Number Plate Transfer
Fact Sheets
Car Dehire Guide
Van Dehire Guide
Provided Courtesy of Lex Autolease.
Number Plate Transfers
Today, more than ever, drivers are looking to personalise their vehicles by choosing “cherished” registration numbers for them. Once on their vehicle they usually want to transfer their personalised number when they change their vehicles.
What is the Cherished Transfer Facility?
This facility enables a registration number to be moved directly from one vehicle to another subject to certain conditions.
What are the requirements for participating vehicles?
Participating vehicles must be currently licensed, subject to annual testing and available for inspection. However, applications involving unlicensed donor vehicles will still be considered under certain conditions.
Is there any type of vehicle that is not eligible for the transfer schemes?
Non-testable vehicles e.g. tractors, electrically propelled vehicles etc, cannot participate in the scheme.
Who can apply for a transfer?
As the registered keeper of a vehicle only the contract hire company can apply to retain or transfer a license number.
How to apply for a Cherished Transfer
The transfer scheme enables a registration number to be moved directly from one vehicle to another.
What application form do I need?
The V317 cherished transfer application form. It has a tear-off sheet containing notes for guidance in question and answer form. You should read these very carefully and retain them for future reference. On request an authorised form will be sent to you along with the supporting documents. If you obtain your form elsewhere it must be completed and sent to the the contract hire company for authorisation. The signed form and associated documents will then be returned to you. Completed forms and supporting documents should then be taken or sent to the DVLA local office.
What do I take or send to the DVLA Local Office?
1) The completed V317 application form (minus the notes for guidance).
2) V5 registration documents for both vehicles. If the recipient vehicle is new and has never been registered, send instead your application for first registration (form V55). The V5 for the donor vehicle is held by the contract hire company. It will be sent to you with the authorised V317.A test certificate for each vehicle that requires one (although either vehicle may not be old enough to need one, they must belong to a class of vehicle that normally requires MOT or HGV testing). If the donor vehicle has a test certificate this will be sent with the V5.
3) The current fee of £80.
4) If you need to license either vehicle at the same time, you will need to complete a V10 Licence Application Form or the V11 Licence Reminder Form and provide the relevant certificate of insurance or valid cover note, and appropriate rate of vehicle excise duty (VED).
Cherished Plate Retention
Alternative Fuels
Number Plate Transfer
Mobile Phones
What happens once I have taken or sent my transfer application to the DVLA Local Office?
The DVLA Local Office may wish to inspect the donor and/or recipient vehicle(s). If everything is in order, the donor vehicle (the vehicle giving up the cherished number) will be allocated a replacement age-related registration number, the tax disc(s) will be replaced and the MOT certificate(s) (where appropriate) will be amended to show the replacement registration number. You will then be instructed to replace the number plates on the vehicles and to return any old tax disc to the contract hire company for cancellation. The papers will be sent to DVLA, Swansea for the records to be amended and replacement V5 registration documents will be sent to the contract hire company.
It is important to remember
In accordance with the Master Hire Agreement all vehicles that have had a personalised number assigned must be re-registered and the personalised number plate replaced with the number assigned by the DVLA prior to termination of the Agreement. Where a number is transferable, the vehicle to which it is assigned must meet certain criteria.
New number plate provision
To have a number plate made up you will need to go to a registered supplier taking with you proof of entitlement to purchase the plates, which could be one of the following:
1. Vehicle Registration Document (V5)
2. Retention Document (V778) -for the assignment of retained numbers only.
3. Authorisation slip from DVLA Local Office with official DVLA stamp. This will be provided when the DVLA Local Office approves your application to transfer, assign or retain a registration number. If you are applying by post the authorisation slip will be sent to you. You will also need to provide proof of your personal details which could be:
4. A current photo card driving licence (this is the preferred form of identity), or
5. Bank/Building society statement or a recent utility bill with one of the following;
a. Current paper driving licence
b. Passport
c. Credit/debit card with photograph
d. Travel pass card with photograph
e. Foreign national identity card.
Where can I get a V317 form from?
From your nearest DVLA Local Office or Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency [DVLA], Swansea SA99 1AR
Contacting your nearest DVLA Local Office:
For the address of your nearest DVLA Local Office you can look on the DVLA web site at dvla.gov.uk or look in booklet V100 -Registering and Licensing your Vehicle, which is available from post offices.
Contacting DVLA, Swansea:
You can contact Customer Enquiries (Vehicles) on phone number 0870 240 0010 between 8.00am and 8.30pm, Monday to Friday or between 8.00am and 5.30pm on Saturdays.