If you already have a private number plate and you are thinking of getting a new car, you will want to know if it is possible to transfer the private number plates from one vehicle to another. Well, it is possible. However, there are sometimes circumstances where you may face some difficulty. You will learn how to manage the transfer process by reading this article. You will become familiar with the procedure for transferring registration numbers from one vehicle to another.
How Can You Transfer Private Number Plates?
When people have a private number plate, they have to be familiar with the DVLA cherished numbers transfer procedure. It can be confusing as the regulations change fairly frequently but once you get an overview of the rules and understand the intricacies of the process, your task will become much easier.
1. Rules for Car to Car Transfers:
You have to know that registration transfers between vehicles will be subject to the GVT or MOT test status of the respective vehicles. It means that you can’t transfer the private number plate to a tractor if the tractor is not subject to MOT regulations. The exception, to this rule, is cars having Q registration. Q registrations are utilized when DVLA cannot verify the vehicle’s age. Q registrations are generally issued to cars which are built by individuals or that are rebuilt vehicles. One cannot transfer a private registration to a car registered as a Q registration. Both cars involved in the registration process must have a DVLA recognized registration with a V5C document declaring the age of the vehicle and declaring that the registration number is a transferrable number.
Another important rule is that you can’t make the vehicle’s age appear younger than it is when transferring private number plates to the vehicle. It is also important that you are aware of the road tax requirements for the respective vehicles. The DVLA will only allow the transfer of a registration number to a vehicle that is currently road taxed or that has been declared SORN for no more than 5 years. Removing a registration from a vehicle follows this same rule and so both donor and recipient vehicles have to comply with the same criteria regarding road tax status or SORN status.
Vehicles should not have any breaks in the record of road tax otherwise the transfer process will have to be carried out through the posting of documents to the DVLA. It is possible to transfer registrations between vehicles using the online transfer process providing the criteria for both vehicles comply with the above requirements.
The postal process involves the use of a V317 transfer form and signatures are required from the registered keepers of the donor and recipient vehicles.
2. The Process for retaining a private number plate after it gets removed:
In order to retain a private number plate after removing it from the vehicle, there are 2 options. The first is the online transfer process where you will need the V5C document number and the registered keeper’s address for the vehicle. The online process will allow you to remove existing private number plates and have the registration placed on to a V778 retention document. A new registration number will be issued to the vehicle and the online process will provide you with the details of the new registration number immediately. The second option involves you sending the V5C document for your vehicle in combination with a completed V317 registration transfer form to the DVLA. The form allows you to make clear that you want to retain the private number plates. In both the postal and online process there is a DOT fee payment required of £80.00
3. Private Number Plate Transfer Process:
You can complete the transfer process having previously retained a registration on a retention document, either by post or online, although the online application is the more efficient of the two processes. This process is the second step after the removal and retaining of private number plates. When completing the registration transfer process via post, you again will need to complete the DVLA V317 transfer form and provide details of the recipient vehicle.
Section three of the V317 form includes the recipient vehicle’s details. You will need to provide the vehicle owner’s details. The postal process requires that you send your V5C registration certificate for the recipient vehicle with the V778 retention document to DVLA Swansea.
Private Number Plate Transfer process Difficulties.
1. If the registration mark is non-transferable:
A registration mark that is non-transferable means that private number plates cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another. If the car has a registration mark that is non-transferable the V5C registration certificate for the vehicle will state the number as non-transferrable in the Special Notes section.
2. Making the car look younger than its true age:
The regulations will not allow the misrepresentation of the car’s age. The reason for this regulation is to prevent the value of the vehicle being falsely increased through the assignment of a new registration.
Conclusion
Transferring private number plates can be a risky and difficult task, but with these simple guidance notes, you can feel more confident about transferring a registration number from one car to another.
