Selling car with private plate

Find out exactly how easy keeping your private plate is when you sell your car

By Tia Harrison-North

Last updated: 10 March 2025

If you’re selling your car but want to keep your private plate – you're in luck. It’s an easy process that you can do before putting your car on the market.

Private registration plates can be expensive and hard to secure, with some people keeping hold of their plate for their whole driving lifetime.

It makes sense that you wouldn’t want to let go of your plate each time you sell a car – especially if it cost a fortune or you’ve become attached.

Learn how to keep a private plate when selling your car in our guide below.

Can I keep my private plate when selling my car?

You can usually keep your private plate when selling your car, you’ll just need to go through the process of removing it from your old car and retaining it through the DVLA website.

You can then apply to transfer your car number plate to another car when you get your new one.

Before selling your car

Before starting the process of retaining your private plate, you need to make sure the car’s currently in working order and up –to date with the DVLA requirements.

That means you’ll need to make sure your car is:

Able to move by itself (well, with you driving it)
Be taxed or registered as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) – cars registered as SORN for more than five years will need to be taxed before retaining your private plate
Be eligible for an MOT
Be able to be inspected by the DVLA if needed

At this point, your car is ready for the private plate retention or swap process.

What do I need to do to keep my private plate when selling?

To keep your private number plate selling your car, you first need to apply to take the plate off the car you’re selling.

You can do this on the DVLA website or via post, although it’ll take longer in the post.

If your car doesn’t need an inspection, the plate will be removed immediately, and you can assign it to another car or keep it on retention for the future.

It’s free to assign your plate to another car but you need to pay £80 to retain your private plate.

That £80 does let you keep it retained for 10 years – after which, you’ll need to apply to retain it again.

The car you’re removing your private plate from will be reassigned its original number plate, and you’ll be sent a new log book (V5C) and a V778 retention document for the plate.

Putting the car’s original plates back

Once you’ve put your private plate on retention or transferred it to a new car, the DVLA will automatically reassign the original plate to the car you’ve taken it off.

If you still have the original plates, you can fit them back onto your car. If not, you’ll need to use a registered plate supplier to make new plates for you.

Fitting number plates to a car can be tricky, but most people use screws or sticky pads to attach them.

Just remember to line up your number plate before you go attaching your bumpers with a drill...

Step by step guide on retaining your private plates

You can apply to retain a number plate online or via post, and it’ll cost you £80 to complete.

Applying online is quickest. There’s a form on the government website and you’ll use the reference number from your V5C log book to apply.

If your car doesn’t need an inspection and the application is successful, you can then use the reference number provided by the DVLA to assign your plate to another car or you can retain it for ten years.

To retain your plate by post, you’ll need your V5C, green ‘new keeper’ slip or completed V62 slip.

You’ll also need a V317 form – this is the form to transfer or retain a vehicle registration. Once you’ve got the paperwork sorted, you can send it to the DVLA address on the form.

If you don’t renew your plate retention at the ten-year mark, you’ll lose the plate and someone else might snap it up. You’ll typically receive an email or letter reminder before this point to help you remember.

Selling my car with private plates included

You can still sell your car as normal if it has your private plates attached and registered to the vehicle. You’ll just need to move over ownership using the V5C form.

Some private plates can add value to a car, but they’re often a personal thing, soyou might not find a buyer willing to pay more for the plate.

Some people (often car enthusiasts) choose private plates that match the brand or model of car, and this might be attractive to a potential buyer.

Other things to update when changing plages

When changing your number plate, you’ll need to make sure that all the relevant people are aware of the changes. This includes:

Your insurance company
ULEZ and low emission zone payments
Clean air zone payments
Parking permits
Dart Charge payments

FAQs

Can I put a private plate on a car I’ve just bought?

You can put a private plate on a car you’ve just bought, as long as you have the V5C log book in your name and the car doesn’t need inspecting by the DVLA.

Can I put a private plate on a financed car?

You can put a private plate on a finance car, but you’ll need to get permission from the finance company first.

How long does it take to change a private number plate back to original?

How long it takes to change a private plate back to the original will depend on the way you apply.

The online application process is much quicker and can be accepted immediately, while applying by post can take up to two to six weeks.

Also keep in mind that things can take a bit longer if your car needs to be inspected.

Does a private plate affect insurance?

No, private plates don’t usually affect car insurance costs. Insurance companies don’t usually consider private plates as a modification and don’t charge extra for them – but make sure you check this with your provider.