reg transfer

I bought a plate from the dvla, it took 3 days for the paperwork to arrive, then I took the paperwork and other required documents to the local dvla office, they did the paperwork and issued me with a new tax disc, I bought plates on the way home, then fitted them.

When I changed to my present car, I took both registration documents and tax discs and mots to the local dvla office, they stamped and altered the rdg on the mots, issued new tax discs, retained the registration documents so swansea could send new ones, and assigned the original number to the first car.

Both times it was done while I waited.

Zimmerman, Welcome.

If the owner is putting the Plate on retention and the car is reverting back

to its old Plate it should only take 7/10 days. They quote 6weeks as the max.

hi nigel just need to know how long did it take dvla swansea to send you your new registration documents because when i spoke to the local office they said the current owner canot sell the car until the retention certificate has arrived from swansea or he may risk loosing his private plate. thanks ever so much m8. 

I have just been through this process and must say it depends on how much you trust the person you're buying from. The plate needs to be put on retention, with a new reg number issued, but before the vendor can sell, you need to wait for the new V5 to arrive and then complete the change of ownership section and then wait for a new V5 with your address.

I trusted the chap I bought mine from so paid and drove away. We did have a formal agreement documenting the fact that there was a private plate and that he would pay for all transfer costs etc. It took a month for the revised V5 with the new reg to come through and then a further 2 weeks following sending the red slip back to get the V5 in my name.

Unfortunately, it's a 6 week inconvenience, but ultimately it comes down to trust. If you think you may get stiffed, wait for the vendor to transfer the plate...it's in their interests to get it done ASAP as no-one will buy a car while the V5 is "away"

Hi, welcome to the forum.

I purchsed my E36 323 coupe last year and had a nightmare transfering my plate from my old car to my new bmw. I was told I had to put my plate on retention by the car salesman but he was wrong.

In fact, as long as you have at least both green strips from the bottom of both log books and both tax discs you can swap them straight over and put your plate on as soon as you get a new tax disc. This straight transfer costs about £60 if I remember rightly. There is definately no need to go through the farce of putting it on retention.

Hope you and your new motor get on ok.

Ewan.

mine was a similar story when i first got a private plate... but it took a week and a half when i changed the E36 for the E46 as the E46 and my E36 both had private plates, the 36 went back on its original number, and the 46 went from its private plate, back to its original number, then onto my plate, not my problem though, that little conundrum was for the dealer to sort out

"if all that made sense I never said it properly"