Below are frequently asked questions when buying a personalised car registration number and some useful DVLA rules:
Why when I use your search facility are my results limited to 500 car registrations?
Our online database contains over 45 million personalised registrations and most searches would return far too many results for you to look through. If you want to search for a specific prefix registration you can do this by using the Make-a-Plate facility or visiting the New Style Plates page. Furthermore, if you still cannot find your desired registration please call our sales team on 0116 242 5353.
Why are some car number plate prices subject to VAT?
If the registration mark is owned by REG4VEHICLES, a from a VAT registered supplier, VAT must be added. Registrations that are not subject to VAT are being sold on a commission basis.
Why is the Department Of Transport DVLA Registration Fee listed as £80/£105/£160 throughout your web site?
Different DVLA registration DOT fees apply depending on where the registration mark is both coming from and going to. For example, if the registration number is coming direct from another vehicle it will be subject to an £80 fee, if a mark is coming from a DVLA retention certificate the fee is £105, and if the mark is currently held on a DVNI Northern Irish retention certificate it will be subject to a £160 DVLA transfer fee. The circumstances of the buyer and where they live, e.g. Mainland UK or Northern Ireland, will also dictate which fee applies.
Can I pay by methods other than credit card?
Yes. You may pay by Cheque, Money Transfer or Bankers Draft. For further details please call us on 0116 242 5353.
What happens to my payment if I change my mind before the transfer has been completed?
Under Distance Selling Regulations, if you do not proceed with the transfer of the registration mark after paying the part/full payment, then no part of this payment is refundable since the service period commences immediately. Ordered registrations cannot be refunded or exchanged, and cancellations cannot be accepted.
Do R4V.CO.UK provide acrylic number plates?
When purchasing registration marks online you will have the option of ordering a set of acrylic car number plates with your registration number, at additional cost. Acrylic number plates may be also ordered even if you have not bought the actual registration number from us.
Does the price include a vehicle?
No. You are merely acquiring the right to transfer the registration number to a vehicle.
What will happen to my current registration number?
Unless you want to pay the DVLA Department of Transport fee and retain it, the registration is automatically made void. You simply remove and dispose/store the old number plates and fit the new ones at the time we advise. In most cases, in the future when you change your purchased plate to a new car, your old vehicle will receive its old mark from DVLA on a non-transferable basis. Further information on retaining a registration can be obtained by calling us on 0116 242 5353.
The windows on my car are etched. Will I be able to have the number currently showing on my vehicle re-issued if I transfer my Cherished Registration in the future?
You may request the old number to be re-assigned to your vehicle only if the windows of the vehicle are etched with the mark. The DVLA Vehicle Registration Office may call your vehicle for inspection to verify your claim.
My V5 document says my registration number is non-transferable. Can I transfer a Cherished Registration onto my vehicle?
Yes. Although you cannot transfer or retain a non-transferable number, the vehicle can receive a new registration number providing the non-transferable number is not a "Q" mark and providing the vehicle meets the normal conditions of the Sales, Transfer and Retention schemes.
Why are some transfers faster than others?
If you are buying a registration mark that has previously never been issued or assigned to a vehicle the transfer time is usually between 3 and 14 days. The reason for the speed in which marks of this nature may be transferred is due to the fact that there is no donor vehicle to be inspected by the Department Of Transport. Theses marks are inevitably held on V750V778 DVLA retention forms containing REG4VEHICLES.CO.UK as the grantee along with our client as the nominee thus minimising the amount of administration required.
Where a registration has been previously assigned to another vehicle there may be a need to arrange an inspection of the donor vehicle prior to completing the transfer. In order to make a vehicle ready for transfer the donor vehicle must also be taxed and hold a current MOT certificate, these documents may take a few weeks to acquire from the donor.
In addition to the time required to obtain donor documents the governing bodies also require ample time to process transfer applications. The average transfer time requested by the governing bodies is two to three weeks, but may vary from each transfer. Transfers to and from Northern Ireland will be subject to non-specific transfer times as DVLA and DVLNI use separate computer systems, and thus a different process is undertaken. Call us for details.
How can I find out about the status of my transfer?
REG4VEHICLES.CO.UK handle hundreds of thousands of transfers every year and all clients are asked to send progress requests in writing by email to aftersales@r4v.co.uk post to REG4VEHICLES.CO.UK, Registration House, PO Box 4444, Leicester LE3 9YX.
What does DVLA, VRO, DOT and DVLC stand for?
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Vehicle Registration Office, Department Of Transport and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre respectively.
Why are the Rules of the governing bodies the DVLA so strict?
Personalised car registration numbers, and those that are not, are a method of law enforcement and as such the integrity and clarity of the transfer system must be upheld by the DVLA.
Does the recipient vehicle need to be inspected?
Not Usually. However, if for example there was a change of construction of the vehicle the authorities may then want to inspect it. You would be notified if this was necessary.
Are there any restrictions to the transfer of a number with a year letter?
You cannot make a vehicle look newer than it actually is by transferring a younger year letter. For example, you cannot put a 'S' prefix DVLA registration on a 'R' prefix vehicle since it would make the vehicle appear younger. You could however put any prefix registration from 'A' - 'R' on a 'R' prefix vehicle.
How long does a transfer take?
The average time scale is four to six weeks. We ensure that every transfer is expedited as quickly as possible. However, it should be noted that the transfer cannot be started until we receive the required documents. Please note that whilst we take all reasonable care of your documents, we cannot accept any responsibility for their safety once passed into the hands of the Department of Transport.
What happens if I need to tax or MOT my vehicle while the transfer is being processed?
Simply send the appropriate fee, your insurance certificate and/or cover note and the tax application to us, ensuring that you state the old registration number on the application form. In the case of a new MOT, again you must ensure that the garage MOT the vehicle under the old registration and send the certificate to us immediately, with a covering note informing us of the registration mark you are purchasing. REG4VEHICLES will have the MOT amended accordingly as and when it is appropriate during the transfer procedure.
Am I able to transfer a mark to a vehicle with a "Q" mark?
Transfers are not possible to or from "Q" registered vehicles.
Do I have to keep the registration number on my vehicle for a certain time before I can transfer it again?
There are no time restrictions and transferring a mark is a simple procedure which may be applied for yourself. Please note that any car registration purchased from REG4VEHICLES.CO.UK must not be offered for re-sale until our transaction with you has been finalised.
If the recipient already has a mark can I transfer both at the same time?
Yes. This is called a double transfer. You will need to immediately supply us with the documents of the third vehicle involved and an extra £80 cheque payable to the Department of Transport. Although this creates more work for us, we do not make any extra charge. If no third vehicle is available then the mark can normally be retained on a Department of Transport retention certificate in accordance with the governing Regulations. The current fee is £25, (plus the £80 transfer fee).
If my vehicle is new and not registered can I transfer a personalised number onto it?
Yes, this does not normally create a problem, however due to the fact that the transfer time is uncertain it may be more appropriate to have a year related plate assigned by the garage supplying the vehicle. By opting for this solution you shall have full use of the vehicle whilst the transfer is taking place.
If I ask a supplier to fit a mark, am I paying the £80 transfer fee again?
No. Every new vehicle is supplied with an appropriate year letter free of charge by the garage. The only charge made by the garage is for the physical plates.
Can a Registration be transferred from a car to a motorcycle?
Yes, all motorcycles (including mopeds) can participate freely provided the normal requirements of the DVLA cherished number transfer facility are met.
