dvla 80 assignment fee

Blog DVLA digital services

https://dvladigital.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/09/it-now-costs-less-to-retain-your-personalised-registration/

It now costs less to retain your personalised registration

From today (9 March 2015), the law has changed to reduce the fee to retain a personalised registration from £105 to £80. This will apply to both paper and online transactions.

This change sees the removal of the £25 fee currently in place to renew the retention of a vehicle registration number on an annual basis. The renewal period is also extended to 10 years. There is another added benefit, the fee is being removed to add or change nominee details.

Customers will see a significant reduction in turnaround times following the introduction of this service. DVLA systems will be updated in real time and the service will provide instant confirmation that the application has been successful.

So what happens next? The vehicle registration certificate (V5C) with the replacement registration number and retention certificate is issued by post to the registered keeper on DVLA’s records. There will no longer be a replacement MOT certificate issued to the keeper as the original remains valid.

Today also sees DVLA launching its online Take a Registration Number off a Vehicle service which allows keepers and the motor trade to apply to retain a number online. The service will be launched as private beta and rolled out to the trade only for a 2 week period. The service is scheduled to be available on GOV.UK as public beta on 23 March 2015.

The service is now available and can be found on GOV.UK

Once the online service is available to all, the next online service to be launched will be ‘Assign a personalised registration number’. Any registration number on retention (V778 certificate) or bought from DVLA (V750 certificate) can be assigned via the online service.

I’ll provide more detail on this service over the coming weeks...

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Share this page, 58 comments.

Comment by Julie posted on 09 March 2015

What about cherished TRANSFERS - are there any further developments here?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 10 March 2015

Hi Julie, following the introduction of this service into public beta we will be releasing the next online service which will allow customers to assign a number to a vehicle. This will allow customers to complete the full cherished transfer process. Thanks

Comment by David Stephenson posted on 09 March 2015

At last, well done and thanks

Comment by Rod Lomax posted on 10 March 2015

This new service looks to be great and is something members of the Registration Numbers Club have been advocating for some time. It should make our lives much easier. Look forward to the next stage when the full cherished transfer can take place on-line. Rod Loma, Publicity Officer, Registration Numbers Club http://www.The RNC.co.uk

Comment by Andrew Robertson posted on 11 March 2015

I have had my reg no. On retention for 3 years and it's due to expire on 27/3/15. The assignment fee has already been advanced but I just want to carry on keeping it on retention. Do I send the retention document back as normal with the £25?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 12 March 2015

Hi Andrew, as the expiry of entitlement for your retention expires on 27/3/15 then you will not be required to pay the £25 to extend. Any number which is on retention and due to expire on 9/3/15 or later will no longer be required to pay the £25 fee. Thanks

Comment by nino posted on 11 March 2015

thanks for the article

Comment by Nick posted on 12 March 2015

I have just about to send my retention certificate in to get the nominee changed and the registration put onto a vehicle, do I need to send any fee?

Hi Nick, From 9 March there is no longer a fee to change the nominee details. You should send the retention certificate back with the change of nominee details without the fee. Thanks

Thanks for the help.

Comment by Jonathan posted on 12 March 2015

I presume the £80 retention fee also includes assignment when I come to put the number back on a car?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 13 March 2015

Hi Jonathan, yes the initial fee of £80 includes the assignment fee to assign the number on to another vehicle. Thanks

Comment by Bob posted on 16 March 2015

Hi - I renewed a retention in early Feb and paid £50 for two years. Can I claim a refund please?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 16 March 2015

Hi Bob, unfortunately you cannot apply for a refund as the legislative change only came into force on 9 March 2015, for certificates that expired on or after 9 March. Thanks

Comment by T Townsend posted on 16 March 2015

I need to take a registration off a car I am selling this week. Can the dealer now do this instantly online without having to wait for the docs to come back in the post? What is the link to get to the relevant page as all the info on the website that I can see appears to be out of date?

