CHERISHED NUMBER PLATES

About Cherished Number Plate Transfers

Today, more than ever, keepers are looking to personalise their vehicles by choosing "cherished" or "special" registration numbers for them. They may opt for registration numbers which contain their initials or even their date of birth. Once on their vehicle they usually want to move that number on when they change their vehicles. If you already have a "cherished" number on your vehicle, you are probably aware of the Agency's Cherished Transfer and Retention Schemes and the Agency's Sale of Marks Scheme. If you do not, and you wish to know more, you can scroll down and read the rest of this page or click on one of the headings in the index at the top of the page.

It is important to note registration numbers are assigned to vehicles. Only by being the keeper of a vehicle do you have entitlement to apply to transfer or retain its number. You should be aware that not all vehicles are eligible to participate in the transfer and retention of registration numbers and not all numbers are transferable.

Where a number is transferable, the vehicle to which it is assigned must meet certain criteria. The V317 and V778/1 Transfer and Retention application forms respectively, outline the requirements of the schemes and offer further advice in question and answer form.

Where can I obtain these forms?

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency [DVLA], Swansea SA99 1AR
Telephone: 0870 240 0010 or Minicom users:
01792-782756

Once you have established that your vehicle is eligible, choose the "How to Apply" option.

If you want to know more about registration numbers in general including who has entitlement to apply to transfer or retain them and how to secure your entitlement to them, you should read the Agency's booklet "Cherished Registration Numbers and You" (INF46) which can be obtained from your nearest DVLA Local Office and/or DVLA, Swansea.

It is possible to acquire registration numbers which have not previously been issued. The Agency releases such numbers through its Sale of Marks scheme [SOM]. This scheme allows individuals to purchase the right to assign previously un-issued numbers to vehicles. Once assigned, any further movement of the mark is subject to the cherished transfer or retention schemes. .


Cherished Number Plates & Transfers

What is the Cherished Number  Plate Transfer Facility?

This facility enables a registration number to be moved directly from one vehicle to another subject to certain conditions.

  • Who can apply?

Only the registered keeper of a vehicle is entitled to apply to transfer its cherished number plates & registration numbers.

  • What are the requirements for participating vehicles?

Participating vehicles must be currently licensed, subject to annual testing and available for inspection. However, applications involving unlicensed donor vehicles will still be considered if:

  • the licence for the donor vehicle expired no more than six months prior to the date of the application; or if
  • the donor vehicle is not old enough to be tested , i.e. less than 3 years old for cars, motorcycles, etc or less than 1 year old in the case of HGVs.

In both the above circumstances, all other requirements of the number transfer facility must be met in order for applications to be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: Recipient vehicles must be currently licensed in order to participate in the number transfer arrangements.

  • Are there any special rules for motorcycles?

No. Motorcycles and mopeds can participate fully in the number transfer arrangements, providing they meet all the normal transfer requirements (see "What are the requirements for participating vehicles?")

  • Is there any type of vehicle that is not eligible to participate in the transfer scheme?

Non-testable vehicles e.g. tractors, electrically propelled vehicles etc, cannot participate in the scheme.

  • Where do I apply?

Any application to transfer a registration number must be made on a V317 transfer application form which is available from your nearest DVLA Local Office or from
the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea (see below for contact details).

Contacting your nearest DVLA Local Office:

For the address of your nearest DVLA Local Office you can  look in booklet V100 - Registering and Licensing your Vehicle, which is available from Post Office® branches. The telephone number of your nearest office can be found in the phone book under "Driving and Vehicles (Vehicle Registration and Licensing)."

Contacting DVLA, Swansea:

You can contact Customer Enquiries (Vehicles) on phone number 0870 240 0010 between 8.00am and 8.30pm, Monday to Friday or between 8.00am and 5.30pm on Saturdays. Some calls will be monitored for quality and training purposes. Customers with impaired hearing who have a textphone/minicom should phone 01792 782756. The minicom number will not respond to ordinary telephones.

 

  • Can a cherished number plate registration number be transferred between vehicles if one of the vehicles is registered in Northern Ireland?

Yes, provided that both vehicles meet the requirements of the transfer scheme. You should contact your local office for more information.

CARREG (Part of Personally Yours) :: DVLA Registered Number Plate Supplier 27154 ::

(:: Information Source  http://www.dvla.gov.uk ::)

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Cherished Number Plates