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FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
To assign a private (personalised) number to a vehicle, you need one of the following:
- a V778 retention document
- a V750 certificate of entitlement
- an online reference number
- V5C (Log Book)
- Please note your vehicle does require to have a valid MOT and required to be taxed at the point of assignment
The vehicle must:
- be registered with DVLA in the UK
- be able to move under its own power
- be of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
- have been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
- be taxed currently (or have a SORN in place – if it’s had a SORN for more than 5 years, it must be taxed)
- be available for inspection
there is two options to apply a private number plate to your vehicle :
1- Apply online
You can use the link below to assign your new private number plate online throw DVLA website :
https://www.personalisedvehicleregistration.service.gov.uk/assign/vehicle-lookup
The number will be assigned immediately if your vehicle does not need an inspection.
This service is open from 7am to 7pm. It’s also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
2- Apply by post
The number will be assigned within 2 weeks if your vehicle does not need an inspection.
Send all of the following documents to DVLA:
- the completed V750 or V778 – the address is on the form
- the vehicle’s log book (V5C) or green ‘new keeper’ slip with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C’
Our team will be more than happy to complete the transfer on behalf of our clients .
Number Plate Designer will start the new ownership transfer immediately once the payment has been made. Once the DVLA has been informed of the new ownership details, documents usually arrive within 7 working days. If the customer chooses for Number Plate Designer to handle the legalities of the transfer, this process will begin as soon as the requested documents have been received. Once the legal transfer has been initiated, this process usually takes 7 working days until you can fix your private registration to your vehicle.
Yes, as they will need to update your records for accuracy. We also advise telling them that in the event of a ‘total loss claim’, whereby the insurance company effectively buys your vehicle from you due to theft or as a ‘write off’, the private registration mark will remain your property. Ask them to acknowledge this request in writing. They do not normally make a charge for issuing a new cover note in these circumstances or for complying with this request.
You’ll be sent:
- Dvla will send you a new log book (V5C) with the new registration – it can take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive
- your original MOT back (if you sent it to tax the vehicle)
You must:
- put new number plates on the vehicle before you drive it
- tell your insurance company your new registration number
You can keep the original registration number and plates – they’ll be reassigned to the vehicle when you take off the private number.
You must not sell or get rid of a vehicle until you get the new log book (V5C).
Requirements for transfering a personalised number plate
The vehicles need to be:
- Registered with the DVLA in the UK
- Of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
- Taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years
- Available for inspection – sometimes the DVLA will inspect vehicles during this process, they will contact you if they wish to inspect one of your vehicles
Also note that:
- You cannot use a private number that makes a vehicle look newer than it is.
- You cannot transfer to or from a vehicle registered with a Q or NIQ mark.
Transfer a number plate online
First you will need to take the number plate off the vehicle. To apply to do this online, visit https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers.
You will need a:
- note of the registration number
- the latest V5C (logbook) document reference number
- the postcode of the registered keeper as it appears on the V5C (logbook)
You will then:
- be asked to confirm that you are the registered keeper or have consent to act on behalf of the registered keeper
- need to pay £80 and the number plate will be removed immediately if your vehicle does not need an inspection
You can then assign the number to the other vehicle as soon as you’ve applied to take it off – use the reference number you get after you apply and visit https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers, this time selecting ‘Assign a private number to a vehicle’.
Private number plate transfer by post using the V317 Form
You will need a copy of the V317 form (an application to transfer or retain a vehicle registration number). You can download this plate transfer form online, or if you’re unable to print it out, you can collect a copy from most larger Post Offices.
Section two of the V317 form should be signed and completed by the keeper of the donor vehicle (the car from which the number plate is being transferred). Section three of the form asks for the details of the keeper and vehicle the number plate is being transferred to.
Send this completed form, payment for £80 (cheques made out to “DVLA Swansea”) and the V5C (logbook) for both cars (or a completed V62 “Application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C” if you lack the V5C) to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea, SA99 1AR.
Within 28 to 42 days you will be sent replacement V5C’s for both vehicles, the donor vehicle will show a replacement registration, and the car you’ve transfered the private plate to should be showing the private plate.