Hi, the service will be available to the public and all the motor trade by 24 march 2015. It's currently available to a select few from the motor trade as we test our services in a private beta phase. Anyone in the motor trade looking to join the private beta phase should contact us at [email protected] Thanks

Comment by Alberto Franchitti posted on 17 March 2015

Hi,i have three retention documents coming up for renewal in april and may do i still have to send them in for a new document,The retention document renewal i received on monday is valid till 2025 can you advise. Many thanks

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 18 March 2015

Hi Alberto, Yes the retention documents still needs to be returned for renewal as previously. They will then be renewed for 10 years with no fee applicable. Thanks

Comment by Jay posted on 18 March 2015

Hi, Is this service definitely going live for the public and motor trade by the 24th? I am buying a car from a dealership, and they can't sell it to me until the cherished plate has been taken off. Will this online service allow them to instantly remove the cherished plate from the car? And will a standard reg be applied instantly as well?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 19 March 2015

Yes, the new service to retain a private registration mark will be available to all by 24 march 2015. This service will allow the motor trade to instantly retain the number from your old vehicle and a replacement registration mark will be allocated to the vehicle as part of the online service.

Comment by Mr y ravat posted on 18 March 2015

Hi I would like to know own if after 10 years the registration is not assigned to a vehicle will the registration be lost or will I still be able to retain it

You will be sent a renewal reminder to renew the retention period before the 10 years has expired and you will be able to renew for another ten years with no fee applicable.

Comment by Kim Beresford posted on 19 March 2015

Will the online retention service be available on the 23rd (as originally intended) or the 24th of this month to the public?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 23 March 2015

Hi Yes, the service will be available from 23 March 2015.

Comment by Bill F posted on 19 March 2015

Can you advise how will payment be collected for the £80? If it is to be a 'card payment' system, can Motor Dealers set up an Account - or pay using bank details?

Payment can only be made by credit or debit card.

Comment by Chris posted on 19 March 2015

My registration is on a V750 certificate at the moment and I need to add a nominee to the certificate. Do I still need to pay £25 to do this?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 20 March 2015

Hi, no you should return the V750 certificate with the requested nominee's details. No fee is applicable. Thanks

Comment by Emma Robo posted on 19 March 2015

Hi, I am due to sell my car asap to a dealer as part exchange for a newer car. I want to retain my current reg plate on the car I am selling, would it quicker to wait for the online portal to open than to send paper copies to you?

Also, how quickly does this take effect if I complete the application online on 24 March? Once I complete the process online do I have to wait for new plates and paperwork to arrive before I can part exchange or can I take the plates off and sign over to dealers without plates?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm so confused and I need to sell my car asap. Thank you very much!

Hi, the application will be completed quicker via the online service. Once the application is complete you will be instantly provided with the replacement registration number (on screen) which has been allocated to the vehicle.

The vehicle cannot be driven on the public road with no number plates and you should await the delivery of the new V5C (which can be sued to make up the number plates) with the replacement registration number and ensure the correct number plates are attached to the vehicle before passing it on.

The V5C certificate will be received 3-5 working days after the successful online application and should be handed to the dealer.

Comment by Emma Robo posted on 20 March 2015

Thank you very much for your reply!

Comment by Geoff Hancocks posted on 21 March 2015

Hi Jason, I have a number plate which is presently on retention, but it expires this May after 3 years. I don't want to allocate it to a vehicle just yet, so would like to extend the retention up to the new 10 year period. Is this possible online ?? If so, how do I go about it ?? I have the V778 retention document in my name. Thanks in anticipation

Hi, There is no facility currently available to renew a V778 retention certificate online however, this is being looked at as part of the future developments for the online service. To renew your retention you should apply in the normal way and return the document to DVLA by post. Thank

Comment by Geoff Hancocks posted on 23 March 2015

Thanks Jason, much appreciated.

Comment by Graham Witt posted on 21 March 2015

Hi – I renewed a retention in Feb and paid £75 for three years and I noted I can't claim a refund. Please can you advise why I was not advised of the law changes in the renewal letter as i would have only paid for one year?

Comment by Jason Llewelyn posted on 24 March 2015

Hi, Prior to the legal changes on the 9 March, customers continued to have the facility to retain their Certificates for either 1,2 or 3 years and pay the appropriate fee of £25 for each year. While the Agency were in the process of reviewing the fee structure prior to the 9 March, no confirmation of the changes could be communicated prior to the law being formally updated. Thanks

Comment by Nikki posted on 22 March 2015

Hi, we are due to part exchange our car in this week at a dealers which has a private plate we would like to change to our new car. Should we wait for them to do it in the dealership or start the process now with the paper copies. Any advice o the process would be great as I have never done this before.

