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.