New car, private plate and how to transfer
Discussion
Probably a very obvious answer to this but I'm going to ask anyway.
I'm in the process of buying a new (to me) car from a private seller, picking up early June.
I'll be putting a private plate on the car straight away and I know that process is immediate electronically.
However, how does it all work with change of V5 and can it all be done at the same time.
Do I have to change the V5 to my name, wait for a new doc through the post then put the new plate on? This obviously takes time and will cost admin fees with my insurer for change of plate.
Or can the V5 and new reg all be done at the same time and if so how?
I'm in the process of buying a new (to me) car from a private seller, picking up early June.
I'll be putting a private plate on the car straight away and I know that process is immediate electronically.
However, how does it all work with change of V5 and can it all be done at the same time.
Do I have to change the V5 to my name, wait for a new doc through the post then put the new plate on? This obviously takes time and will cost admin fees with my insurer for change of plate.
Or can the V5 and new reg all be done at the same time and if so how?
A new one normally only takes a few days if the change of registered keeper is done online. They've extended the window comapred to when I last did it, but you still can't do it after 9pm (8pm on Sat / Sun). 
My experience of changing plates, which I've done several times, is that insurance companies often charge for a change of car (Aviva & D. line don't have admin fees, others may not too), but that purely a change of registration was free because it's the same vehicle / risk. Ask them through a message is what I'd do.
Otherwise it may be worth getting short term insurance (could be £10 or just over for a few hrs) just to get the car home and then do a swap over once the new reg. is on.
. I've used cuvva and dayinsure myself.
My experience of changing plates, which I've done several times, is that insurance companies often charge for a change of car (Aviva & D. line don't have admin fees, others may not too), but that purely a change of registration was free because it's the same vehicle / risk. Ask them through a message is what I'd do.
Otherwise it may be worth getting short term insurance (could be £10 or just over for a few hrs) just to get the car home and then do a swap over once the new reg. is on.
. I've used cuvva and dayinsure myself.Yes, two steps: get new V5C in your name first then assign your plate.
Your other option (I don’t recommend) is to assign your private reg into the car now, the new V5C will arrive within 5-7 days so hopefully by the time you buy the car the new V5C will have your reg on it. (Downside by doing this option is you loose the right for the registration in the meantime which means if for whatever reason the sale doesn’t go ahead it will be troublesome/ chaotic to get the retention certificate on your name). Also the current owner needs to update their insurance with the reg (which might incur admin fees).
So I will keep it simple and stick to option one. Wait till the new V5 arrives with your name and then assign your registration.
Your other option (I don’t recommend) is to assign your private reg into the car now, the new V5C will arrive within 5-7 days so hopefully by the time you buy the car the new V5C will have your reg on it. (Downside by doing this option is you loose the right for the registration in the meantime which means if for whatever reason the sale doesn’t go ahead it will be troublesome/ chaotic to get the retention certificate on your name). Also the current owner needs to update their insurance with the reg (which might incur admin fees).
So I will keep it simple and stick to option one. Wait till the new V5 arrives with your name and then assign your registration.
TTB said:
Thanks all.
The seller is very genuine and I've been liaising with him a lot following independent inspection of the car.
He's agreed he's happy to do the plate transfer ahead of final purchase which I know has an element of risk but he is a decent chap.
How much is the plate worth?The seller is very genuine and I've been liaising with him a lot following independent inspection of the car.
He's agreed he's happy to do the plate transfer ahead of final purchase which I know has an element of risk but he is a decent chap.
I would strongly discourage assigning a plate to someone else's car, no matter how much of a 'genuine seller' they appear to be.
V5s arrive quickly, maybe a week or so, and you can transfer plates on the same day when it arrives via the DVLA website, which gives you a temporary certificate to enable you to get actual number plates made up at Halfords or whatever (if you aren't just ordering ahead of time from Fancyplates or similar).
Even if you can't do it online for some reason, it is about a week doing it by post.
For the sake of waiting a week or two at most, it seems potentially reckless to risk losing a plate to someone you barely know.
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Tuesday 19th May 22:05
RSTurboPaul said:
TTB said:
Thanks all.
The seller is very genuine and I've been liaising with him a lot following independent inspection of the car.
He's agreed he's happy to do the plate transfer ahead of final purchase which I know has an element of risk but he is a decent chap.
How much is the plate worth?The seller is very genuine and I've been liaising with him a lot following independent inspection of the car.
He's agreed he's happy to do the plate transfer ahead of final purchase which I know has an element of risk but he is a decent chap.
I would strongly discourage assigning a plate to someone else's car, no matter how much of a 'genuine seller' they appear to be.
V5s arrive quickly, maybe a week or so, and you can transfer plates on the same day when it arrives via the DVLA website, which gives you a temporary certificate to enable you to get actual number plates made up at Halfords or whatever (if you aren't just ordering ahead of time from Fancyplates or similar).
Even if you can't do it online for some reason, it is about a week doing it by post.
For the sake of waiting a week or two at most, it seems potentially reckless to risk losing a plate to someone you barely know.
Edited by RSTurboPaul on Tuesday 19th May 22:05
I lost a plate to a "trusty" individual during a car sale. Thankfully it wasn't an expensive plate, but it still annoys me.
Better safe than sorry.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff