If you have your own private number plate, you may want to know how you can retain this when it comes to the time to scrap or sell the vehicle it’s being used on. Perhaps you want to buy a personalised plate, but not actually assign it to your motorcycle, van or car straight away. Is there any way to keep that private registration for future use? This handy guide will tell you more about the process of putting a number plate on retention.

What does ‘number plate on retention’ mean?

If the car to which your private number plate is assigned is to be scrapped or sold, and you don’t wish to use your private plate with another vehicle right away, then you can apply for a V778 retention document. These are issued by the DVLA. Practically any personalised registration can be put on retention, unless it begins with either “NIQ” or “Q”. If you remove a plate to put it on retention, the vehicle concerned will typically be given the registration number it had originally.

The car, van or motorcycle must be eligible for the retention scheme, and the DVLA outlines the following rules:

Eligibility for retention

The car or other vehicle must be DVLA registered. It should be the kind of motorised tricycle, car, motorcycle, van, moped or Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) that would need an MOT or HGV test.

It should have the capacity to move under its own power and must either be taxed or SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) for five years running. If there has been a SORN in place for more than five years, the vehicle must be taxed when you apply for the retention. The DVLA may decide to inspect the vehicle, so it must be available for this if required. You will be contacted to arrange the inspection if this does apply.

How to put a number plate on retention

As long as your vehicle adheres to the above DVLA conditions, the private plate can be retained. It’s a pretty straightforward process, and can be completed online or by post. You can only apply by post if it isn’t your own vehicle. The DVLA does charge a fee, which is currently £80 but is subject to change. The log book (or V5C) will be required for the application.

Apply online

You can apply via the DVLA website, and this service is available daily from 7:00am to 7:00pm. If an inspection is not required, the plate will be removed immediately from the vehicle and a reference number will be given to you. You might need this later if you want to reassign the private plate.

Apply by post

When applying by post, you must enclose the documents required by the DVLA. These include the completed V317 retention form and the V5C. If you’ve just bought the car, you can send the ‘new keeper’ slip along with a V62 form. The transfer fee must also be included. If an inspection is not needed, the private number should be removed within two weeks of your application.

If you must obtain vehicle tax, then you have to send a completed V10 tax application form and the MOT certificate plus the tax amount.

How long does a number plate stay on retention?

Your V778 retention document gives you the right to use or sell that private plate for 10 years. It has to be renewed before expiry or you will lose the right to it. You will also no longer have rights to that number plate if your vehicle is scrapped or sold before the V778 is issued.

If you own a personalised number plate, you may wonder what happens when you come to sell or scrap your vehicle. Do you lose that private registration, or can you keep the number plate once it’s time to scrap or sell your car? Read on to find out more about retaining your number plate for use in the future, or transferring it to another vehicle.

Can I sell my car and keep the number plate?

If you want to sell or scrap the car to which your private number plate is attached, you can usually do so. The only exception to this general rule applies to number plates that begin with either “Q” or “NIQ”. Normally when you remove a number plate from a motorcycle, car or van, it will be issued once more with the registration number it was originally given.

Eligibility

You also need to make sure your vehicle is eligible for the registration transfer or retention scheme.

The vehicle must be registered with DVLA, and capable of moving by means of its own power. It should be the kind of car, van, motorcycle, moped, tricycle or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that requires an MOT or HGV test pass certificate. It should either have current road tax, or have been subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) for the five consecutive years immediately before taking it off the vehicle. If a SORN has existed for over five years, then the vehicle should now be taxed.

It must also be available for inspection, should the DVLA decide to do so. If this does apply, then the agency will contact you directly to arrange this.

How to keep your number plate when selling a car

If your vehicle satisfies the DVLA conditions and the number plate can be retained or transferred, the process is fairly simple. You can complete the procedure online, or apply by post. The DVLA fee for this is currently £80. You will need the V5C (log book) when you apply. If you do not own the vehicle, then you must apply by post.