Thank you in advance.

Hi, You can apply to retain the registration number online now using the new service. The V5C with the replacement registration mark and the retention certificate will be issued to you within 3-5 days.

This would allow the dealer to take the part exchanged vehicle and have the correct V5C for it as well as applying to assign the personalised registration number to your new car. Thanks

Comment by D J Lewis posted on 23 March 2015

I had posted an enquiry, which was 'awaiting moderation', but now seems to have disappeared??

Has the new facility to retain/transfer a number plate 'gone live' as your blog suggested, as I cannot find it yet....?

Hi, the service is now available and can be found on GOV.UK

Comment by Edawrd King posted on 23 March 2015

Does this mean we can now transfer out private plate to our next purchase as long as to got all the paper to do so .

Once the online application is successful, you can use the retention certificate which will be issued by post to assign the personalised registration to a new vehicle.

Thank you Jason got all the paper work will set the ball rolling .

Comment by Jessica posted on 23 March 2015

Are these changes now available to the public today? If so, what is the web address?

What do you do with the old logbook? Do we just destroy it or do we need to return it to the DVLA?

Comment by Melissa posted on 23 March 2015

Hi when is the online service going to be live? I would like to have my current number plate retained. Thanks.

Comment by Lee posted on 23 March 2015

I have applied to change the nominee on my retention certificate and I sent the documents off about a week a go with the £25. Does this mean they will not cash my check and return the documents with the change applied?

Yes, we will return the fee (cheque unbanked) and update the documents as normal.

Comment by Jay posted on 23 March 2015

Hi, After using the online service, do I have to wait for the new V5 to arrive by post before I can get a plate for the new dated registration made and put on my car? Or can I get the new plate printed as soon as the online process is complete (but before the new V5 arrives)?

Yes, you have to wait for the delivery of the V5C which will allow you to get the plates made up. The V5C should take between 3-5 working days to arrive.

Comment by zac posted on 23 March 2015

Hi Jason - my v778 is due to expire in may and I intend to renew for ten years. Reading through the comments it seems this renewal is not possible online so I will have to send by post. The question is how much fees are due for the ten years? Is it just £80. Many thanks

Hi Zac, there are no fees to extend the retention period to ten years if a number is already on retention. You will need to send back the V778 to renew in May. Thanks

Comment by Phil D posted on 23 March 2015

I have a plate in the format :

AA 9999 (an old registration) on a 2004 car.

Can I use the online service to retain this.?

The web site guidance says it has to be registered after 1998, does this refer to the age of the plate or age of the donor vehicle?

Hi, yes the service can be used for any vehicle which was registered after 1998. Thanks

Comment by Dawn posted on 24 March 2015

Was eagerly awaiting this new way of putting number plate on retention, to sell the car privately whilst awaiting our new car on order. Was so easy to do, got retention certificate number within seconds. I already had the original plates for the vehicle (kept them when we purchased the vehicle). When should i put them on and inform my insurance company of the reg change? Now or wait for new V5C & V778? Also should i just destroy my old V5C with the private number plate or give a copy of the new owner, as the MOT certificate is marked with my private plate, I believe I wont be issued with a new MOT certificate will I ? Thanks

Hi, thanks for your feedback and I am glad you found the service easy to use.

Once you receive confirmation that the registration number has changed, you can instantly change the number plates of the vehicle and inform your insurance company as the service updates DVLA records in real time. The old V5C can be destroyed on receipt of the new one and replacement MOT's are no longer issued as a result of a retention as the old MOT remains legally valid.

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Private (personalised) number plates

If the person with the right to use the private number dies.

If someone has died and left you a personalised number in their will, or you’re in charge of the will (an ‘executor’), you can:

• keep the private number
• transfer it to another vehicle
• put it in someone else’s name
• give up the right to use the number (you can apply for a refund)

To do this, you’ll need to send a form to DVLA , along with documents that prove you have the right to use the number.

Prove you’ve got the right to use the number

You must send DVLA the death certificate when you send in your form. The death certificate can be an original or a certified copy .

You must also send at least one of the following:

• a certified copy of probate
• a copy of the will
• a letter from the solicitor confirming who the executors are or next of kin is

Keep or transfer the number, or give it to someone else

Which form you send depends on whether the number is already on (‘assigned to’) a vehicle.

