The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has told motorists that they could lose their personalised number plates if they fail to meet a 10-year deadline.
Many drivers opt to purchase their own private or personalised registration from either the DVLA or a private dealer. However, many who have bought a personalised registration number for their vehicle may not be aware of a looming deadline for renewal, with failure to comply resulting in permanent loss of the number.
The DVLA has made it clear that all private numbers must be renewed every 10 years, otherwise the holder forfeits the right to use it. Furthermore, applications submitted after the expiry date will not be considered by the DVLA.
It’s vital to note that the renewal application must be made even if the registration number is not currently in use.
In a post on X, the DVLA stated: “Do you have a personalised registration that is not on a vehicle? If it’s been 10 years since the latest certificate or retention document for your registration was issued, you may need to renew it this year.
“It’s free to renew.”
How to renew a private number plate
To renew a private number, an application must be dispatched to the DVLA, which can be done at no cost. This process involves renewing your V750 certificate or V778 retention document, proving you are the holder of the private number.
Typically, the DVLA will send out a letter or email reminding you of your private number and its expiration date. However, it’s easy to overlook this reminder, so it’s always prudent to make a note of your deadline.
This is especially crucial as applications can take up to 28 days and must be submitted on or before the expiry date, not afterwards.
Applications can be made either online through the DVLA personalised registration account used to purchase the number, or by filling out the V750 or V778 form and posting it to the address provided on the form.
What if I no longer want the private number plate?
If you choose not to use the private number or simply don’t want it any more, you have the right to sell or gift it to someone else. However, keep in mind that the number must be assigned to the buyer’s vehicle before it can be used.
The DVLA advises that you can sell a private number independently or through a dealer. Regardless, drivers are warned against sharing a photo or scan of the V750 or V778 document as it could be used by someone other than the buyer to assign the private number to a different vehicle.
You can change the number registration for another person’s vehicle online, as long as you have the vehicle’s logbook (V5C) and your V778 or V750 form at hand.
