How To Retain A Private Number Plate?

Published on: August 07, 2025

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How to Retain a Private Number Plate – Step-by-Step Process

If you are selling a car with a personalised registration plate, you may want to retain, transfer, or reuse it in future.

This comprehensive guide will let you remove a private number plate from your car while preserving your customised registration for future transfer.

In addition, we will go further into the important aspects of number plate retention, such as:

Eligibility requirements for private plate retention
Preserving private registration in case of car write-off
Reasons for rejecting a reg plate removal application

This guide will help you keep your private plate safe and ready to use again.

Can I Keep My Private Number Plate When Selling My Car?

You may usually sell your car with your private number plate.

You must apply to the DVLA to remove your vehicle's personalised plate. If granted, you will obtain a V778 Retention Document to transfer the plate to another vehicle within 10 years.

The DVLA will also update the V5C logbook with the vehicle's new registration. After removing the personalised plate, the car usually returns to its original registration number.

Can I Transfer a Retained Number Plate to Any Car?

Transferring year-specific plates like '23 plates on older cars would misrepresent their age. If your personalised plate is not year-specific, you may transfer it to any car.

Q or QNI prefix plates, awarded to cars with unknown origins or production dates, are non-transferable. Number plates must also match DVLA format, spacing, and design requirements. Please do not use or keep plates that do not meet these criteria.

What Are the Requirements for Retaining a Number Plate?

All vehicles must fulfil DVLA standards for number plate retention:

Registered with the DVLA
Ability to start and move independently.
Vehicle type requiring MOT or HGV certificate.
DVLA inspection available upon request.
Consistently taxed or declared SORN for five years.

Before filing for retention, vehicles that have been SORN for over five years must be taxed. Before giving permission, the DVLA may also want to see the car.

Check your car's current tax situation with our Car Tax Check tool.

How to Apply for Number Plate Retention Online

To apply online, you will need:

Your V5C (vehicle logbook)
Access to the DVLA's online service for private number plate retention
Payment of the £80 retention fee
Once approved, you will receive

• A V778 retention certificate, and an updated V5C showing your vehicle's new registration number

How to Retain a Number Plate by Post

To apply by post:

Download DVLA form V317 from their website.
Select the option to keep your private number plate.
Complete Part 7 with personal and vehicle information (V5C version).
Complete Parts 9 and 10 for plate sales or dealer authorisation.
Send the completed V317 form with:

• Your V5C

• A £80 retention charge applies.

• Send to the DVLA at the address on the form.

6. Wait for your V778 retention certificate and new V5C by post.

How Much Does It Cost to Retain a Private Number Plate?

Private number plates cost £80. If you want to transfer a personalised plate to another vehicle, this may be worth the expense.

What Is a V778 Retention Document?

After removing your number plate, the DVLA issues a V778 retention document. The registration number is on retention and no longer allocated to your previous car. After receiving the V778, you may sell the car without the private plate.

What Happens If My Retention Certificate Expires?

Without renewing your number plate retention certificate (V778) before it expires, you will lose private registration. The DVLA will not accept applications to maintain or reassign the plate once the certificate expires.

What Is the Difference Between a V750 and a V778?

The DVLA issues the V750 and V778 to verify the listed person's car registration number usage. However, they have distinct purposes:

Each document verifies registration ownership but is used at various plate lifecycle phases.
V750 Certificate of Entitlement: Available for new registration numbers without vehicle assignment.

V778 Retention Document: Issued post-removal of a vehicle registration number for future use or transfer.

What If My V5C Logbook Is Missing?

Applicants seeking number plate retention must have a V5C logbook. The DVLA website lets you get a new logbook.

If V5C data requires updating, submit a V62 form to the DVLA via post. There is a £25 fee to get a new logbook, whether you apply online or by post. The new V5C usually arrives in two weeks. The DVLA can help if it has not arrived after four weeks.

FAQs About Retain A Private Plate

How Do I Take My Private Plate Off Before Selling My Car?

Before selling your car, remove your private number plate if you want to retain it. Fail to do so, and the private plate will automatically pass to the next owner upon sale.

Before selling your personalised plate, complete the DVLA's number plate retention procedure. If your application is granted, you will receive:

A new V5C logbook displaying the vehicle's original registration before the private plate was issued.
A V778 retention document, confirming your legal right to the personalised plate and allowing future transfer to another vehicle.

Use the revised V5C logbook to transfer ownership during car sales.

Can I Pass My Private Number Plate to Someone Else?

If you want to give or sell your personalised registration plate, mention their name on the V317 application form when contacting the DVLA. To apply on their behalf, all you have to do is follow the steps in our detailed guide.

After the DVLA processes the application, the new owner will get a V778 retention document confirming their registration number rights.

My Car Has Been Scrapped – Can I Still Retain My Number Plate?

No, you lose your car's number plates when you sell or junk it. Only the vehicle's registered keeper may transfer or maintain its number. You must apply for number plate retention before selling or wrecking a car.

My Car Was Stolen – Can I Still Keep My Private Number Plate?

If your car is stolen, you may keep your number plates for six months or until it is found. Please be aware that the DVLA does not give reminders beyond six months, so set a personal reminder to apply on time.

Can I Put My Private Registration Plate on a Financed Car?

If you own a financed car, you must apply to the DVLA to remove your private number plate.

If you do not want to retain the car after the financing is set up, remove the personalised plate. Before returning or selling, the car must have its original registration plates installed.

Can I Put My Private Registration Plate on a Leased Car?

After receiving a leased car, contact your leasing company to issue a private registration plate. You've to ask the leasing company to be a registration nominee.

After processing and approval, the leasing business may transfer the private plate to your leased car. Your leasing provider should offer specifics on any administrative fees.

Do I Need to Apply for Number Plate Retention If I've Moved Address?

Update your DVLA information if you have relocated and have a personalised registration plate.

For V750 documents (Entitlement Certificate): Update your address on the DVLA's website.
For V778 documents (Retention Document): You've to update your address via post. Fill out the 'Change of Address' box and mail it to DVLA Personalised Registrations, Swansea SA99 1DS.

If you change your name, tell the DVLA. Send your documents and a marriage certificate, decree absolute, or deed poll to the address above to amend your name on any document.

What Happens After You Apply for Number Plate Retention?

An accepted application will result in a V5C logbook replacement within two weeks. To book a vehicle inspection, the DVLA will contact you.

The 'Vehicle details' portion of your new V5C will show your car's current registration number. The DVLA normally reassigns the vehicle's registration number after removing a private plate. This number usually contains an age and area code to show when and where the vehicle was initially registered.

You will also obtain a green V778 retention certificate verifying the previous registration number. This document may come in 4–6 weeks.

How Long Can You Keep a Retained Number Plate?

DVLA's retention registry holds private number plates for 10 years. Renew the retention or assign the plate to a registered vehicle before the 10-year term ends.

Failure to do either will expire the registration number and prevent its retention or assignment to a vehicle.

Can I Sell My Car While Waiting for a Number Plate Transfer?

If you want your private plate, no. If you sell your car before transferring or retaining the number plate, the buyer will possess both the vehicle and the private registration plate. Before the sale, remove your private plate from the car and retain it.

Can I Sell My Car After Removing My Private Plate?

After removing the private plate, you may sell your vehicle personally, to a dealer, or via a car-buying agency. Removing the personalised plate usually reassigns the vehicle's registration number.

Can My Application for a V778 Retention Certificate Be Denied?

DVLA may reject number plate retention applications for many reasons, including:

Inaccurate or insufficient information on the application form.
Not submitting the V5C logbook when applying by mail.
Failed to pay the £80 retention fee.
Retaining a private number plate beyond its expiration date.
Not claiming the number plate from the insurance before scrapping a written-off vehicle.

Include all essential documents, declare correct information, and meet retention terms to prevent rejection. Moreover, to avoid mistakes, use tools like car details check or a number plate checker before applying.

Tony Gastro

A dynamic automotive industry expert with 15+ years of experience in design, engineering, and market strategy. Specialises in cutting-edge innovation, sustainability, and performance, leading transformative growth across global automotive markets.

How To Retain A Private Number Plate?

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