If the number is already assigned to a vehicle

• the V317 form (if you have an old blue form, fill in section 2)
• section 2 if you have a new style log book (with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover) or section 6 if you have the older style log book

Make sure you include:

• a covering letter signed by all the executors confirming that they agree with the application
• the details of the person you want to transfer the number to, for example an executor or next of kin

It costs £80.

DVLA Personalised Registrations Swansea SA99 1DS

If the number has not been assigned to a vehicle

Send the documents that prove you’ve got the right to use the number and either the:

• V778 retention document
• V750 certificate of entitlement form

The executors must sign the V778 or V750 before you send it.

You must also send a covering letter signed by all the executors saying if you want to:

• keep the number
• give the number to someone else

If you do not have the V778 or V750

Send DVLA :

• the documents that prove you have the right to use the number
• a covering letter signed by all the executors confirming that you do not have the forms, and explaining what you want to do with the number

Give up your right to use the private number

You might be able to get a refund of the £80 assignment fee if:

• a private number was not assigned to a vehicle after the fee was paid
• you have the latest V778 or V750 document - if you’ve lost it and it’s still valid you can get a replacement from DVLA

Check the V778 or V750 document to find out if a fee was paid.

If the document was issued before 9 March 2015, you can only get a refund once it expires. You cannot get a replacement document if it’s expired.

• the V778 or V750 document - tick the ‘Refund of the assignment fee’ section and get all the executors to sign it
• name and address details of the person the refund is to be issued to
• a covering letter signed by the all the executors confirming that you do not have the forms, and explaining what you want to do with the number

Part of Get a private (personalised) number plate: step by step

Step 1 : buy a private number.

• Find out how you can buy a number

Step 2 : Assign your private number to a vehicle

• Apply to assign a private number to a vehicle

or Keep your private number

You do not have to assign your number to a vehicle.

You must renew your right to use the number every 10 years.

• Check how to renew your number

Step 3 : Get a new number plate made

If you assign your private number to a vehicle you must get a number plate made up from a registered supplier.

• Check the rules for number plates
• Check what documents you need to get a number plate made
• Find your nearest number plate supplier

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All You Need To Know About Private Number Plates

Can i put a private registration plate on my motability car.

How do you react when you see a personalised number plate on a car, van or WAV? Maybe you admire the owner's exhibitionism or the plate makes you smile? Perhaps it gets you thinking about what your personalised plate would say. Our personalised plate (aka private plate) guide covers the full process – from buying one to making sure you stay on the right side of the law.

• 1. Why Buy A Private Plate?
• 2. How Much Do Personalised Plates Cost?
• 3. Different Kinds Of Private Plates
• 4. Where To Buy Your Personalised Plate?
• 5. How Much Does A Private Plate Cost?
• 6. The Law And Private Plates
• 7. Offensive Personalised Plates
• 8. Transferring Personalised Number Plates
• 9. Personalised Plates And Motability Vehicles
• 10. What Will Your Personalised Plate Say?

Why Buy A Private Plate?

Personalised number plates have been around for decades now and they're bought for all sorts of reasons. For the most distinctive and desirable plates, this includes their investment potential. According to personalised plate specialist Speedyreg, the number plate 'F1' (bought for £440,625 in 2008) is now listed for sale at £10-£14 million!

According to the RAC, we spend well over £100 million on private plates every year! A personalised number plate is a great way to make your vehicle unique. Maybe you fancy a play on your name, or something subtler that only you and a select circle of family and friends understand.

Alternatively, perhaps you like the idea of raising a smile on other motorists' faces, or you just want to shock as far as the law and available number plates allow! Each, as they say, to their own; the reasons for choosing a private plate are as varied as drivers' personalities.

How Much Do Personalised Plates Cost?

What's your budget and how much are you willing to pay? You could buy a personalised plate that's unique to you for a couple of hundred pounds on a DVLA approved website.

To get something with a more widely understood meaning will take deeper pockets. You'll probably be looking at thousands of pounds. Plus you'll probably need to go through a broker or deal directly with a current licence plate owner for a private sale.

Once you get into really special plates, the sky is the limit. Visit the website of leading independent private number plates specialist Regtransfers and you'll see the stratospheric prices that plates such as '25 O' (for a classic Ferrari 250 GT) or 'RR 1' command.

