3 Steps to Transfer your Cherished Plate Online

A cherished license plate gives your car a personalized touch. Transferring the plate from the old vehicle to the new one can seem like a hassle, but it is most certainly not.

Back in the old days, getting your number plates transferred would have taken about six weeks or so, considering all the paperwork that needed to be completed. With the help of the internet and DVLA, the process of transferring your plate can take mere minutes given that you have all the proper documents for your car ready.

With the help of the internet, you can make that transfer all by yourself. You will be able to transfer a plate number from one car to another that is in your name or to a new car you are going to buy. You can also transfer someone else’s car. In that case, you will need the registered keeper’s sign and date of declaration.

However, you cannot transfer your cherished plate considering the following-

• You cannot transfer from or to a vehicle that is registered with a Q or NIQ mark
• You cannot use the transfer to make your vehicle look newer. For example, you cannot use a 2009 registration number on a 2001 registered vehicle to make it look younger.

Now that we have that settled, let’s guide you on how to transfer or retain your cherished plate number online.

Step 1. Meeting the requirements

In order to transfer number plate you need to have all of the necessary documents and meet certain criteria in order to apply for the transfer. As for the eligibility for the transfer, your vehicle needs to have the following:

• Both vehicles need to be registered under the DVLA in the UK.
• Both vehicles need to be a type that needs either an MOT or HGV (heavy goods vehicle) test certificate.
• Vehicles that are made before 1960 need the MOT to be able to transfer the registration number.
• Either the vehicles need to be taxed or with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) in place continuously for the last 5 years. (If the vehicle you are transferring from is not taxed, you can still transfer it as long the tax has only expired within 12 months and there is no break between the tax and SORN )
• If the vehicle has had a SORN for more than 5 years, it needs to be taxed.
• Both vehicles must be available for inspection if the DVLA wishes.

By meeting the above criteria, you will be eligible to transfer your license plate numbers and will need further documents which are:

• The V5C, meaning the vehicle registration certificate or more known as the logbook of your old vehicle as well as the new one, provided the fact that you have already got the new vehicle.
• The certificate reference number, which you will get by taking your registration number off of your old car.
• Postcode of the registered keeper as per the logbook.
• A debit or credit card to pay the DVLA a fee of £80.

Make sure you meet all the above criteria and have all the necessary documents and information before you proceed. Having all the information at hand will make the process that much easier and smoother.

Step 2. Getting the plate off of your old vehicle

First, you will need to go to the Gov.uk website and search the term “take a private number off a vehicle.” Click on “apply now” to get started.

This will enable you to retain the rights of your personal plate and take it off of the car. To fill out the form, you will need:

• The registration number and document reference number
• The latest V5C (logbook) of your old vehicle
• Postcode
• Debit card or credit card information to pay the £80 retention fee

After filling all the necessary details, you will receive a certificate reference number, which you will need to input in step 3. You will receive the new VC5 of the old car within one week.

Step 3. Putting your number on the new car

This is the final step to the procedure. Again you will enter Gov.uk, and this time search “assign a number online.” All you need to do is fill the form for which you will have to select “assign a private number.” Then write down:

• Your private registration number
• The registration number of the new car, including the 11 digit reference number along with the postcode
• Reference number you got after applying to take the number off of your old car

After completing this, the number plates will be transferred immediately if the vehicles do not need to be inspected further.

Final thoughts

Personalized number plates or cherished plates hold significant value to many individuals. Some have monetary value, and some have emotional value. Most importantly, private number plates are used to signify the car and give the car the personality it deserves.

Number plates are also good investments. The price of the personalized plates only goes up because once a number plate is out there, no one else can have it and the owner can charge a hefty price for it.

Because of this feature, buying or getting a new plate that suits your desire can cause you a bit of a problem, which is why it is best to just transfer your number from your old car onto your new one. You will also be doing this at a very reasonable price: simply the retention fee.

Transferring it online makes it that much simpler. By following the three steps mentioned here, you can sit back and change your numbers in a jiffy.