Online application

The number plate is immediately removed from the vehicle if a DVLA inspection is not deemed necessary. You will be issued with a reference number once the process is complete, which you will need if you then decide to assign the number plate to a different vehicle. You can apply online daily between 7:00am and 7:00pm.

Postal application

If your car, van or motorcycle does not require an inspection, the private number will be removed within a fortnight of the DVLA receiving your application. When making a postal application, you must enclose all of the required documentation. This includes the V317 form for transfer or retention, plus the V5C or ‘new keeper’ slip from the V5C with a completed V62 form. You must also enclose the transfer fee.

If you need to tax the vehicle at the same time – for example, because it has been SORN for over five years, then you also need to send a completed V10 ‘application for vehicle tax’ form, plus the correct payment. The MOT certificate is also required. You can find the address on the V317.

What happens next?

After removing a private number, you will receive a new V5C; this may take up to six weeks. The MOT certificate will be returned to you, and you will also get the V778 retention document. This proves your right to assign this registration for the next decade, and this can be renewed. A word of warning though – if you sell or scrap the vehicle before you receive the V778, you could lose the rights to that private number plate.

Car number plates, whether private or standard issue, simply provide a way to identify a vehicle, but personalised plates can mean a lot more to their owners than that.

Instead of a random combination of letters and numbers, a private number plate can reflect the occupation, name, initials, interests or even the personality of the motorist. With such a huge choice available, drivers who have private number plates are able to make a statement and stand out from others on the road.

There are various options when it comes to the format of a private number plate. Current, or new style, plates are the type currently being issued by the DVLA, and they start with a two-letter area code, showing where the vehicle was initially registered. The following two numbers reflect the age of the car, motorbike or van, and the three letters after the space are randomly selected, giving enough available combinations to ensure every number plate is unique.

Older types of private number plate also exist. Before the new style came the prefix style plate, and this type of registration started with a letter relating to the car’s age. Suffix plates preceded prefixes, and they ended in the year of registration. The oldest style of plates are dateless plates, and on these, either numbers or letters may appear first. These tend to be the most sought-after plates of all.

How much is it to get a private number plate?

The price of any private number plate is determined by a simple rule of economics; it will be worth the amount that someone would be willing to pay for it. As a general rule of thumb, the most popular plates are often those that feature common names or words. This is because a high number of people will want such a combination. An increased demand thus results in a higher price tag.

It’s not all about demand; supply also comes into the equation. Those plates that are in shorter supply will be more expensive. This is because – simply put – there are fewer of them to go round. In practice, the age of the plate has some bearing here. As the oldest plates are the rarest, they tend to be the most pricey.

How to get a private number plate off retention

If you own a private number plate that has not been in use for some time, then when you do want to use it you will need to know how to go about this. Fortunately, the procedure is extremely straightforward. Once you obtain the V778 retention document that confirms your right to use or sell the number plate in future, most of the work is done.

Assigning that number plate to a vehicle is very simple, as long as certain conditions are satisfied. Firstly, you cannot put a number plate on a vehicle if it would make the car or van appear newer than it really is. Secondly, you must have a current MOT and road tax, or a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), for the relevant vehicle. The vehicle must also be available for inspection in case the DVLA decides to do this.

Assuming you satisfy these conditions, the procedure then depends on the vehicle. If it is a brand new car, the dealership should apply for you. Otherwise, you can apply online or by post as long as you have the V5C document (log book) as well as the retention certificate. Provided an inspection is not required, the registration will be assigned immediately when applying online, so make sure you have the new plates ready to fit before proceeding.

If you have thought of the perfect car number plate and would like to see if it’s possible to buy it, there are several ways you can find out. Here’s how to check if number plates are taken.

Search with New Reg

You can search online via number plate sales specialist websites – like us right here at New Reg. Simply enter the exact registration you want to enquire about into the search box, and if it is available then the plate and price for it will show right at the top of the list of options. If it is taken, then the system will show you the closest combinations to the one you’ve searched for. It’s likely that one of these will be a close enough match – and could also be very attractively priced.

