he is liable for all traffic offences etc upon handover and that the V5 doc will be signed by both buyer and seller when it arrives from the DVLA.

The cars a 6 series convertible and he wants to do a blast up the Highlands over the long weekend

[Fox-]

No, it can't. All going to a DVLA office will do is reduce the time the process takes by one day - ie the postal time. You can't transfer off same day, you can only transfer on same day.

[Pork]

The important thing is getting the paperwork done before you sell the car. It will mean that your plate is on the car for another couple of weeks, but if you do the paperwork, the buyer will be reponsible for changing the plates when all the doc's come through (you'll then get a retention cert through shortly afterwards).

The last car I bought was on a pp and I put my pp on it - IIRC it was on the last owners pp for a shade under 2 weeks.

[6BMW]

Thanks - in that case does anyone know how long it takes for this to be done via post?

If I posted it tomorrow morning (Thursday) what are the chances of it arriving before next Thursday? I know its like "how long is a piece of string" but I guess there may be a few people here who have just transferred their plates to retention who could comment on how long this process took?

[6BMW]

Pork said:

The important thing is getting the paperwork done before you sell the car. It will mean that your plate is on the car for another couple of weeks, but if you do the paperwork, the buyer will be reponsible for changing the plates when all the doc's come through (you'll then get a retention cert through shortly afterwards).

The last car I bought was on a pp and I put my pp on it - IIRC it was on the last owners pp for a shade under 2 weeks.

I can't do that unfortunately, my pp is worth way more than my car!

[Pork]

6BMW said:

I can't do that unfortunately, my pp is worth way more than my car!

Once the paperwork is done with the DVLA, its a done deal as far as I know - the DVLA would confirm.

[Pork]

6BMW said:

Thanks - in that case does anyone know how long it takes for this to be done via post?

If I posted it tomorrow morning (Thursday) what are the chances of it arriving before next Thursday? I know its like "how long is a piece of string" but I guess there may be a few people here who have just transferred their plates to retention who could comment on how long this process took?

I think their SLA is 6 weeks or soemthing. I got temporary docs after about 2 weeks (was going abroad and wanted a temp log book).

[Fox-]

It's not going to be done in a week I'm afraid. The process can take up to 6 weeks, but you'll get it in 3 if you are lucky.

[LuS1fer]

I sold a car with my PP on it with an express clause in the contract of sale that it did not include any rights to the plate, express or implied. I sent off the application to retain and he then had to ghet it re-registered. All worked fine and he even sent the plates back.

[Pork]

LuS1fer said:

I sold a car with my PP on it with an express clause in the contract of sale that it did not include any rights to the plate, express or implied. I sent off the application to retain and he then had to ghet it re-registered. All worked fine and he even sent the plates back.

Thats exactly what I did.

My Bro just sold his M5 (with a PP on) and the lad wanted to take it right away - my Bro agreed and put on the reciept that the plate was not included and that he (my Bro) would take care of the paperwork. The car went on the Sunday, he took all the paperwork to DVLA Monday am and has recieved noticifation that the plate can now go on his new car (this was all done about 10 days ago).

Again though, ask the DVLA and they will advise - I found them to be very knowledgable and very helpful.

[gazchap]

Bit of a thread revival this, but I've got an issue that hopefully someone here will know the answer to so that I don't have to go via the labyrinth of call centre workers.

I took my documents to my DVLA local office to have my number plate put on retention - this has all gone through OK, they took the documentation (form, V5C and MOT certificate) from me there and then.

I've now sold the car, and told the new owner that I'll send all the documentation back to them when it arrives, with the original number plate on it.

I've had the V5C back bearing the original plate, but I've not received a replacement tax disc or MOT certificate yet. Wouldn't they all come in the same envelope?

[Sir Bagalot]

Nope not in the same envelope. Should arrive within 1-2 days

[Kellyjm]

I have applied to put my pp on retention, my logbook came back in a week, so just waiting for my mot etc.