What Happens to My Personal Plate When I Sell My Car?
Keep your private plate safe.
If you have a personalised number plate, you absolutely must remove it before selling the car. If you sell the vehicle with the plate still on it, the new owner legally gets the rights to your private number.
The Retention Process
The DVLA has a very simple online system for keeping your registration.
- Step 1: Visit the DVLA website and look for the option to take a number off a vehicle.
- Step 2: Pay the standard retention fee.
- Step 3: The system will automatically assign a standard age related number plate back to your car.
What to do next
After you complete the form, the DVLA will post a new V5C logbook to you. This usually arrives within a few days.
You will also need to get physical number plates made with the new age related registration and fit them to the car before you can drive or sell it.
Timing is key
We always suggest sorting your private plate out at least a week or two before you intend to sell. This ensures you have all the correct paperwork ready when the buyer arrives.
Ready to sell your car?
Enter your registration below to get a free, no-obligation valuation from our local Derby team.