Generally, the fewer characters a plate has, the more it will cost. Because of this, unless you're 'squillions rich', and assuming they come up for sale, these plates probably won't be gracing your Skoda or Vauxhall any time soon. But it's fun to dream…

Different Kinds Of Private Plates

As of 2023, four kinds of personalised number plate are available in the UK: current; prefix; suffix; and dateless.

As the title suggests, current plates are the kind issued for new car registrations now. Their seven-character design has been used since 2001.

Prefix-style plates were issued between 1983 and 2001; the prefix descriptor comes from the fact that the first letter indicates the car's age. For example, an 'F' prefix plate indicates first registration in August 1988.

Going back even further, seven-character suffix-style plates (1963–1983) started with the letter A and end with another letter that signals its age.

Before 1963, plates consisted of any combination of up to four numbers and three letters. An example would be the 913 PHT on an Austin Mini that a colleague remembers from their childhood in the early 1960s. With nothing indicating the vehicle's age, they're very desirable.

Where To Buy Your Personalised Plate?

So, you fancy a private plate, but where do you start to look for yours? In the UK, there are currently three possibilities: the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); private brokers; or a private sale, negotiated directly with the plate's owner.

DVLA This is a great starting point, where, according to the DVLA, you can access over 50 million registrations in a few seconds. Prices start at £250 (which includes VAT and an £80 assignment fee). If you can find the plate you want here, there's no better way to avoid outlay and intermediaries' costs. The DVLA also runs conventional and online auctions several times a year, where you can bid for dateless, current and other style registrations.

Brokers Independent brokers are dealers who specialise in buying and selling personalised number plates. Brokers who have signed up to the DVLA's terms and conditions of trading practices include TopReg, Regtransfers and New Reg.

Private sale For some of the rarest – and most expensive – registration plates, try the classified ads in motoring magazines, online owners clubs and forums, and buy directly from the current plate owner.

How Much Does A Private Plate Cost?

The DVLA website states that personalised plates are available from as little as £70 at its auctions. Otherwise, their starting prices are the aforementioned £250. Beyond this, prices are market-led, depending on each number plate's rarity and distinctiveness. And how much the buyer wants it!

The Law And Private Plates

Personalised plates are just number plates with a special significance for the owner. The same strict laws apply to personalised number plates as any other plate. Here are the legal requirements for private number plates at the time of writing.

As well as not making your car appear newer than it is, its number plates must:

• be made of reflective material
• display black characters on a white background (front plate)
• display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
• not have a background pattern
• be marked to show who supplied the number plate
• be marked with a British Standard number (‘BS AU 145e’ for plates fitted after 1 September 2021).

The characters must not be removable or reflective. If fitted after 1 September 2021, they must be a single shade of black.

Your number plates can have 3D (raised) characters, display certain flags, symbols and identifiers, and display a green flash (for a zero-emission vehicle ).

For anyone reading this who has an interest in typography, all number plates used in the UK must use a specific font specified by the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001. That font, which most of us probably see hundreds of times each day, is a sans serif font called Charles Wright 2001. It's the latest version of a typeface originally designed by the Charles Wright company in 1935.

The size of the characters and their positioning on your number plates are also strictly controlled. Clever adjustments of the character spacing to further personalise your number plate are strictly forbidden, except for so-called 'show plates' used off road.

Offensive Personalised Plates

Owners often fit personalised plates to show their sense of humour – sometimes risqué humour! However, that doesn't mean anything goes when you're choosing your private number plate. The DVLA regularly publishes lists of banned combinations that could offend or provoke for sexual, political, religious or other reasons. If you're planning something that might prove controversial, you might want to check the latest list first!

That said, some cheeky private number plates do seem to have crept under the radar. A recent article in the Mirror  revealed how plates such as ORG 45M and B19 NOB are legal and, potentially, available – at a price!

Transferring Personalised Number Plates

What happens if you decide to change cars and want to keep your personalised plate? Whether or not you have a replacement car to put the plate on, the DVLA will transfer it for an £80 fee. You can then put the private plate on the new car when you're ready.

According to the Gov.uk website, the vehicle's original registration number is usually reassigned to it automatically when the private number is removed.

