How to Transfer Registration Number Plate From One Car to Another Online Using DVLA Website .GOV

 

Moving a cherished number plate from one car to another can seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s actually a pretty straightforward process. I recently went through this myself, swapping a plate from my old Tesla to my new one, and I thought I’d share the experience to show how simple it really is.

 

Getting Started: What You Need

Before you dive in, it’s useful to have everything laid out. In my case, I had the original number plates from my first Tesla, the “U2 BAD” plate I wanted to transfer, and of course, the new car waiting for its new identity. Think of it like a timeline: the original plate gets reassigned to the old car, the personalised plate moves to the new car, and the new car’s original plate goes back into the system for later use.

 

You’ll also need the V5C registration certificates (log books) for both vehicles and your personalised plate retention certificate if you have it. The V5C has a reference number you’ll need during the online process. Have your postcode handy too – you’ll be typing it in a lot!

 

Taking the Plate Off the Old Car

 

The first step is to officially remove the personalised plate from your old vehicle. You used to be able to do all of this at the Post Office, but the online service is so much easier. Just head to the government website – the official one, mind you, don’t go getting side-tracked by dodgy lookalikes!

 

The website guides you through the process step-by-step. You’ll need to enter the registration number of the plate you’re taking off, the V5C reference number, and your postcode. Because I was doing this on behalf of my business, I had to specify that. It also asks for your name and email address.

 

Once you’ve confirmed all the details, it’s time for the payment. It costs £80, which covers both taking the plate off and putting it on the new car. After the payment goes through, you get a confirmation and a new certificate for your old car’s original registration. You can download this certificate, which you’ll need if you have to get new plates made up at a shop like Halfords.

 

Putting the Plate On the New Car

 

With the plate officially “off” the old car, you can now assign it to your new one. Again, it’s all done online through the government website. You’ll need to enter the personalised registration number (U2 BAD, in my case), the current registration number of your *new* car, and the V5C reference number from the *new* car’s logbook. And, of course, that postcode again!

 

The system then asks for the retention certificate number, which you’ll have received by email after you completed taking the plates off, and you will also need your post code (again!). Once you’ve input that, the system reconfirms all the details.

 

After confirming, the website tells you the personalised plate is now assigned to your new vehicle. The DVLA records update immediately, so you don’t need to worry about updating your MOT or anything like that – it’s all electronic these days. You’ll also get another downloadable certificate, this time for your new car with the personalised plate. This is what you’ll need to get the physical plates made, if you haven’t already got them.

 

All Done!

 

And that’s it! The whole process, from start to finish, was surprisingly quick and painless. The government website really does a good job of guiding you through each step. The key is just to have all the necessary documents and information to hand before you start.

 

So, if you’re thinking of transferring a number plate, don’t be put off. It’s a lot simpler than you might think, and it’s a great way to personalise your new ride. Nine out of ten – well done, UK government!