Time limit when changing number plates over

Time limit when changing number plates over

Author
Discussion

Ads17

Original Poster:

65 posts

192 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Selling our car shortly and have applied to put the private plate on retention. Today the new V5C arrived in the post with the cars original number plate listed. The accompanying leaflet states the following:

Q. When must I change the number plates?
A. You must change the number plates using the enclosed V5C as soon as possible

Now I know they say asap but in reality how long can I leave the car on the private plate before changing it back to the original plate because 'as soon as possible' is open to interpretation. If possible I want to leave it 2-3 weeks (I have my reasons) before changing the plates over?


TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Ads17 said:
If possible I want to leave it 2-3 weeks (I have my reasons) before changing the plates over?
I'd love to hear what reason you might have for driving around for three weeks with plates you know you're not entitled to use. No, really.

"ASAP" means as soon as possible. Tomorrow, ideally. Saturday, if you absolutely definitely can't get to the factors tomorrow.

B'stard Child

28,324 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
I'd expect you to change them asap

The "vanity plates" will come back on a check as on a retention, your vehicle will probably be picked up as not having MOT/VED or Insurance because the "vanity plates" don't have any of those where as the original plates will have associated MOT/VED and insurance *provided you've changed it over to the new plates

I'm with the previous poster - why would you want to put yourself in that situation

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
I'm not sure where you would stand legally but 2 or 3 weeks would be pushing it.

rejn

1,991 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
I was in a similar position a few months ago, I ended up driving round with the "old" number plates on for around a week while I waited to PX the car - for all of that time (and I probably only drove 3-4 times that week) and even when the car was parked up in the street, I was constantly worried about being pulled up by the police, but I got away with it.

Most importantly, I made sure I had all of the docs to hand (including evidence of tax, MoT, insurance and a clear audit trail of what was going on) in case anything happened, so that it was clear that I was genuinely in the process of PX'ing the car, and it was just a timing issue.

I really wouldn't want to do it for any longer - especially with the police reliance of ANPR and links to tax, insurance, etc.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
B'stard Child said:
I'm with the previous poster - why would you want to put yourself in that situation
I suspect it's as simple as not wanting to buy two rectangular pieces of plastic, let the car's buyer do that...

4737 Carlin

1,195 posts

234 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
rejn said:
I was in a similar position a few months ago, I ended up driving round with the "old" number plates on for around a week while I waited to PX the car - for all of that time (and I probably only drove 3-4 times that week) and even when the car was parked up in the street, I was constantly worried about being pulled up by the police, but I got away with it.

Most importantly, I made sure I had all of the docs to hand (including evidence of tax, MoT, insurance and a clear audit trail of what was going on) in case anything happened, so that it was clear that I was genuinely in the process of PX'ing the car, and it was just a timing issue.

I really wouldn't want to do it for any longer - especially with the police reliance of ANPR and links to tax, insurance, etc.
I'm confused. Surely you aren't saying that you handed the car over at PX with the (now) wrong number plates? To save yourself, what, £20 ?

What am I missing?

B'stard Child

28,324 posts

245 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
B'stard Child said:
I'm with the previous poster - why would you want to put yourself in that situation
I suspect it's as simple as not wanting to buy two rectangular pieces of plastic, let the car's buyer do that...
I'd find that incomprehensible!!!!

I've always kept the old ones so I can put them back if I ever sell the car......... It's not like they take up a lot of room or are difficult to store!!!

TheAllSeeingPie

865 posts

134 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Maybe the OP's neighbours would be horrified they are driving a car that is older than your standard lease terms? They might have to move out due to the shame, which could cause them to lose their job, which means their kids would have to be put in care. Their partner might leave them due to the stress and pain they go through losing everything. Ultimately the OP could end up single and destitute because they couldn't keep their dateless vanity plates?

rejn

1,991 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
4737 Carlin said:
rejn said:
I was in a similar position a few months ago, I ended up driving round with the "old" number plates on for around a week while I waited to PX the car - for all of that time (and I probably only drove 3-4 times that week) and even when the car was parked up in the street, I was constantly worried about being pulled up by the police, but I got away with it.

Most importantly, I made sure I had all of the docs to hand (including evidence of tax, MoT, insurance and a clear audit trail of what was going on) in case anything happened, so that it was clear that I was genuinely in the process of PX'ing the car, and it was just a timing issue.

I really wouldn't want to do it for any longer - especially with the police reliance of ANPR and links to tax, insurance, etc.
I'm confused. Surely you aren't saying that you handed the car over at PX with the (now) wrong number plates? To save yourself, what, £20 ?

What am I missing?
Yes, it's just £20 for the number plates, but it's also:
- admin costs of changing insurance (another £20)
- admin costs of new parking permits (£30-40)
- admin costs of update london congestion charge (£10 to "add another car" I think)
More importantly, it's the time (and frankly the stress) of each of the above:
- number plates: realistically, at least an hour to get somewhere that makes them, get them made and swapped over
- insurance: sitting on the phone for I'm guessing at least 15 mins
- congestion charge: another 15 mins
- parking permit: probably a couple of hours getting to the "one stop shop", sitting in the queue, explaining the situation, getting new permits, etc

I'd find each of these things really tedious and a waste of my time.

So I reckon in total, it'd be the best part of £100 plus half a day of my life.

For something which is of no consequence to me. I chose not to bother...

