Recent Numberplate Swap Timelines?
Recent Numberplate Swap Timelines?
Author
Discussion

RichardHMorris

Original Poster:

650 posts

113 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
During COVID lockdowns, I swapped two of my vanity plates around because we couldn't go anywhere.

I'm now in a similar situation: in late 2024 we bought a car registered new with a personal numberplate and now want to put another personal number on it instead, BUT we want to transfer the 'old' plate onto retention.

The new entitlement certificate hasn't arrived yet, but when it does we want to be able to transfer the plate onto the car and transfer the old plate onto retention.

All of this we can do online, but the order we need to do it is - I think - as follows:

1. Transfer old plate onto retention (£80)
2. Original/age-appropriate registration assigned to the car.
3. Transfer new registration onto the car.

But how do we do #2? At stage 1 the DVLA website says the original number will be assigned to the car, but there was no original number? So do we have to wait for a new registration document to arrive before we can put the vanity plate on it? Or will we get the ability to transfer the new vanity number onto it with some sort of reference number?

The car is in regular use now so I don't really want it off the road while we wait for the DVLA and Royal Mail to get their act together with posting certificates taking a week or more.

CHLEMCBC

1,195 posts

40 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
Ring the DVLA

alscar

8,092 posts

236 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
RichardHMorris said:
1. Transfer old plate onto retention (£80)
2. Original/age-appropriate registration assigned to the car.
3. Transfer new registration onto the car.

But how do we do #2? At stage 1 the DVLA website says the original number will be assigned to the car, but there was no original number? So do we have to wait for a new registration document to arrive before we can put the vanity plate on it? Or will we get the ability to transfer the new vanity number onto it with some sort of reference number?

The car is in regular use now so I don't really want it off the road while we wait for the DVLA and Royal Mail to get their act together with posting certificates taking a week or more.
If I have understood correctly you are worrying about nothing on your stage 2.
The DVLA will allocate the new registration and issue you with a certificate to get the plate made up.
Obviously you don't do that and want to get your own new plate on.
So basically you are doing stage 1 and 2 simultaneously and that should be possible on line.
If it isn't and the transfer form on the retention document means posting you can still continue to use your car.
Once you have the new correct plates made up and the reg has been changed that's when you also ned to tell your insurers.
As long as you have copies of all this on your person in the unlikely event of being pulled over there should not be an issue.



RichardHMorris

Original Poster:

650 posts

113 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
alscar said:
So basically you are doing stage 1 and 2 simultaneously and that should be possible on line.


Well that's what I'm hoping, but it could fall apart if:
a) they don't tell me what number they are assigning to it; and/or
b) they won't accept the old V5 reference number.

The physical plates are already made up and waiting to go on with the 'new' vanity number.

alscar

8,092 posts

236 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
RichardHMorris said:
alscar said:
So basically you are doing stage 1 and 2 simultaneously and that should be possible on line.


Well that's what I'm hoping, but it could fall apart if:
a) they don't tell me what number they are assigning to it; and/or
b) they won't accept the old V5 reference number.

The physical plates are already made up and waiting to go on with the 'new' vanity number.
Normally DVLA give you the new assigned number instantly when you do the retention online though.
I realise that one isn't going on the car.
As posted already ringing them is always an option if their website doesn't help you out further.

foccer

24 posts

8 months

Wednesday 25th February
quotequote all
if you did it all online, they email the details immediately and send you the paper copy within a few days - took about 5 days a couple of weeks ago.

RichardHMorris

Original Poster:

650 posts

113 months

Thursday 26th February
quotequote all
foccer said:
if you did it all online, they email the details immediately and send you the paper copy within a few days - took about 5 days a couple of weeks ago.
But did you get any details of the new V5? I think I need that to transfer the new vanity plate?