Personalised Plates And Motability Vehicles

The official Motability Scheme website includes detailed guidance on adding personalised plates to a Motability Scheme vehicle. If you lease a vehicle through the Motability Scheme, here's what you need to know about putting a private plate on your Motability car or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) .

According to the site, Motability say customers can add personalised number plates to their car or WAV, so long as they follow DVLA criteria and ensure that the plate will not cause offence to others.

The Motability Specialist at the dealership will be able to give you advice and help if you need it. 

If you're adding personalised plates at the start of the lease, you'll need to get either a Certificate of Entitlement (V750) or a Retention Certificate (V778) from DVLA.

You can add, remove, or keep your personalised number plates through your Motability online account . With access to all necessary information, including the V5C document reference number, and seamless guidance through the DVLA's online personalised plate service , this is the quickest, easiest way to manage changes during your lease.

It's advisable to check with Motability before proceeding if you're having trouble with the online instructions. 

Motability also gives clear advice about what to do when removing plates at the end of a lease. The procedure varies depending on whether you want to put your private plate on another Motability Scheme car, keep them for use on another car or give up your rights to use them. You have the option to keep or remove your personalised plate within your online account. Alternatively, if you prefer not to do so, Motability will send you a letter approximately four weeks prior to the end of your lease, providing further details on the process for removing your personalised plates.

Motability Scheme Private Number Plate Advice

What Will Your Personalised Plate Say?

Whatever your reason for wanting personalised plates, and whether it's a Motability vehicle or not, you should be able to add this most personal of modifications to your car. Every year, millions of motorists find this to be straightforward and enjoy individualising their vehicle. Whether you just want to include your initials, or like the idea of raising a smile with a witty alphanumeric combo, there's sure to be a personal plate out there for you!

A writer, marketeer and business owner with a degree in Politics, James has worked in the Motor Industry for over 25 years, specialising in customer service and automotive marketing. He was previously the Marketing Director at Pentagon Motor Group, where they won several Autotrader and other key industry awards. He was also a part of the team who were twice named National Group of the Year at the Motability Scheme Dealer Awards. Car reviews are written in conjunction with Motoring Journalist Jonathan Crouch.

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Trusted by thousands.

NetPlates are one of the UK’s leading DVLA recognised resellers of private number plates.

With years of experience in buying and selling DVLA registration plates, we have helped thousands of people to buy and sell personalised registration plates.

We specialise in providing vehicle registration numbers to meet your personal needs. Every customer is treated as an individual and not just another transaction. We're proud of our personalised customer service and prices.

Don't take our word for it, read our Trustpilot reviews .

Buying a private number plate from NetPlates is very straight forward. Simply enter your initials, name, surname or even your favourite car into the search box and we will display all matching registrations.

The easiest way is to buy online via our website. If you have any questions before ordering, please email us on [email protected]

or call us on 0121 777 6555 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

The all-inclusive price of VAT(If any), the compulsory £80 DVLA assignment fee meaning there are no hidden charges other than the optional £30 set of plastic plates.

Once you have purchased your chosen registration number we can send you the registration on a certificate or we can handle the entire transfer process onto your vehicle free of charge.

You can click here to enter your details to receive a valuation. Once you have received your valuation, you can accept it via email and we will begin advertising on your behalf.

When we receive interest in your registration, we will contact you with the offer that was put forward (if any) and request proof of ownership (this will be either the V778/ V750 Retention Document or the V5C Log Book if it is on a vehicle). We require proof of ownership before we can take any form of payment from the interested party.

We will then go back to the interested party and confirm availability. If they wish to proceed, we will contact you to confirm the sale of your registration and request that you send your documents in the post to our address Net Plates, Unit E, The Swallows Industrial Estate, 267 Cranmore Blvd, Shirley, Solihull B90 4QT. We also ask that you send your bank details so we can issue payment quickly and efficiently once everything is completed.

Upon receipt of the documents in the post, we will send the documents to the DVLA to be processed. When we receive the documents back from the DVLA, we will issue your payment.

How do I buy a plate?

Use our tool to search for your name, initials, car or anything! We have millions of plates to choose from.

Check suitability

Registrations have age identifiers tied to release dates. DVLA prohibits using younger-looking registrations on vehicles; older ones can be transferred to newer ones.

