Transferring a Personalised Registration to Your Vehicle

So you’ve purchased a nice new private number plate for your automobile. What now? How do you transfer the plate to your car?

Transferring a registration from another car or truck is easy to do.

For a car to automobile transfer you will have to pick up a V317 form from your local DVLA office (or from bigger post office branches). You will have to complete the facts from the donor car (the car which currently displays the registration plate) and points from the target car. You will have to make sure that both automobiles are fully licensed and have a valid MOT certificate. The transfer can't be completed if this isn't the case.

When the form is completed you will need to attach the V5 (or V5C) log books for both vehicles along with the MOT test certificates and a photocopy of the tax discs (if applicable). If either or both of the vehicles require taxing, this can be done at the same time by completing a V10 or V85 form and enclosing an insurance certificate or cover note. You’ll also have to pay an assignment fee of £80 to carry out the transfer.

Once you have sent your application the information will be checked by the DVLA and the application processed. A brand new tax disc will be issued for each car which features the new registration mark. An updated V5 log book will follow shortly after.

The donor car or truck will receive a brand new registration plate free of charge. If possible this will be the original combination that was issued to that car or truck (before it was replaced with a personalised number plate). Automobiles which were registered prior to 1963 shall be issued with a dateless number. This registration is non-transferable.

The registration plate which was originally assigned to the target vehicle will be cancelled unless an application to transfer it, or to retain it on certificate was made at the time of the transfer.

Its essential to remember that you can not make a vehicle appear newer than it is. When you attempt to assign a “57” new-style combination to a “Y” prefix car – the transfer will be blocked.

In case you would like to transfer a private registration off a automobile onto retention certificate, contact your local DVLA office and ask for form V778/1.