Thinking of selling your private number plate or saving it for your next vehicle?
Good news: taking a private registration off your car is easier than you might think — and you can do it all online with the DVLA.
Here's a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process.
What You'll Need:
- The vehicle's V5C logbook (in your name)
- A credit or debit card for the £80 DVLA fee
- Access to the DVLA website
Step-by-Step: Remove Your Private Plate Online
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Head to the official DVLA website
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/take-private-number-off
- Click "Take off a number online"
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Enter your Vehicle details
You'll need:
- Your registration number
- The 11-digit document reference number from your V5C logbook
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Pay the £80 retention fee
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You're Done!
If everything checks out, the number will be removed instantly. Your vehicle will automatically go back to its original registration, and you’ll get:
- A new V5C in the post
- A retention certificate (V778) for your private plate — valid for 10 years
Things to keep in mind
- You must be the registered keeper of the vehicle. If not, you will have to apply by post.
- The vehicle needs to be taxed or have a SORN in place.
- You can reassign the plate to another vehicle later, or just keep it on retention.
- The DVLA online service is only available 7am till 7pm
Final Tip
Once you’ve removed the plate, don’t forget to update your insurance provider with the new (or old) registration number.