Stolen Car + Private Reg Plate = ?

Stolen Car + Private Reg Plate = ?

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Discussion

EdBlack111R

Original Poster:

2 posts

205 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Hi Guys,

A mate had her car stolen over the weekend. As annoying and upsetting as this is, the biggest upset is that she had a cherished plate with sentimental value on the car.

Am I right in thinking that the plate can be transfered to her new car (when she gets one)? Even if the car is not recovered surely the private plate can be moved to another vehicle. A couple of people I have spoken to have provided conflicting advice.

Are there any other factors that I need to be aware of?

Many thanks in advance.

Ed.

L14MNV

160 posts

206 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Yes

She/he should have the certificate for the plate.

miniandy

1,512 posts

244 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
The plate belongs to the car at this stage, and until the insurance company pay out after being unable to find the car, only then will you get the chance to get the plate back. You need to have the insurance company confirm they hold no interest in the plate. Hope this helps.

pikey

7,702 posts

291 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Yes.

It's the registration she owns. Where the physical plate is of no consequence.

EdBlack111R

Original Poster:

2 posts

205 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Thanks guys....I thought that was the case, and I know that will make her one happy bunny.

Ed

Viper

10,005 posts

280 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
a friend had his BMW stolen a couple of years ago and it was never found, the DVLA kept his private plate for 12 months before handing the reg back over as such, i'd contact the DVLA for the correct info

Edited by Viper on Monday 15th October 22:08

5.0LTR

2,803 posts

206 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Indeed, speak to DVLA as they actually 'own' the plate no matter how many £ you fork out for it they are the owners. Which is why if you play around with a plate so it reads something different/looks funny/resembles your name etc they can take it back off you without compensation.Hope the car comes back soon.

JonRB

76,103 posts

279 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
My dad had his beloved Porsche C4 stolen in the mid 90's and he had to wait an entire year before he could use his private plate on its replacement because the original car was never recovered.

Perhaps the rules have changed since then?

miniandy

1,512 posts

244 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
Jon you're right - it's to allow the old car enough time to turn up before the DVLA re-issue the plate.

MitchT

16,230 posts

216 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
I was told that if your car was written off the plate died with it... therefore ensure that you insure for the vaue of the plate as well as the car if you have a valuable reg... but of course this could be wrong.

SJobson

13,122 posts

271 months

Monday 15th October 2007
quotequote all
pikey said:
Yes.

It's the registration she owns. Where the physical plate is of no consequence.
She owns the car it's on. If it never turns up, she should be able to get it re-issued by the DVLA after 12 months. If it does turn up within 12 months after the insurers have paid out, then the insurers own the car and plate.

For that reason I would suggest, if possible, sticking it on retention right now. May require the tax disc to do so, and I'd advise speaking to the insurer first too because you don't want them to mess you around.

Red Devil

13,190 posts

215 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
MitchT said:
I was told that if your car was written off the plate died with it... therefore ensure that you insure for the vaue of the plate as well as the car if you have a valuable reg... but of course this could be wrong.
You have been misinformed. The cherished mark is assigned to you (as the RK) by DVLA. It doesn't belong to the insurers. What you do need to do is inform them and get them to confirm (in writing) that they have no interest in it.

When this happened to me all that was necessary was to pay the fee to transfer it to the new vehicle -I didn't need to keep it on retention as it was still assigned to me.



Zillwood

18 posts

206 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
360boy will give you the answer.
His website at www.cherishedregistrations.net has a questions and answers section.

SJobson

13,122 posts

271 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
You have been misinformed. The cherished mark is assigned to you (as the RK) by DVLA. It doesn't belong to the insurers. What you do need to do is inform them and get them to confirm (in writing) that they have no interest in it.

When this happened to me all that was necessary was to pay the fee to transfer it to the new vehicle -I didn't need to keep it on retention as it was still assigned to me.

The plate is assigned to the car, not to the RK. That's why you need to get the insurers to confirm that they'll let you have it back. If the car becomes the property of the insurer (because they have paid out) then the plate becomes theirs too, absent any other agreement.

Tino

1,948 posts

290 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
A friend also had an E30 BMW stolen with a matching plate. The car was never recovered. he wasn't allowed to use it on a car for a year. After it was released, he wasn't allowed to place the plate on retention, it had to be placed on a car.

Dr_Gonzo

960 posts

232 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
Unless the car is found you'll have to apply to the DVLA and then wait a whole year untill they can re-issue it to you. Which is absolute censored IMO but that's just the way it is.

Lippy

229 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
after a recent bitter experiences I can echo the above posts.

my car was stolen, burnt out and written off by the insurance co. Foolishly, I trusted the insurance company, who said that all they need to do is say that "no longer hold interest" in the plate, that doesn't cut with the DVLA. As my company wrote off my car with the number plate still registered to the vehicle, I was able to appeal to the DVLA in that the company acted without my authority, and the plate was reinstated (thank god!).

basically, don't trust the insurance company, go to your local DVLA office with everything and get them to go through it with you.

IIRC, it takes a few months for the Police to declare the car eligible for a write off, which means that you can't do anything with the DVLA for de-reg'ing your plate. Once that's done, you need to get the DVLA to reissue V5 with new plate and put the personalised reg on retention (costs you £105). Then the insurance company can write off your car as stolen, unrecovered and process payout.

Good luck, it was a real hassle I'm afraid to say, but the one thing I did learn was that the DVLA do know best, well atleast more than the cretins at my insurance company!

justlivyalife

4,545 posts

214 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
Mum's A-Class was written off, the insurers confirmed at our request that they had no interest in the plate, and we transferred it back to it's original reg, free to put the reg on the replacement car.

I guess you can still transfer the registration plate even if you don't have the car in your possession - ie if it's been stolen?

Lippy

229 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
I think you can if you can get the vehicle inspected, e.g. to check VIN plates etc.

In my case and the OP - the car was gone (scrapped for me, poss no return for the OP) therefore checks couldn't be carried out - therefore tough nuts from the DVLA.

M400 NBL

3,529 posts

219 months

Tuesday 16th October 2007
quotequote all
A friend of mine had his Boxter stolen with a private plate. He had a nightmare getting his plate back from his insurer. When I insured my car with a private plate (for the future anyway) I asked my insurer if in the event of my car being stolen, would I still own the plate. I was told yes.


But if it was the plate A1 would it be so easy to get from an insurer?

I would get it in writing from the insurance company that he is the owner of the registration mark...just to be on the safe side.