DVLA Rules On Retaining A Personalised Number Plate

Conditions for retaining a reg number

You cannot at present retain a personalised number plate starting with ‘Q’ or ‘NIQ’ for Northern Ireland registered vehicles.

To retain the reg number, the vehicle donor vehicle must be:

• registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
• available for inspection (viewing at a local office)
• of a type that needs an MOT or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) test certificate
• currently taxed

However, if the vehicle is not taxed, you can still apply to retain your reg number provided:

• there is no break between the date the tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN
• and the tax disc run out no more than 12 months before the date you apply

How to apply to retain your reg number

Take or send the following to your nearest DVLA local office:

• a completed V317 ‘application to transfer or retain a vehicle personalised registration number plate’
• the registration certificate for the vehicle or the new keeper supplement with a completed V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C'
• a test certificate for the vehicle - needed for cars and motorcycles over three years old, and heavy goods vehicles over one year old
• the fee to retain - £105 for one year, £130 for two years or £155 for three years

If the new keepers supplement has been stamped by a DVLA local office you’ll need to complete a V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C' before you can apply.

If the vehicle needs taxing, enclose:

• a completed V10 ‘application for a tax disc’ or the V11 reminder
• a certificate of insurance or valid cover for the vehicle
• the payment of vehicle tax

What happens next

The DVLA local office may need to inspect your vehicle before they will continue with the retention of your personalised number plate and will contact you to arrange an appointment. If they don’t need to inspect, they’ll approve your application within seven working days.

On approving your application, the DVLA local office will send you:

• a confirmation letter to advise the replacement reg number
• a new tax disc showing the replacement reg number
• an authorisation letter (V948) to get your number plates made up

Allow at least seven working days, after sending your application, before contacting DVLA customer enquiries if you don’t receive these documents.

DVLA, Swansea will send you:

• a retention document showing you as the grantee
• a registration certificate showing the replacement reg number

These should arrive within four weeks of getting the confirmation letter. It can take up to six weeks if you use a V62 application to support your application.

If you retain the registration number in someone else’s name, the retention document will be sent to them, as they are recorded as the grantee.

Assigning the reg number to a vehicle

When you’re ready, you’ll need the retention document to assign the registration number to your vehicle. Notes on the retention document tell you what you need to do.

Renewing, replacing or updating your retention document

You must renew the retention document before it expires, or update it if there are changes to the details shown, like new address details or adding or changing nominee details. You’ll need to replace the document if it’s lost or stolen. If the document expires, you could loose your entitlement to the registration number.

Reg Number Information Section <HERE>

Image Registrations provide the registration plates car & reg number plates private?
These are not included within the purchase price.

More DVLA regulations <HERE>

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