How To Retain Registration Number Plates

Have a personalised number plate you want to keep? Not to worry! You can retain registration number plates before putting your car up for scrap.

In our helpful guide, we’ll break down the full process on how to remove a private plate from the vehicle you want to scrap.

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How To Remove Private Plates Before Your Car’s Scrapped

Since each vehicle’s documents are checked before they’re scrapped in the UK, you can only remove personalised number plates from your vehicle before it’s booked in for collection.

Once you’ve removed your private plates, the vehicle’s original registration number is typically reassigned to it automatically.

There are two ways to retain private plates from the car you intend to scrap. You can either:

Apply to remove your plates online
Apply to remove your plates by post

There are slight differences in these two methods so please make sure that you follow the appropriate steps and have the correct documents to-hand.

Option 1: How To Retain Registration Number Plates Online

The fastest and easiest way to remove personalised number plates is by using DVLA’s online service.

During your online application you will need to have:

11 digit reference number for your vehicle log book (V5C)
Debit or credit card for application payment fee of £80

To successfully retain registration number plates online, please follow these quick steps:

Once you’ve received both your V778 and new V5C, you can scrap your car without having to worry about losing your private plates.

Scrap Local removes scrap cars without any hassle and offers prices with no hidden fees. Submit a free enquiry to scrap your car near you!

Option 2: How To Retain Registration Number Plates By Post

Alternatively, you can apply to remove personalised number plates by post.

It’s important to note that this method is not as fast as the online process described above. Therefore, if you need to scrap your car urgently, then we advise that you use the online method to retain registration number plates.

During your postal application you will need to have:

11 digit reference number for your vehicle log book (V5C)
Cheque, bankers draft or postal order for £80 made payable to DVLA Swansea

To remove your personalised number plates by post, please follow the steps listed below:

Once you’ve received both your V778 and new V5C, you can scrap your car without having to worry about losing your private plates.

Scrap Local makes vehicle recycling easy! We remove complete scrap cars for free and offer prices with no hidden fees. Submit a quick enquiry to scrap your car near you!

Am I Eligible To Remove My Private Plates

DVLA are unsurprisingly strict when it comes to issuing vehicle registration numbers.

Before applying to remove personalised number plates, you must ensure that your vehicle:

Is registered with DVLA in the UK
Can move under its own power
Is a type that needs an MOT or a HGV test certificate
Is currently taxed or has a SORN in place
Is available for inspection
Has been taxed or had a SORN in place continuously for the past 5 years

DVLA will check your application carefully and will contact you if your vehicle needs to be inspected.

What To Do After Retaining Your Private Registration Number

Once you’ve retained your private plates and have been issued a new registration number for your vehicle you need to:

Put the new number plates on your vehicle before you drive it
Tell your insurance company about your new REG number
Update your REG number for any automatic payment accounts you have

For more information on who you need to inform about your new number plates, please visit the official gov.uk website.

You can also scrap your car once you’ve successfully removed your personal number plates!

As the UK’s largest award-winning network of vehicle recyclers, Scrap Local removes scrap cars without any hassle and offers genuine prices with no hidden fees.

Submit a free enquiry to scrap your car near you!