The online search on the DVLA website is designed to give basic information about a vehicle, such as whether the vehicle is taxed or has an MOT, the date of first registration and more. Although the DVLA search is designed for those purposes, it is a quick way to find out whether the registration mark you require is already in use on a vehicle. If it is, then the search will give you information about the car, motorbike or van it relates to. If it is not in use, then the screen will show the message “Vehicle details could not be found”. In this case, either the number plate is available and therefore can probably be purchased, or the combination you’ve requested was simply never issued.

One of the advantages of using New Reg over the DVLA search is that you can speak to one of our team if you’d like some assistance. They are highly experienced in tracking down just the right car number plates for our customers, and therefore might think of a combination to suit you that may not have crossed your mind.

Private number plate search

If you do use our private number plate search, you might find just what you’re looking for right away, or a very close match that you’re keen to snap up before someone else does. If not, and you still hanker after the exact combination of characters that you searched for, all is not lost. Shown right at the top of the search results page will be a “Keep Updated” button.

If you like, you can click this button to register your interest in that particular registration. This will lead you to a simple form that you will need to fill in – all we need is your name, phone number and email address. The registration you searched for will already have been inserted onto the form. By taking these basic details, we can get in touch with you should the registration you desire become available for sale.

Sometimes, it’s a good idea to think outside the box when it comes to purchasing a private number plate. Your chosen combination might not be on the market right now, but there’s bound to be something else that will appeal. If you’ve searched for a name or word that’s very common or popular, then you may be less likely to find just what you want, as many people will be searching for the same combination. So, instead of using your name, how about trying your initials? These are often a very affordable option, as well as being easy to find. Alternatively, you could search for a plate that reflects your career, interests or even your favourite sports team. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Perhaps you’ve already purchased the perfect number plate and want to know what happens next. Maybe you’re thinking of investing in a personalised registration, but are wondering if the process of changing over your number plate is complicated or lengthy.

The good news is that it’s neither, especially if you let New Reg take care of the paperwork on your behalf. The process of changing over vehicle number plates is actually fairly straightforward, and could be completed in a very short time indeed – depending on the exact circumstances.

How to change a private number plate

You have two options open to you when buying a private number plate. You can put the personalised registration on retention for future use, or you can assign it to a vehicle. If you’re buying the plate to put on your car, motorcycle or van, then you will follow the procedure for the latter.

When you buy a private registration from New Reg, we will issue the documentation you need to assign your new plate to your vehicle. If you like, we can even complete the process for you. This saves you time and ensures you are driving around with your new personalised plate as soon as possible.

How much is it to change a private number plate?

The DVLA charges a transfer fee, and this is set by the agency. This is currently £80, but is of course subject to change. This actually covers the removal of the number from a vehicle rather than the assigning of the private plate to a new vehicle. In practice, this means you pay to take your old registration off, not to assign your new plate to your vehicle.

Can I change my private number plate online?

You can apply online to assign a private number plate. Assuming you meet certain criteria and the vehicle doesn’t need a DVLA inspection, it will immediately be assigned. This means you need to have the number plates made up when you apply, as if your application is successful, then they must be changed over straight away.

How long to change private number plate?

When we sort out the switch for you, it will take anything from a few days to around four weeks. This is because the speed of the service depends on the situation. The quickest transfers occur with those number plates that have never before been used since issue; in this scenario, the process could be completed within as little as a few days. In this case there is no donor vehicle, so there is no chance of a DVLA inspection being required. The administration required for this type of transfer is minimal as such registrations are held on a Certificate of Entitlement known as a V750. In these scenarios, we at New Reg are named as the Purchaser and you, the customer, are the Nominee.

With most of the registrations we sell, the average time taken for the transfer is around two to four weeks. At New Reg, we’re committed to completing each transfer we deal with as rapidly as possible. As we are unable to start the process until we have all of the documentation required by the DVLA, prompt provision of this can make all the difference.