B'stard Child

28,324 posts

245 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
TheAllSeeingPie said:
Maybe the OP's neighbours would be horrified they are driving a car that is older than your standard lease terms? They might have to move out due to the shame, which could cause them to lose their job, which means their kids would have to be put in care. Their partner might leave them due to the stress and pain they go through losing everything. Ultimately the OP could end up single and destitute because they couldn't keep their dateless vanity plates?
Very suitable username - I like your thinking!!

sealtt

3,091 posts

157 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Or much more likely, the guy was on holiday with his old grandmother in Spain when things took a turn for the worse and she was hospitalised due to heat stroke. By the grace of god she is ok today, but it was a tough 2-3 weeks and the guy was forced to cancel his return flight to stay out there and sit by her side day and night. Having filed the paperwork to change his plates before leaving for holiday, he now realises that upon arriving back in London Gatwick he is going to be on plates that should have been changed over some time ago. And that is why this thread exists.

4737 Carlin

1,195 posts

234 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
rejn said:
4737 Carlin said:
rejn said:
I was in a similar position a few months ago, I ended up driving round with the "old" number plates on for around a week while I waited to PX the car - for all of that time (and I probably only drove 3-4 times that week) and even when the car was parked up in the street, I was constantly worried about being pulled up by the police, but I got away with it.

Most importantly, I made sure I had all of the docs to hand (including evidence of tax, MoT, insurance and a clear audit trail of what was going on) in case anything happened, so that it was clear that I was genuinely in the process of PX'ing the car, and it was just a timing issue.

I really wouldn't want to do it for any longer - especially with the police reliance of ANPR and links to tax, insurance, etc.
I'm confused. Surely you aren't saying that you handed the car over at PX with the (now) wrong number plates? To save yourself, what, £20 ?

What am I missing?
Yes, it's just £20 for the number plates, but it's also:
- admin costs of changing insurance (another £20)
- admin costs of new parking permits (£30-40)
- admin costs of update london congestion charge (£10 to "add another car" I think)
More importantly, it's the time (and frankly the stress) of each of the above:
- number plates: realistically, at least an hour to get somewhere that makes them, get them made and swapped over
- insurance: sitting on the phone for I'm guessing at least 15 mins
- congestion charge: another 15 mins
- parking permit: probably a couple of hours getting to the "one stop shop", sitting in the queue, explaining the situation, getting new permits, etc

I'd find each of these things really tedious and a waste of my time.

So I reckon in total, it'd be the best part of £100 plus half a day of my life.

For something which is of no consequence to me. I chose not to bother...
Ah, yes, I see. Makes sense now.
Thanks for the explanation.

Ads17

Original Poster:

65 posts

192 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Setting aside the "vanity plate" thing. If you don't like them fine but don't lambast people who do, each to their own and all that. The same argument could surely be put to many other car related items.

Anyhow from the DVLA I was expecting a notice to say you should change them within 2 weeks etc... not asap as it is open to interpretation. I have plates ready to go on but since there is a new car coming in a couple of weeks I thought I could save myself a bit of extra hassle and deal with all the insurance admin stuff at the one time, hence the original question to see if anyone knew if there was a actual time limit on it.

Looks like asap it is then!


saaby93

32,038 posts

177 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Ads17 said:
Setting aside the "vanity plate" thing. If you don't like them fine but don't lambast people who do, each to their own and all that. The same argument could surely be put to many other car related items.

Anyhow from the DVLA I was expecting a notice to say you should change them within 2 weeks etc... not asap as it is open to interpretation. I have plates ready to go on but since there is a new car coming in a couple of weeks I thought I could save myself a bit of extra hassle and deal with all the insurance admin stuff at the one time, hence the original question to see if anyone knew if there was a actual time limit on it.

Looks like asap it is then!
They dont seem to have a problem with it. It's always been ASAP. It's probably to give you time to go off to the number plate supplier order then get them back ask your dealer to fit them etc

Remember they work with VIN numbers so can see both regs are related to the car. HPI does the same.
The service department at your dealer will probably keep working with the original reg number too with a note on their system about the assigned number

Insurance will be the issue. Make sure your incurance docs tie up with the reg on the car.
But they still know its the same car

Tax too should ultimately be based on VIN. Has that been changed from one reg to the other yet?


dbdb

4,311 posts

172 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
I am frequently struck by the peculiar deep rage roused in some people by other people's registration plates. It is most odd.

I would transfer the plate quickly though. Being stopped for wearing the old number plates or having an accident with the wrong plates could cause you far more inconvenience that you would save by delaying.

B'stard Child

28,324 posts

245 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Ads17 said:
Setting aside the "vanity plate" thing. If you don't like them fine but don't lambast people who do, each to their own and all that. The same argument could surely be put to many other car related items.
I have two of them - used to be three - I like them otherwise I wouldn't have one at all

I use the term "vanity plate" because they are, they aren't "private plates" (the number is clearly on show) - they could be termed "personal plates" but personal implies to the owner when many are car related numbers so "Vanity plates" it is

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
rejn said:
For something which is of no consequence to me. I chose not to bother...
It'll be of consequence to you when you get stopped for driving around with the wrong plates on... The congestion charge and parking permit are also likely to check against DVLA.

If changing a plate about is that hard, I've got a really easy solution...

brillomaster

1,242 posts

169 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
what V5c? pretty sure that it was lost in the mail wasnt it?

and if you dont get the V5c, you cant put the new plates on.

And the DVLA specifically advise waiting about a month before contacting them regarding a lost V5c, so i'd say you've got at least a month!

wink

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
My daughter drove on private plates she'd lost (long story) for weeks until she transferred a new reg onto the car.

She was never done for this transgression, despite the car being parked on the road all night, parked 200 yards from a police station during working hours and driving past numerous city ANPR cameras between home and work.