Does anyone know how soon a personal plate can be changed over to another vehicle …

For example …

You purchase a car from a retailer which has a random plate , car retailer tells you …..


Transfer of the plate is a straight forward issue.

Make sure you bring the V5 (Log Book), MOT Certificate and Tax Disc for the registration that you want putting on the car and we can process it for you accordingly.

According to them they can do it that day , i was under the impression it could take up to a week or so

MICK wrote:

... they can do it that day..

I'm a bit confused Mick! if the number you want to transfer's on a retention certificate, then the dealer's right, it can be done on the day by a local DVLA office, but if it's on a vehicle, I thought you had to wait for the documents to come back from the DVLA, and another (usually the original) number re-assigned to the donor car.
Maybe Gaz can give a dealers perspective................ Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

But the plate that is on my car is not on retention as yet …

I go into the DVLA office in West Campbell Street and they do it straight away

I have already said to the sales guy , would it be best for me to get the plate on retention , but he said he can easily sort it .. so thats where it is confuddling me as well

Salesman should be able to do it straight away

Depends on what type of screwdriver you have  Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

My experience with local DVLA offices is that it depends which way the wind is blowing or which side of the bed they got up from But the general rule is that if the plate is on a retention certificate then yes they will transfer it while you wait but if the plate is already on a vehicle then they normally want a few days to process the transfer in order to carry out "back ground" checks on the donor vehicle.

Andy. 2015 L405 SDV8 Autobiography, Indus Silver with Black Pack.
SWMBO: 22MY Defender 110 HSE X Dynamic, Gondwana Stone.
Gone: 2014 Discovery 4 HSE Luxury Firenze Red
Gone: 2006MY Java Black TD6 Autobiography
Gone: 2013 Jaguar XKR Convertible, Italian Racing Red with Ivory Seats
Gone: 2010MY Stornoway Grey TDV8 Vogue SE with RSE
Gone: 2008 Disco 3 HSE, Hybrid Tv + Retro-fit RSE System & DVD
Gone: 2003 Epsom Green 4.4i Vogue, LPG, Mk4 Nav, BMW Bluetooth Phone, Hybrid Tv Tuner,

Recently did a car swap with somebody and both cars had private plates on which needed swapping. Took both sets of docs into DVLA local office paid 2x£80 and they sorted it all,got docs through with new(old) reg on as did other guy within a week but they said could take upto 4weeks
Like Antoniasdad said,if PP is on retention it can be done there and then. I am currently waiting for my docs to come from DVLA so i can put my retained plate on my FFRR  Paul

2014 Range Rover vogue se 4.4sdv8 Loire Blue
1992 Range Rover Vogue LSE 4.2 Ardennes green

I went to my local DVLA office today to put my private plate (thats on my RR that is just to be sold), on retention. I filled in one form, attached a cheque for £109, the V5 and MOT cert and handed it over. Within 7 to 10 days I will receive in the post a new V5 and MOT Cert with the original reg number of the car on it. Also a retention certificate (and new tax disc) with my private plate number on it.

It's the same time and process to swap the registration number from one vehicle to another.

You can't put the new plates on without a valid tax disc with the same number on it. Current MY2020
Gone: 1 x L405 and 2 x L322's

It used to be that my local DVLA office would do it while you wait, but last time I went they said it didn't work like that anymore - they took the forms and the paperwork came through a week later

I have done it in 15 mins at the local DVLA Office, the time before my dealer did it, flucked it up and it took 6 weeks - bloody foreigner!