If you’re buying a brand new vehicle at the same time, do ask the dealership as soon as you can whether they can register it with your new private number plate. In this case, you shouldn’t have to pay the transfer fee again, as new cars, vans and motorbikes come with an age-related registration, supplied by the dealership at no extra cost. They may, however, charge for the making up of the plates, as well as the initial registration fee.

A car number plate is really a form of identification, but it can be so much more to a personalised number plate owner than that. Rather than a random, nonsensical sequence of characters, a private number plate allows the driver to stand out. There are so many combinations of letters and numbers available, giving motorists the chance to make any statement they want to, or to reflect their name, job, hobbies or personality.

Buying personalised number plates

When you’re buying personalised number plates, you can take your pick from a variety of different styles. New (or current style) number plates follow a formula specified by the DVLA. They begin with an area identifier, where the first two letters reflect where the vehicle was first registered. The numbers that follow relate to the age of the car, van or motorcycle, then the last three letters are a random sequence, ensuring each number plate is unique. Sometimes, this system results in desirable combinations of characters that spell words or names. As many people have three initials, it’s also usually easy to find sequences that match those.

There are also other kinds of older style number plates. The style that preceded the current type was the prefix plate, where the registration began with the letter denoting the car’s age. Before this there were suffix plates, which ended with the year of issue. Prior to suffix plates were dateless plates, which may display letters or numbers first. These dateless, or cherished, plates are generally regarded as very desirable indeed.

Where can I buy personalised number plates?

At New Reg, we deal in all kinds of personalised number plates. Some of the more sought-after plates tend to have higher price tags, but others are often surprisingly affordable. Many buyers see private number plates as a great investment, and some such purchasers might own a whole portfolio of plates that they expect to increase in value. Others buy them for their family or friends, as well as themselves, as they also make great and very personal gifts.

How to buy a personalised number plate

It’s easy to find a great personalised number plate here at New Reg. Think about what sort of combination you would like, then input your ideas. The user friendly search function will return various combinations that match your search. Typical combinations favoured by our customers include occupations, sports teams, interests, names or initials. The list of registrations matching your requirements includes prices, so it’s simple to see what your options are and how they fit in with your budget.

At New Reg, we stock a large number of plates that are highly affordable, and one combination that is often well priced is initials. Conversely, if you have a popular name or want to display a commonly used word on your car, then you can expect to pay more money.

What happens when you buy a personalised number plate?

There are two options open to owners of personalised number plates. Most buyers will want to use the private plate on their vehicle, which means you need to complete a private registration transfer with the DVLA. We can handle this on your behalf at New Reg, and it can take up to four weeks depending on the situation. If you‘re purchasing a plate that has never been used, the process may be completed within a week. Otherwise, the average transfer time is between two and four weeks, as long as the required documentation is provided to us promptly.

If you’re buying a brand new car, you should be able to have it registered with the new private plate, but we advise to check with the dealership as early in the process as possible.

There are a number of costs involved in obtaining and registering a private number plate. The entire process could cost from as little as a couple of hundred pounds, right up to hundreds of thousands. Most people will end up paying somewhere between a few hundred and a few thousand in total.

The cost of registering a private number plate

There are a number of costs involved in registering a private plate, which can be broken down as follows.

The private number plate

The first cost is the private number plate itself. At one end of the scale, we sell a range of registrations that can cost from as little as around £100 to £150 here at New Reg. At the other, the priciest car registration ever sold in Britain cost its buyer £400,000 in November 2014. The rest of the top ten most expensive plates in the UK cost between £100,500 and £285,000.

The DVLA fee

There are two ways of transferring a private registration. You can take it from one vehicle and assign it to another, or you can assign a plate that you have bought by taking it off retention and putting it onto your car, van or motorbike.

To move the cherished mark from one vehicle to another, the DVLA currently demands a fee of £80, which is payable directly to the agency. This is submitted along with the required documentation. Both the donor and recipient vehicles have to comply with the DVLA rules, which means they must be taxed and have a current MOT (unless the vehicle is under three years old). In this case, the DVLA fee covers the cost of assigning a new number plate to the donor vehicle. Generally, the DVLA issues a standard age-related number to this vehicle in place of the private plate being removed. This will often be the number the car, van or motorcycle was originally registered under.