Configure your options, and pay online by debit or credit card. You can then choose to receive the certificate, or for us to assign the registration straight to your vehicle.

Fit your plate

If you bought physical plates, use the screws or sticky pads (available with your purchase) to fit your new plate.

How do I sell a plate?

Fill out our online form with the details of your plate, and what you're hoping to get for it.

We'll begin advertising on your behalf, and contact you with any offers put forward.

If you decide to go ahead with the sale, you'll need to send your documents to us by post.

We'll forward your documents to the DVLA to be processed, and once we get them back you'll receive payment.

Personalised number plates: what they mean for your car insurance

Back Back to Solved

14 September 2018

Fancy the registration plate ‘F 1’ on your motor? That went for £440K in 2008 and could now be yours for a cool £10m. ‘M 1’ was bought for £331K in 2006, perhaps by a fan of the 193 mile north-south artery.

While those top-end plates are the preserve of the wealthy, you can pick up a less exclusive one for a few hundred pounds. People are choosing to do so in increasing numbers, with almost 375,000 sold last year by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Source: Regtransfers

But it’s not just the initial cost of a personalised plate that could dent your bank balance. You may find it affects your insurance cover too.

How to buy a personalised plate 

It’s simple enough to buy one, either from a private dealer or the DVLA, which holds auctions across the country about six times a year. You can search its dedicated website here to see what plates are available. Once you’ve found your desired plate, it even mocks up an image of how it would look on your motor of choice. 

The registration plate AG53 EAS would have cost £250 inclusive of VAT and the DVLA £80 assignment fee at the time of writing.

Once you’ve paid, you’ll get a V750 certificate of entitlement. This is to prove that you have the right to use a private number plate. You then need to assign the plate to your car, which you can do online or by post. 

You can keep hold of the original registration number, which will be reassigned to the vehicle when you take off the private number. 

The rules 

It’s illegal to display a registration number other than that shown on the vehicle’s log book, or V5C as its known. 

Plates must conform to a set of specifications: 

• be made from a reflective material
• display black characters on a white background (front plate)
• display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
• not have a background pattern 

 If they don’t you could fail your MOT, get fined and lose the registration number.

You aren’t allowed to display a registration bearing a year code later than the vehicle’s date of original registration. For example, if you purchase a 62 current style registration, it can only go onto a vehicle that was first registered as new on or after 1st September 2012.  

Check you’re covered 

Most car insurance providers won’t cover personalised number plates, according to 2018 research by GoCompare. In fact, only 19 out of 302 comprehensive car insurance policies studied by the price comparison site covered the loss of a personalised number plate in the event a car was lost or stolen. Some treat personalised number plates as a car modification, although check with your insurer.

Drivers are also being warned that if their car is written off after an accident, then they must act quickly to arrange for their personalised registration number to be transferred to another vehicle or retained on a certificate. Otherwise they could simply lose it alongside the vehicle. 

What’s more, according to GoCompare, if a car with a personalised plate is stolen and isn’t recovered, its owner must wait 12 months to get the number plate back. And to do so, they’ll have to prove that the car had a valid MOT and tax at the time of theft.

The important thing is to check your car insurance policy before to see if the costs of your personalised number plate would be included in an insurance payout. And when you register a personalised number plate, inform your insurer immediately, or your policy could be invalidated. 

Go to Solved to read more about driving, the rules of the road and road safety .

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DOT fees when transferring a personalised registration

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Department of Transport Fees

Transferring to a vehicle from a V750 certificate of entitlement attracts a DOT fee of �80.00 levied by the Department of Transport.

In transferring a registration to your vehicle from a V778 document there will be a charge of �80.00 levied by the Department of Transport.

When transferring a registration from your vehicle to a V778 document there will be a charge of �80.00 levied by the Department of Transport.

Value Added Tax

Value Added Tax (VAT) will apply in certain cases and will not apply in other cases. The application of VAT will be determined by the source for the registration.

If the registration is a government stock registration then VAT will be applied to the base price and not to the DOT fee.

Where registrations are being marketed and sold on behalf of private clients there will be either part VAT or no VAT charged.

Value Added Tax (VAT) will be applied at the standard rate for those registrations that are sold on behalf of VAT registered businesses.