You can now arrange to have some acrylic plates manufactured to attach to the cars.
Final steps to complete a private plate transfer
Once the number plates have been changed on both vehicles you will need to update your insurers with details of your cherished transfer.
You’ll be sent:
- a new log book (V5C) showing the vehicle’s replacement registration number – it can take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive
- your original MOT back (if you sent it to tax the vehicle)
- a V778 retention document if the private number is in your name
If the private number is in someone else’s name, the V778 document will be sent to them.
You must:
- put new number plates on the vehicle before you drive it
- tell your insurance company your new registration number
What happens to the private number
Your V778 retention document proves that you still have the right to assign the private number for the next 10 years.
You must renew your right to use a private number before the V778 expires.
You’ll lose the right to use the private number if you sell or destroy your vehicle before you get the V778.
You can give up your right to use the private number if you decide not to assign it.
The price shown is the price you pay; there are no hidden charges or fees. The price shown includes everything ready to assign your registration mark.
In the unlikely event of not being able to find the registration mark you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly member of the sales team who will be more than happy to help you. The sales team can be contacted either by email at sales@numberplatedesigner.co.uk or telephone 07488999000 . (Calls are recorded for training and monitoring purposes).
The only information required for us would be the registered name (Nominee name). If the registration mark is being assigned to a vehicle the registered name is required to be identical to what is registered on the V5C document.
Yes. The DVLA based here in Swansea has now become the overarching body for all vehicle licensing in the UK, including Northern Ireland. This means you can easily transfer a Northern Ireland format private numberplate to your UK vehicle. Northern Ireland format registrations don’t carry age identifiers either, so they’re suitable for vehicles of any age.
We always advise you speak with your leasing or Motability Company prior to purchasing a private registration; it’s important to confirm that there are no restrictions in assigning a personalised registration mark to your vehicle.
Often, leasing and Motability companies are happy to assign private registrations to a vehicle but will request to handle the transfer themselves. Therefore, you should always check to see if they require your details or their own to be printed on the government certificate as the ‘nominated’ user. (In order for the transfer to be successful, the nominated user name should match the registered Keeper.)
If you are looking at purchasing a private registration which is listed as pre-owned on the website, we advise you contact a member of our sales team who will be able to discuss the options available to you for your chosen registration mark. This is because, due to data protection laws, the process can vary for pre-owned registrations.
We also advise you speak with your leasing or Motability company to confirm that the private registration will be retained into your details once it has been removed from the vehicle in the future.
- Yes, as long as the plate doesn’t make your car look newer/ younger than it is by using a more current year than its first date of registration. For example a car that was first registered in 2010 couldn’t use personalised plates with date signifiers from 2011 onwards.
- You cannot transfer your number plate onto a ‘Q’ registered vehicle. This is where the number plate on the vehicle starts with a ‘Q’. DVLA issues ‘Q’ registration numbers to vehicles whose age or identity is in doubt.
- You cannot transfer a number plate to a vehicle of a type that does NOT need an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate. An example of a vehicle you cannot transfer a number plate is a tractor.
Yes sure, you can transfer any plate with the right age to your motorcycles and mopeds .
You can TAX your vehicle online and get an MOT done if the transfer has not been completed however if the DVLA process your number plate transfer before you have bought your road TAX or completed your MOT then the transfer will fail. We advise customers to do this before they send us their documents if they have less than 4 weeks remaining.
You can assign any private registration mark to your vehicle as long as the private registration mark does not make the vehicle look newer than the manufactured year. Please note you are unable to assign private registration marks to Q plate registered vehicles as this marks the vehicle age as unknown. If you are still unsure on which registration plates can be assigned to your vehicle please check our vehicle registration compatibility checker here.
Yes, the DVLA will issue new relevant documents containing your new private registration mark. In regards to both the MOT and Tax, this will be updated on the electronic online system.
Sure , This is no problem whatsoever; all registrations can be supplied on a retention certificate with a retention period of 10 years, this is no extra cost. All registration which are chosen to be supplied on retention are usually received within 7 working days after clear payment has been made .
