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How Do I Remove A Personalised Number Plate?

If the vehicle is in your name, you can organise the removal of a number plate online via the DVLA's website. You'll need the vehicle’s log book (V5C) to hand and the application will cost the standard fee of £80. As you are applying online, you can remove the number plate with immediate effect.

If the vehicle is in someone else's name, you'll need to apply by post and it usually takes two weeks for the removal to be completed.

You will be sent a V778 retention document, which you'll need to keep safe. This document gives you exclusive ownership of the private number plate for the next 10 years.

Removing a number plate to reassign to a new vehicle

You may be removing your personalised number plate because you want to transfer it to a new vehicle you already own or are in the process of buying. To do this online, follow the simple step-by-step guide on the DVLA website.

You will go through the same steps listed above, and you’ll be given an online reference number. Use this to make the transfer, making sure you've also got your log book (V5C) and relevant MOT certificate handy, as you'll need them to complete the reassignment.

Once the process is complete, you can then remove the new car's number plate and replace with your personalised plate. Don't forget to let your insurance company know.

Keep the original registration number and plates in a safe place as they’ll be reassigned to the vehicle if you decide to take off your personalised plates.

Removing a number plate to sell

If you want to sell the plate, you'll need to follow the same steps as listed above to start with. If you are selling your number plate to a private dealer, they will usually organise the transfer for you.

If the sale is a private one, you'll need to assign the personalised number plate to the purchaser's vehicle. This can be done online and is an easy process usually activated straight away. You'll need the log book (V5C) for the car taking the number plate and your V778 or V750 to hand.

What if I no longer want to use my personalised number plate?

If you don't want to use your number plate again, perhaps because it's no longer relevant after a change of name or profession, you can give up your rights to that specific personalised plate by letting the DVLA know that is your intention. Again, consult the DVLA website for all the details.

If you are left the personalised number plate in a will

Personalised number plates are just that, personal, and can sometimes become prized family possessions, handed down as part of someone's estate once they die.

If you find yourself the beneficiary of such a gift, you have the right to keep the personalised number plate number for future use, reassign it to another vehicle or transfer it into someone else's name.

To do this, you’ll need to send the DVLA documents that prove you have the right to use the number. This will usually be a certified copy of the death certificate, and either a certified copy of probate, a copy of the will or a solicitor's letter.

As long as you follow the official guidance available online, removing a personalised number plate is a straightforward task. 
 

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

Acquiring a private plate won’t mean your car insurance goes up, but you’ll need to inform your insurer of the plate change and should ask for a letter confirming they have no interest in your private plate.

To find out the registered keeper of a vehicle number plate here in the UK, apply in writing to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). However, it will only provide these details if you have a reasonable cause.

Personalised number plates can be a good investment as they nearly always retain their value and often increase in price. Investing in these plates is not risk free though, so it shouldn’t be undertaken without careful research.

A number plate’s value varies according to how desirable and unusual it is. A number plate featuring a name, word or initials that a lot of people want is likely to fetch a higher price.

UK number plates change every March and September, on the first of the month. This is when the year identifier changes, for example from 19 to 69 in 2019/20. The former applies from March, and the latter from September.

A simple transfer from one vehicle to another can be completed online with the DVLA and you can make the switch as soon as you've finished the process. Organising it by post takes longer – expect two to five weeks.

You must inform the DVLA if you wish to remove your personalised number plate and replace it with the car’s original plate. It costs £80 to remove personalised plates and this can be done online or by post.

Much like a personalised or cherished number plate in any other part of the UK, all personalised number plates in Northern Ireland must be registered with the DVLA in Swansea. This system has been in place since 2014.

Guernsey number plates are issued sequentially and differ to those in mainland UK. They consist solely of numerals, featuring an oval showing the characters “GBG”. Along with standard white and yellow plates, they can display silver characters on black.

You can discover certain information about the vehicle that a number plate is on fairly simply, but to find out who it actually belongs to is a little more tricky. Your best port of call is the DVLA.