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Premier Plates UK are a DVLA recognised reseller of DVLA registrations and we are a DVLA registered supplier of number plates for cars and motorcycles. We buy DVLA auction registrations and from members of the public. We are brokers of dvla registrations for members of the public and we provide our marketing service for owners of high value and low value chersihed number plates . We have custom search facilities on our website which allows our customers to search quickly for their ideal number plate . If you are looking for a dateless plate or a new style registration you will be able to find it and enquire or buy securely online. Before choosing your ideal plate you need to check on the age of your vehicle and the year qualifier for the new reg in order to make sure it is a transferable number to your vehicle. In purchasing your ideal private plate you will need to ensure the vehicle registration is displayed in accordance with DVLA regulations..

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DVLA Auction Fees Calculator

Wondering what that number plate will actually cost at a DVLA auction?

Use our free DVLA Auction Calculators below to calculate the final cost of any number plate sold in a DVLA auction , or work out the highest bid you should place based on your maximum budget.

Calculate the total auction price including fees

What will it cost? Using this calculator, enter a final sale price (hammer price) of a number plate to find out exactly what fees and VAT will be applied on top.

It will reveal the total cost and a breakdown of all added fees.

Enter the price at which the auction is won, referred to as the Hammer Price.

Calculate a maximum bid price based on your budget

What can you afford? Assuming you have a fixed auction budget, this calculator will show you the maximum price you should bid for a number plate.

This will ensure that fees and VAT do not take you over budget.

Enter the maximum price you are willing to spend.

What are the DVLA auction fees?

For every number plate sold in a DVLA auction, there are four additional fees that are added to the sale (hammer) price.

• VAT on the hammer price (20%)
• Buyer’s Premium (7% – although previously 8%)
• VAT on Buyer’s Premium (20%)
• £80 Assignment Fee

This means winning a DVLA auction can have significant extra costs that not all potential buyers may be aware of.

Although the DVLA make it abundantly clear what these additional fees are whilst you are bidding on a number plate auction lot, it can be hard to work out what costs you may incur beforehand when budgeting for a number plate.

We’ve built this free calculator to clearly show how much each of these additional fees will cost you, including a grand total number plate cost.

You can then set a suitable bidding budget and be sure that you will not be met with any unexpected costs.

What is the buyer’s premium?

A buyer’s premium is a fee charged by most auction houses for hosting and facilitating an auction. It’s almost always charged as a fixed percentage of the selling price of an item.

All DVLA auctions are run by BCA Ltd, who specialise in vehicle auctions across the country.

What is the assignment fee?

The assignment fee is a fixed £80 cost for all number plates won at auction, no matter the hammer price or final selling price

It is the fee charged by the DVLA to put your new number plate on to your vehicle. It is essentially an admin fee to transfer the registration of your vehicle from your old registration to your newly purchased registration.

Are there any other fees?

There are no further fees, however the only other outstanding costs you may face would be for purchasing and fitting a set of physical number plates for your vehicle. These are not included in the DVLA price.

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DVLA Venue Auction of Personalised Registrations - Follow us on Social Media

all 1,000 registrations on offer, with starting prices  from £200.

a pdf version of the catalogue for this auction.

Bidding instructions

Registrations are sold lot by lot at an approximate time, throughout 3 days.

More information

Get in touch with the DVLA auction team at BCA, DVLA's official auctioneer of registrations:  [email protected]

or visit  dvlaauction.co.uk

All purchases are subject to VAT, buyer's premium of 7% + VAT and an £80 assignment fee. Once placed, bids cannot be cancelled. Registrations will not be sold prior to the auction. See catalogue for details. E & OE. Warning: It is an offence to alter, re-arrange or misrepresent a registration number. There is a maximum fine of £1,000 and the registration number can be withdrawn without compensation.

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• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DVLA fee added when I buy?

What is the DVLA fee you are asking me to pay? What is that for?

The DVLA fee is the fee charged by the DVLA to re-register your car under the new number and issue replacement documents. This fee is payable upfront when you buy your private number plate . Even if we are supplying you with a Certificate to be transferred to a car at some point in the future.

Do I have to pay another fee when I put the registration number on my car?

You don't need to pay again when you apply to have your number plate transferred to your car .

How much is the DVLA fee?

DVLA fee is usually £80. This fee is paid (by us) to the DVLA. This charge is not levied by The Plate Market.