How to Transfer A DVLA Number Plate from One Car to Another
Cars are often transported to UK from other European countries such as Germany or France. The owners of those cars often don’t buy a new number plate, they transfer an existing number plate to the imported car. It’s not a bad idea but the only roadblock is the presence legal technicalities.
In the UK, there are certain legal clauses that govern the registration of new number plates and transfer of existing number plates. In this article, we’ll discuss how a number plate could be transferred.
Some of the rules set by DVLA are
l A car owner can transfer a number plate from his existing vehicle to another one in his name.
l He could transfer the number plate to a vehicle he’s buying.
l He could transfer the plate to someone else’s vehicle.
Compliance to all these rules is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition, which means unless the car owner complies to all these rules, he won’t be able to transfer a number plate to a new vehicle. But complying to the said rules doesn’t mean he could proceed with the transferring process. There are many other conditions for transferring registration numbers, which also need to be fulfilled.
A car owner cannot transfer a registration number that starts either with Q or with NIQ to a vehicle that was registered in Northern Ireland. Another similar condition says the number plate cannot be transferred to a vehicle that’s younger. The vehicle whose number plate is being transferred to and the vehicle to which it is being transferred, should both be registered with the DVLA, and available for inspection.
If your vehicle is a pre-1960s model, then a valid ministry of transport (MOT) certificate is needed to transfer the registration number. Also, both vehicles need to be taxed at the time of the transfer. Even if the car with the registration number is not presently taxed, the owner can still apply for the transfer if he could prove the following two;
l All through the last year, the vehicle tax has run out.
l Between the day of vehicle tax runout and the start of statutory off road notification, there’s no gap.
We have previously stated there are some conditions governing the transfer of Northern Ireland registration numbers. That doesn’t however mean NI numbers are not transferred. There’s a procedure that needs to be followed when transferring a Northern Ireland registration number.
A NI registration number can be transferred if both vehicles are registered at DVLA, Swansea and DVA, Northern Ireland. Apart from that, both vehicles should meet the conditions to transfer a registration number.
When you are sure you met all the relevant legal procedures, next you need to complete a V317 application so you could retain the registration number of a vehicle or transfer it. If the registration number is being transferred to the owner’s own vehicle, then the process won’t involve any difficulty and be hassle free.
But in case the number is being transferred to a vehicle that is owned by someone else, certain formalities need to be taken care of. One of those formalities is the application has to be completed by both registered keepers, instead of one.
Certain things need to be included in the application. They are;
l A transfer fee of £80
l Duly filled copies of V62 application for both vehicles. The V62 is an application for a vehicle registration certificate V5C.
l Certificate of MOT test, it is needed for any car or motorcycle that is more than 3 years old and have been carrying heavy goods for more than 1 year.
To apply, the car owner first needs to get a V317 form from the local DVLA office. After that, the details of the both cars; the donor and the target. The donor car is the one that displays the registration number at present and the target car is the one to which the number will be transferred in the future.
After completing the form, attach a V5C logbook and a MOT certificate with it, pay the transfer fee of £80 and send the application to DVLA. You will be informed by DVLA if they grant your request, if they don’t, they’ll let you know the reason.
You just need to make sure the target car doesn’t look newer. Once all the formalities are fulfilled, you can deliver your car a new persona and enjoy the look of the personalised number plate on your car.
