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Archive for the ‘Motor Registration’ Category

The Vehicle Registration Marks Act recently became law ( 19th July 2007 ) , it was instigated by the CNDA ( Cherished Number Dealer Association ) and was presented by Richard Ottaway MP.It will change the way a vehicle registration number can be retained.

Previously , when private number plates were taken off a car and put on retention using form V778/1 , the applicant would be the registered keeper who would become the Grantee on the V778 retention certificate.The Grantee was able to nominate a third party as Nominee but this person only had one right and that was to assign the number to a vehicle registered in his name.The Grantee was the only person who could extend the certificate, change the nominee or importantly request a duplicate from DVLA.This created a potential fraud situation whereby a retention number could be sold by the grantee who could then request a duplicate ( which supercedes the original ) and the buyer would lose the registration number.Similarly a buyer could pay the seller to put the registration number on retention and never receive the V778 retention certificate as it would be posted out to the Grantee .

Under the new Bill the applicant ( registered keeper ) will be able to nominate a third party to be the Grantee on the V778/1 thereby giving full rights to the buyer including the most important fact that the DVLA will correspond only with them regarding that registration number.Note that registration numbers already on retention will not be able to transferred in this way purely new applications for registrations still on vehicles. Nevertheless this greatly improves the security of the scheme and cuts out a possible fraud situation.

Members of the public wishing to sell their private number plate would now be best advised to keep it on their vehicle until a buyer is found so they can take advantage of this new legislation , especially if they think they may be selling to a cherished number dealer.If they sell the number to someone who wished to put it straight onto a car ,they can still change the nominee to the buyer’s name and the number can quickly be assigned to a vehicle , however if the purchaser wants to keep the number on retention he will be exposed to the potential problems which the old system has always suffered in that he can only assign it to a car regsitered in the Nominee’s name , he cannot extend the certificate, he can’t change the Nominee and the DVLA will not correspond with him.

It is considered a great success that the CNDA has been successful in having a Private Members Bill passed through Parliament with the help of Richard Ottaway MP.

Irish number plates are some of the most popular and commonly seen private car registrations on our roads today. The format of Irish number plates differs from their DVLA counterparts by reading 3 letters followed by up to 4 digits. These registration numbers differ by displaying the letters I or Z within the registration. The addition of these letters to Irish registration numbers enables them to read interesting names and words such as GIL, BIL, WIL and BIG. The letter Z is used on current style DVLA number plates however the letter I is not as it can be mistaken for a number 1. Some examples of Irish registration numbers are DIG 3694, ANZ 348, and LIB 25.

One of the most famous Irish number plates is VIP 1. This stunning private registration number was first issued by the DVLNI in 1979 for the forthcoming visit of Pope John Paul II and used on the “Popemobile” for the duration of his visit. After his tour the number plate was sold at auction and released into the market. This classic car registration changed hands a couple of times before it was sold in July 2006 to Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea FC, for a record breaking £285 000. There has never been any other number plates from the VIP series released making this car registration number very important indeed.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) is the governing body responsible for the administration of Irish number plates and driving licenses in Northern Ireland as well as dealing with other road and vehicle related issues such as supplying information on vehicles to the Police. The DVLNI divides up Northern Ireland into 5 administering regions with each area displaying different combinations of letters on their number plates. Only when a series has been exhausted does the administering region move on to the next series. For example, one region had worked through the registration series SLZ 1 up to SLZ 9999 and has since moved on to the next series which is TLZ 1 to TLZ 9999.



If you live in Northern Ireland and wish to purchase a UK registration number (administered by the DVLA) which is held on certificate you must bear in mind that it cannot be assigned directly to a vehicle registered in Northern Ireland. The registration number must first be assigned to a vehicle registered with the DVLA and then transferred onto the vehicle in Northern Ireland via the DVLNI. Unfortunately for the purchaser however this involves two lots of transfer fees. However, buying a UK DVLA number plate which is already on a car can be transfer directly onto a vehicle in Northern Ireland.

DVLA number plates can be transferred of a vehicle and held on what is known as a retention certificate. The registration can be held indefinitely on certificate and assigned to a vehicle at a later date. The DVLNI however does not currently provide a retention facility so in order for an Irish number to be held on retention it must be transferred onto a DVLA registered vehicle (£80) and then onto a retention certificate (£105). The number plate is therefore deemed a DVLA registration so in order to be assigned to an Irish vehicle again it must go through the same process of two transfers.

Irish number plates are very distinctive and can provide a cost effect solution when purchasing a personal number plate. As they are all considered dateless (no age identifier) they can be assigned to any aged vehicle which means they are particularly popular for people looking to hide the age of their car or add a distinctive mark to their vehicle.

If you are living in the GB mainland and thinking of purchasing a new vehicle but have a private number you wish to keep? Maybe you’re selling your vehicle and want to keep your Personalized Registration? Then look no further, why not transfer your registration unto a Retention Certificate. This means your Registration will be held on a V778 retention Certificate and you can then sell your vehicle.

Retention certificate for your registration will be issued by the DVLA when your registration number is transferred off a vehicle. Your Retention Certificate will arrive the same time as your new V5C for your vehicle. The Retention Certificate will be either be valid for 12, 24 or 36 months depending on which fee you decided to pay when you lodged your application.

Up until the end of the December 2008 only the registered keeper could apply to retain the vehicles registration number.? This has now changed with the introduction of the new V317 Transfer or Retain Form. You can now add a different Grantee Name and Address. The Grantee is the person who has the right to the vehicle registration.

To retain a number plate the vehicle must be taxed and have a valid MOT if applicable. If the tax disc has expired less than 12 months ago, applications to retain a number plate may be considered providing the vehicle has a statutory off road notification (SORN) and there must be no break between the date the tax disc runs out and the start of the SORN.

To retain your car registration number is a very simple process. You will need to complete a V317, which can be obtained from your local DVLA office or Post Office. Just complete the V317 and attached it with your V5C – vehicle registration certificate, MOT certificate (if applicable), photocopy of your Road Tax along with the appropriate fee (either ?105, ?130, or ?155). This should either be posted to your local DVLA office, OR taken in person, to your local DVLA office. The ?105 fee includes an ?80 assignment fee and the ?25 retention fee. The ?130 fee will retain your registration for 2 years and likewise the ?155 fee will retain your registration for 3 years.

The DVLA will then issue your vehicle with a new age related number plate free of charge. You will then receive a replacement tax disc with the new registration number and a V948 certificate.? Once you are in receipt of the new tax disc this is confirmation that the process is complete. Your new V5C – vehicle registration certificate will follow later from DVLA Swansea along as will your retention certificate.

To assign a car registration number that is held on a retention certificate you will need to either post your V5C, MOT Certificate, and photocopy of your Road Tax disc along with the Retention Certificate to your local DVLA office OR alternatively you can bring these to your local DVLA office in person. Please note that the grantee or nominee name on the certificate must match the name that appears in the V5 logbook of the vehicle the number plate is being assigned to. If not you can add the correct nominee name at the same time as assigning the registration to your vehicle this will cost a fee of ?25 made payable to DVLA Swansea.