How to sell your car and keep your private plate
If you've got a personalised number plate, you might want to keep it when you sell your car. Your number plate could have sentimental value or be very valuable. For instance, the British automotive designer Afzal Kahn, who has been described as “the king of car customisation”, put his ‘F1’ number plate for sale up in 2018 for a whopping £15 million. We understand the value of private number plates here at Primo Registrations, so we are happy to help you with this query.
Retain a Number Plate – Options
There are two options. You can do 2 things.
First, you can apply to retain a number plate which basically means you are applying to take the number plate off the vehicle and keep it. You can then keep the number plate until you are ready to use it again.
This would apply when you first purchase personalised plates. The original plates need to be retained and then, later, reassigned to the vehicle.
That brings us to the second thing you can do. Which is to assign a number plate to a vehicle. Depending on the circumstances and your intent, you will most likely assign your personalised plate to your new vehicle.
Retain a Number Plate - Documents
The DVLA is responsible for managing and documenting the registration of number plates. You can find some basic information about how number plates work here.
To successfully retain a number plate and then reassign a number plate, you will need the following documents:
1. V317 form from the DVLA
2. V5C vehicle logbook
3. V62 application for a vehicle registration certificate
4. V10 vehicle tax application (if you need to tax the vehicle)
5. MOT certificate
It is possible to make the application online. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, then you will have to make the application using the postal system.
V778 Retention Document
This document is basically your goal when applying to retain a number plate. IF the vehicle is registered in your name, it will be sent to your address and other important documents you submitted will be returned to you.
This document will give you the right to use the number plate for up to 10 years. Be aware that when the form expires so does your right to use the number plate. So, if you have not used the number plate within the 10 years, you will need to renew the form to maintain the privilege.
When you are ready to reassign the number plate to your next vehicle you will need to use this form. If you are buying a new vehicle then you can give the V778 to the dealer and they will make sure your number plate is assigned to your new vehicle.
Be aware, that if you retain a number plate and do not use it, you are still vulnerable to number plate cloning. Check out this helpful article that shows you what you need to do if that happens to you.
Contact us online and we are happy to help.
Alternatively, if you want to just talk to a REAL person, then call 01252 49 1111 and speak to the Primo team - we look forward to hearing from you soon.
