Car number plate change
Discussion
Hi,
I apologise if I'm asking in the wrong place, but I would really appreciate someone's help, please. I have just put a deposit down on a new (used) Citroen, that I will hopefully pick up next Saturday. My current car (Nissan) has a personal plate, that I would like to transfer to my new car. However, I'm a bit baffled about the process, specifically in terms of maintaining valid insurance. My understanding is that I apply to DVLA to take my personal plate off the Nissan first. This costs £80. I then need to wait (5 days?) to get a form that will allow me to put my personal plate on my new car. (With no DVLA fee for this second stage).
In terms of the insurance, presumably I have to tell my insurance company that the reg plate on my old Nissan will revert to its old (non-personal) number for about a week, and then I need to update my policy so it changes from the old car to the new car when I pick it up next weekend. So, is it likely that I will have to pay an insurance admin fee when I change the plate (personal to original, non-personal) on my Nissan, then another admin fee for changing my policy from a Nissan to a Citroen? Then (potentially) a third admin fee if I somehow don't manage to add the personal plate to the Citroen until a later date?
Any advice/wisdom would be appreciated! Clearly, the obvious answer would be to ring the insurance company and ask them, but I've rung twice and they basically didn't seem to know. The best advice they could give was to check the process with the DVLA. Help!
I apologise if I'm asking in the wrong place, but I would really appreciate someone's help, please. I have just put a deposit down on a new (used) Citroen, that I will hopefully pick up next Saturday. My current car (Nissan) has a personal plate, that I would like to transfer to my new car. However, I'm a bit baffled about the process, specifically in terms of maintaining valid insurance. My understanding is that I apply to DVLA to take my personal plate off the Nissan first. This costs £80. I then need to wait (5 days?) to get a form that will allow me to put my personal plate on my new car. (With no DVLA fee for this second stage).
In terms of the insurance, presumably I have to tell my insurance company that the reg plate on my old Nissan will revert to its old (non-personal) number for about a week, and then I need to update my policy so it changes from the old car to the new car when I pick it up next weekend. So, is it likely that I will have to pay an insurance admin fee when I change the plate (personal to original, non-personal) on my Nissan, then another admin fee for changing my policy from a Nissan to a Citroen? Then (potentially) a third admin fee if I somehow don't manage to add the personal plate to the Citroen until a later date?
Any advice/wisdom would be appreciated! Clearly, the obvious answer would be to ring the insurance company and ask them, but I've rung twice and they basically didn't seem to know. The best advice they could give was to check the process with the DVLA. Help!
Yes - You're correct. Potentially 3 changes of information to the insurer. And potentially 3 admin charges.
Some insurance companies dont charge if a plate change is done online. Worth reading the terms and conditions booklet you got when you took out your insurance or looking for it online. It normally details the cost of plate changes etc.
Some insurance companies dont charge if a plate change is done online. Worth reading the terms and conditions booklet you got when you took out your insurance or looking for it online. It normally details the cost of plate changes etc.
Many insurance companies make no admin charge for a plate change, since it is no change in risk requiring an adjustment. Direct Line and Saga plus Footman James on a classic policy (I used to have) for example. Best to just ask.
You can transfer straight from car to car but you'd need both V5s and have to wait for 2 replacements too.
You can transfer straight from car to car but you'd need both V5s and have to wait for 2 replacements too.
Thanks, Sixor8. My insurance is through BISL, but the Coordinators I spoke to didn't really instil me with confidence (I.e. they didn't seem to know). The guy at the garage said I should apply to take the plate off my existing car but still drive round with my personal plate until a new V5 or V778 arrives. I wanted to check that with people like you who might have knowledge and experience before doing that.
I was in the same situation when I last changed my car.
I did the online DVLA application to take the reg off the old car 2 weeks before I was due to pick up the new car, to allow sufficient time for the updated V5 to come through.
DVLA processed the change of reg instantly, and I was able to download a certificate of entitlement so that I could get new plates made for the old reg on the old car. The new V5 duly arrived in the post a week later.
However, I just kept the private reg on the old car for the 2 week period, while keeping the DVLA paperwork with me in case of a police stop.
I notified my insurer of the date of change of car in advance, and phoned them to confirm activation of the new car details, once I has swapped cars at the dealer.
I did the online DVLA application to take the reg off the old car 2 weeks before I was due to pick up the new car, to allow sufficient time for the updated V5 to come through.
DVLA processed the change of reg instantly, and I was able to download a certificate of entitlement so that I could get new plates made for the old reg on the old car. The new V5 duly arrived in the post a week later.
However, I just kept the private reg on the old car for the 2 week period, while keeping the DVLA paperwork with me in case of a police stop.
I notified my insurer of the date of change of car in advance, and phoned them to confirm activation of the new car details, once I has swapped cars at the dealer.
Piston-slapper said:
Thanks, Sixor8. My insurance is through BISL, but the Coordinators I spoke to didn't really instil me with confidence (I.e. they didn't seem to know). The guy at the garage said I should apply to take the plate off my existing car but still drive round with my personal plate until a new V5 or V778 arrives. I wanted to check that with people like you who might have knowledge and experience before doing that.
I hadn't seen the above when I posted my comment, but that is exactly what I did in my example.If you part-ex your old car, the dealer will undoubtedly want the V5c for it, or want a cash deposit that they'll release when you provide it.
If you're keeping the car for now, yes you could wait for the new V5c to come back if you apply to retain it by post. But if you do it online, you'll be notified almost immediately of the car's change of reg. Personally, I wouldn't drive round with the wrong plates on, I'd jut not use it until it was either gone or I had new plates made, or fitted the originals which you maybe kept?
If you're keeping the car for now, yes you could wait for the new V5c to come back if you apply to retain it by post. But if you do it online, you'll be notified almost immediately of the car's change of reg. Personally, I wouldn't drive round with the wrong plates on, I'd jut not use it until it was either gone or I had new plates made, or fitted the originals which you maybe kept?
sixor8 said:
If you part-ex your old car, the dealer will undoubtedly want the V5c for it, or want a cash deposit that they'll release when you provide it.
Also I think protects the dealer from hidden outstanding finance not showing up on a check: if a blagger is selling car with outstanding finance tied to the 'new' plate, with a log book loan, but then re-sold on the 'old' clean plate. Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff