How To Transfer A Registration Number
The Complete Guide To Transferring A Registration
If you’ve recently purchased a private or personalised number plate, you’ll need to notify the DVLA before fixing it on to your vehicle. A vehicle transfer process will update your details, and allow you to legally drive the car with the new change of number plate. Registering with the DVLA requires several steps, most of which can be completed online. Read on to find out answers to some of the most commonly asked questions relating to vehicle registration transfers, and learn how to register your vehicle or renew a transfer certificate.
Buying a Private Registration Number
The first step is to purchase the registration number plate that you want for your vehicle. You can buy number plates from private sellers, but just make sure that you receive either a V750 Certificate of Entitlement or the V778 Certificate of Retention when you buy your number plate so that you can register it. You can also buy a number plate online right here at Carreg.co.uk. Search Our Database
Removing a Registration Number From Your Vehicle
You can’t just physically remove the number plate form your car, you must make sure that you notify the DVLA of the change of registration. Before you apply, there are several things that you’ll need to have to hand. Make sure that you have the 11-digit registration number that can be found in your vehicles V5C Registration Certificate (Logbook), plus you’ll also need a credit or debit card. The vehicle that you are removing the number plate from must already be registered with the DVLA, and it must have the correct tax documentation or be marked as SORN.
The quickest and easiest way to start the transfer is online. The service is available between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Saturday, because that is when an adviser will be around to answer questions should you get stuck during the process. To begin the transfer, head to this page. Fill out the required information, including your vehicle registration number, your V5C document reference number, and the keeper’s registered postcode. You are also allowed to fill out the form if you are a registered business and have consent to apply for another individual. You will be required to pay £80 for the service, which you can pay through their secure online payment system using a valid debit or credit card.
After completion of the form, you can expect to receive a confirmation letter that supports the vehicle registration transfer within two weeks. You will then be sent a V778 Retention document, as well as a registration certificate which confirms the change of registration. Expect to wait up to an additional two weeks for these documents to arrive, for some transfers it can take up to a month to receive them via post. On some occasions, the DVLA may request to come and inspect your vehicle before approving it. You will be notified within a week of submitting the online form whether or not this will be the case.
Applying by Post
If you prefer not to apply online, you can also apply to the DVLA or by post. You will need to send in a completed V317 form, along with the V5C Registration Certificate and the £80 fee. If you need to apply for road tax at the same time, then you should also include your V10 tax application form, the correct payment or appropriate payment method. You can find the address that you need to post the form to on the V317 transfer form.
Transferring a Registration Number
After removing a registration number, you may also need to transfer a vehicle registration from a vehicle you already own to a vehicle that you’re buying, or to another person’s vehicle. There are some rules and regulations that come with these type of transfers. You are not allowed to transfer a plate which starts with Q. Numbers are not transferable from agricultural vehicles. It is also a legal requirement that both vehicles are registered with the DVLA, they both have a valid MOT certificate, and are currently taxed, or need to have been taxed within the past 5 years if the vehicle(s) are declared as SORN. More info can be found here.
Required Documentation to Transfer the Registration
In order to complete the registration transfer, you will need one form of identification that confirms your name. This can include your current paper driving license, passport, marriage certificate or your birth certificate. You will also need documentation that proves your current address, which can include a utility bill from the past three months, a bank statement from the past three months or a medical ID card.
Send the actual forms of identification, along with the required documentation to the address that is listed on the V62 application form. Make sure that you include a prepaid, special delivery envelope that is addressed to your home or workplace, so that the DVLA can safely return your identification documents. For most transfers, you can expect to have an answer as to whether you application has been approved within two weeks. It is important to note that you are not allowed to sell or get rid of your vehicle until the new registration certificate has been issued. Otherwise, the new owner of the vehicle may be entitled to keep the existing number plate.
Once your application has been approved, you will receive either a V750 Certificate of Entitlement, or a V778 Retention Document.
Renewing your Car Registration Certificate
The documentation is valid for 10 years, so you’ll need to renew it if the time arises to keep it up to date in the event you have still not transferred the registration to a vehicle. The DVLA usually send a reminder letter or email but you may not wish to rely upon that notification. You will be able to renew online, as well as change important information and add additional private registration numbers from your online account. You can also renew by post.
Replacing a Lost Document
If you need to replace a lost of stolen V750 or V778 document, then you have to to request a replacement either online using your DVLA Account login or by writing to DVLA Swansea. Allow three to four weeks for any replacement documents to be sent to your home.
These are the steps required to submit a car registration transfer to the DVLA. Providing that you have the correct documentation and payment methods to hand, you can expect to complete the entire application process online in under 20 minutes.
