How to Retain a Car Registration Number

Are you upgrading your vehicle but want to keep your private number plate? Maybe you have bought another registration number but want to keep your old one too? If this sounds like you and you are confused about what to do, why not put your car registration number on “retention”. Retaining a number plate enables a registration number to be taken off a vehicle and kept on a V778 retention certificate.

Retention certificates are issued by the DVLA when a registration number is transferred off a vehicle and can be held indefinitely on certificate pending future assignment to another vehicle. Number plates that are not reassigned to a vehicle must be renewed every 12 months for a fixed fee payable to the DVLA.

Only the registered keeper can apply to retain the vehicles registration number. To retain a number plate the vehicle must be taxed and have a valid MOT if applicable. If the tax disc has expired less than 12 months ago, applications to retain a number plate may be considered providing the vehicle has a statutory off road notification (SORN) and there is no gap between the tax disc expiring and the SORN commencing.

Retaining your car registration number is a simple and straight forward process. You will need to complete a V778/1 form which provides information about the retention process and can be picked up from the DVLA or in any Post Office. Your completed form should then be sent to the DVLA, either by post or in person, to your local DVLA office. The V5/V5C log book and an MOT certificate (if applicable) should also be sent with your application along with the fee for retaining a number plate. The current fee for retaining a number plate is £105 and is payable to the DVLA. This fee includes an £80 assignment fee and the £25 retention fee.

So what happens next? When the vehicle details have been confirmed, a new age related number plate will be issued and assigned to your vehicle free of charge. Wherever possible the vehicle will be issued with the registration number that it gave up as the result of the initial transfer. A replacement tax disc will be sent displaying the new registration number and a V948 certificate will also be issued which enables you to have the acrylic number plates produced to display the new registration. Once you are in receipt of the new tax disc this is confirmation that the process is complete. An updated V5 log book will follow a few weeks later from DVLA Swansea along as will your retention certificate.

For vehicles registered before 1963 the replacement registration number will have no age identifier. This replacement mark will be non-transferable. Dateless number plates (ones which have no age identifier) can be sold for vast amounts of money, so the inability to transfer a replacement registration number means that people cannot continually sell their replacement marks for profit. The vehicle can still however have another private registration assigned if the owner so wishes.

Assign a car registration number that is held on a retention certificate is also very easy and full instructions can be found on the reverse of your certificate. Once again applications can be made in person or by post to your local DVLA office. Your application must include the completed retention document, V5 log bog for the vehicle you wish to assign the registration to, a valid MOT certificate if applicable and the £80 assignment fee if this has not already been paid. Please note that the grantee or nominee name on the certificate must match the name that appears in the V5 log book of the vehicle the number plate is being assigned to.

When your application is processed a new tax disc will be issued displaying your personal registration number and an updated V5 will be sent out by the DVLA. You must also remember to inform your insurance company of the change of details.