Buying Private Registration help

MartinMiller

Hi all

Looking to buy a Private plate for the other halfs birthday. Her birthday isnt until November, so can i buy now and register later?

Cheers

Desmo

If it's already released you can buy the plate. The initial sale should include the transfer fee and you will be sent a retention code that allows you to put the registration on any car. Retention lasts for 10 years so you have that long to either put it on a car or pay the retention fee again, currently £80.

In simple terms, yes you can buy now and put it on a car later. When you put it on a car it's all done online and is pretty much instant.

ben16v

just bought my 1st plate online from platehunter and had it put straight on the car but the other option was to put it on retention, he can also provide plates and the comms and process was very good

anticlaus105

Any reason for not buying direct from dvla? I bought a plate a few years ago but sadly haven't used it yet. I think you used to have to pay £25 every 2 years. My renewal was at the crossover for 10 years and no fee, so I managed to get a refund and a 10 year certificate after paying. Is it now £80 for 10 years?

Desmo

Yep, £80 fee and allows the plate to stay on retention for up to 10 years. You either then need to put it on a car or renew the retention at £80 (or whatever the fee will be in 10 years time).

anticlaus105

Just had a look and it seems it was £25 per year previously. Isn't the £80 to take it off a vehicle? I thought if you already had it on retention you could just renew every 10 years at no cost? I know I didn't pay anything last time (after getting a refund) but it could have changed.

Desmo

Sorry, I stand corrected. Just had a look and once it's on retention and you DO have to renew it, you DON'T have to pay anything (although it did used to cost).

Private (personalised) number plates

Further down this page it mentions the £25 charge I think you're referring to.

ben16v

i bought from platehunter as he owned the registrations and wasnt just being a middleman - look at stock plates on his website