The Two Steps of a Number Plate Transfer
When transferring a private number plate, there are two distinct procedures involved. First, the registration must be removed from the donor vehicle — unless it is already held on a retention certificate rather than a vehicle. Second, the registration must be assigned to the recipient vehicle. Both steps are administered by the DVLA, and each can be completed online or by post.
Step 1 — Removing a Number Plate from a Vehicle
Before the DVLA will remove a registration from a vehicle, the donor vehicle must meet certain eligibility conditions. It must have current road tax or be covered by a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). It must hold a valid MOT certificate, be registered with the DVLA, and be capable of moving under its own power. It must also be available for inspection if the DVLA requires one.
You can apply to remove the plate online via the DVLA website (available 7am–7pm) or by post. Online applications can result in immediate removal, while postal applications take up to two weeks. The DVLA charges an £80 fee for removal. Once approved, you will receive either an online reference number or a V778 retention certificate — a green document confirming your right to the registration while it is not assigned to a vehicle.
A V778 is valid for ten years and can be renewed for a further ten years at no charge. You can sell or assign the plate at any time while it is held on a V778.
Step 2 — Assigning a Number Plate to a Vehicle
To assign a registration to a vehicle, you will need one of the following: a V778 retention certificate, a V750 certificate of entitlement, or the online reference number issued when the plate was removed. A V750 is the pink document issued when you purchase a brand new, previously unassigned registration — transfers using a V750 are often faster, as there is no donor vehicle requiring inspection.
The recipient vehicle must also meet DVLA conditions: it needs a valid MOT, current road tax or SORN, the ability to move under its own power, and availability for inspection if required. Assignment is free of charge. As with removal, you can apply online or by post — online applications can result in the plate being assigned immediately.
There is an important age restriction to be aware of: you cannot assign a number plate that would make a vehicle appear newer than it actually is. For example, a 17-plate registration cannot go on a car originally registered on an 05 plate. Dateless number plates, which carry no year identifier, can be assigned to a vehicle of any age.
Some registrations cannot be assigned at all. These include any beginning with Q or NIQ, and no plate can be transferred to a vehicle that itself carries a Q registration.
How Long Does a Number Plate Transfer Take?
Online applications can result in immediate removal and assignment, provided the DVLA does not require a vehicle inspection. Postal applications take up to two weeks per step. If you are completing both the removal and assignment by post, you should allow up to a month in total.
The fastest transfers are those where the registration has never previously been assigned to a vehicle and is held on a V750 certificate of entitlement. In these cases, with no donor vehicle to inspect, the process can sometimes complete within a few days.
How to Transfer a Number Plate Online
Transferring a number plate online is the quickest and most straightforward method. The DVLA's online service is available between 7am and 7pm. For the removal step, you will need the vehicle's V5C logbook and must be the registered keeper. For assignment, you will need your V778 retention certificate, V750 entitlement document, or online reference number.
If the transfer is approved without an inspection, the plate may be assigned immediately. For this reason, it is important to have your new acrylic number plates made up and ready before submitting the online application — once the transfer goes through, the new plates must be displayed straight away.
How to Transfer a Number Plate to Another Person
To transfer a number plate to someone else, you apply to assign the registration to a vehicle in their name. You will need the V5C logbook of their vehicle along with a V778 or V750 certificate. The application can be made online or by post, following the same assignment procedure described above.
Transferring from a Retention Certificate to a Vehicle
If you already hold the registration on a V778 or V750 certificate, the removal step has already been completed. You only need to carry out the assignment step, which is free. The same vehicle eligibility conditions apply to the recipient vehicle, and the same online or postal application process is followed. See our guide to car registration years if you need to check whether your plate can legally be assigned to your vehicle.
Let New Reg Handle the Transfer
When you purchase a private number plate through New Reg, our team can manage the entire DVLA transfer process on your behalf. As a DVLA recognised reseller since 1991, we handle thousands of transfers every year. If you would prefer to manage the transfer yourself, we will provide all the documentation you need.