Usually, the buyer of a private number plate will be responsible for paying the DVLA fee. However, New Reg can complete this process for you. We will check and submit the required paperwork to the DVLA, along with handling the purchase of the plate.

To retain a registration mark for future use or sale, the DVLA fee is the same. The certificate they will issue then gives you 10 years in which to assign that registration to another vehicle. If you do not, then it can be renewed for another 10 years. The DVLA should send a reminder if your right to use the registration is due to expire.

The number plates

There is a third cost to consider when asking ‘how much is it to register a private number plate?’. This concerns the number plates themselves. The new owner of a personalised registration will be keen to display the new plates on their vehicle – unless the purchase is purely for investment purposes.

Thus the physical front and rear number plates (or rear only for motorcycles) need to be made and fitted. New Reg offer the option of adding this service when you buy a plate from us, and we are registered as a number plate supplier with the DVLA. Strict rules govern the material, font and spacing used in number plate production, so it’s important to be sure that your new plates are fully road legal. This cost and time effective service can be added to the transaction when buying a registration mark from us. Then all you need to do when you receive the plates is remove the protective film and screw or stick them into place before you drive off displaying your new private number plates.

Number plates are subject to a fairly comprehensive list of legal requirements. Regardless of the type of vehicle they are assigned to – whether that is a car, van, motorcycle, or heavy goods vehicle – there are strict DVLA criteria regarding the size, colour and material of number plates. There are even legal regulations regarding the font used and the exact measurement of the gaps between characters. While all these rules must be adhered to by every driver or rider, does a motorcycle also need a number plate light?

General number plate rules

The DVLA stipulates that the number plates on any vehicle must be made from a material that is reflective. In general, the letters and numbers must be black, and displayed on a white background for the front plate and yellow for the rear. There must be no background pattern on the plate, but displaying 3D characters is permitted. It is not, however, allowed to space the characters differently, for example to form a word or name. The letters, numbers and the spaces between them must be displayed exactly as stipulated on any number plate.

Motorcycle number plate light law

The DVLA set out some specific rules regarding the number plates on mopeds, motorcycles and motor tricycles.

Front and rear plates

If you own a motorcycle, moped or motor tricycle and it was first registered on 1st September 2001 or later, then it should only display a rear number plate. If your bike was registered before this date, you may also display a front number plate if you choose to, but this is not mandatory.

Plate format

Unlike the number plates on cars and other larger vehicles, motorcycle, moped or motor tricycle registrations must be displayed over two lines, rather than the one that is usual for a car or van.

Number plate light

While the above rules, as well as others, apply to all forms of motorcycle, there is no DVLA requirement to have a number plate light fitted to a moped, motorbike or motor tricycle.

Older vehicle number plates

Apart from the rules that apply specifically to motorcycles, motor tricycles and mopeds, there are certain exceptions to vehicles over a certain age. The DVLA decided in 2015 that classic vehicles made over 40 years previously could show black plates with white or silver characters. Therefore, if a motor tricycle, moped or motorcycle was manufactured before 1975, owners could opt to display a traditional-style, black number plate. This is a fixed date, which means that if your bike was made in 1975 or later, you cannot take advantage of this exception.

Motorcycle number plates and lights

There is thus no legal requirement for a motorbike or moped to have a number plate light, since in most cases, a motorbike should not even be carrying a front number plate.

The number plates must follow the set format as required by the strict DVLA criteria. Not adhering to this can result in an MOT failure. However, a motor tricycle, motorcycle or moped does not need a number plate light in order to pass its annual MOT.

As long as you are displaying a legally acceptable style of rear number plate for the age of your motorcycle, and this is clearly legible, then that is enough to satisfy the legal requirements. For a pre-2001 bike, whether you want to add a front number plate is a choice, as is the option of a number plate light. These are not required by the DVLA, but may give more peace of mind when travelling on public roads, especially at night, in conditions of poor visibility or when there is heavy traffic.