Frequently Asked Number Plate Questions . . . . .
Below is a list of our most Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not listed here, please email info@capeplates.co.uk for a speedy response or call 0845 4890498 to speak to a member of the team.
What registrations can I assign to my vehicle?
Can I put these registrations on a Motorbike?
What is a 'Nominee'?
What does 'on certificate' mean?
What does the price include?
What do I need to do when I am ready to assign my personalised registration mark to my vehicle?
What is a dateless registration?
What is a suffix registration?
What is a prefix registration?
What is a current style registration?
How long can my number plate be held on a retention certificate?
If I sell my car can I keep my personal number plate?
What happens to my current registration when I assign my new registration?
Do I have to keep the registration on my vehicle for a certain time before I can transfer it again?
I
have seen my registration number on your website, but it is not for
sale and I haven't given permission for it to be advertised. Why is it
listed?
I live in Northern Ireland. How do I transfer a number onto my vehicle?
What is the DVLA?
Where is my local DVLA office?
I cannot find my personal number plate question in this list. What should I do?
Do you swap links with other websites?
What registrations can I assign to my vehicle?
The golden rule when purchasing private number plates is that you can never make your vehicle appear younger than it is. For example an car registered in October 1994 (M Reg) could not have a X Reg assigned to it, but it could have an H reg. Likewise a vehicle with a new style '54' registration could not have a new '07' registration assigned to it but it could have a '51' private registration.
Can I put these registrations on a Motorbike?
Yes! All our registrations can be assigned to motorbikes but remember that you can never make your vehicle appear younger than it is.
The Nominee is the name added to the retention certificate when purchasing a personal number plate. The nominee name has to match exactly to the name that appears in the V5 log book of the vehicle you wish to assign your registration number to. If you are buying this number plate as a present, make sure you check what this name is. Mistakes can be rectified however a fee will be incurred. If you are buying for a company vehicle and the vehicle is registered under a company name, please supply the name of the company as the Nominee.
Please feel free to contact us if you are unsure what nominee name to put down.
What does 'on certificate' mean?
If you purchase a car registration number from Cape Plates it can be supplied on a certificate or transferred onto your vehicle for you. If you request the registration on certificate it will be supplied on either a:
- Certificate of Entitlement
A certificate of entitlement, or V750, is issued when you purchase a car registration plate that has never been assigned to a vehicle. A certificate of entitlement displays the purchasers details and chosen registration. This option is perfect if you are buying a private registration number as a present or wish to assign the registration to your vehicle at a later date. - Retention Certificate A retention certificate, or V778, is issued by the DVLA when a registration number is transferred off a vehicle to be held on 'retention', pending future assignment. If you are purchasing a private registration number from Cape Plates that has previously been assigned to a vehicle (i.e. if we are selling it on behalf of a private client) it will be supplied on a retention certificate, unless you have requested us to assign the registration number to your vehicle for you. A retention certificate is very similar to a certificate of entitlement and is used in exactly the same way.
If you click the 'Buy Now' button next to your desired registration, it will display a page providing a full price breakdown. This will include the DVLA assignment fee and VAT if applicable. The acrylic number plates to fix to your car are not included but can be purchased when ordering for as little as £19.95 plus VAT. This includes a fixing kit for your number plates.
What do I need to do when I am ready to assign my personalised registration mark to my vehicle?
If you have purchased a registration on certificate you will need to apply to your local DVLA office to assign the registration to your vehicle. You can apply by post or in person and you will need your Certificate of Entitlement or Retention Certificate, V5 logbook, a photocopy of your tax disc and you MOT certificate if applicable. The reverse of your certificate has detailed instructions on the entire process.
You must also remember to inform your insurance company of the change of details.
Alternatively chose our transfer service when ordering and Cape Plates will assign your new registration number for you.
What is a dateless registration?
A dateless registration does not contain a year identifier and can consist of a number combination followed by a letter combination and vice versa. Dateless registrations with the letters first are generally more desirable as they are older. A dateless registration can be assigned to a vehicle of any age.
What is a suffix registration?
Suffix registration numbers contain a year identifier at the end of a registration which is proceeded by three letters and up to three numbers. An example of a suffix registration number is HCW 1T, where the T is the year identifier. Suffix registrations were issued before the introduction of the prefix range.
What is a prefix registration?
Prefix registration numbers contain a year identifier at the beginning of a registration, followed by up to three numbers and then three random letters. An example of a prefix registration number is S100 EPK where S is the year identifier.
What is a current style registration?
A current (or new) style registration number consists of two letters, a two numbers and finally three letters. The first two letters relate to the area the vehicle was first registered. The two numbers related to the month (5 = September, 0 = March) and year the registration number was issued and the final three letters are random and make every number plate unique.
An example of a current style registration number is AB51 GHT, where 51 is the year identifier.
How long can my number plate be held on retention certificate?
A personalised number plate can be held on retention for up to 12 months. It can then be extended by another 12 months for a set fee via Capeplates.
If I sell my car can I keep my personal number plate?
Yes.
Use DVLA form V778/1 which allows you to put your personal number plate onto a retention certificate. You can then assign it to another vehicle at your leisure. A £105 fee is payable to the DVLA to put a car registration on retention. A replacement age related mark will be assigned free of charge by the DVLA. Personalised registration numbers can be kept indefinitely on retention certificates, but must be renewed annually via the DVLA.
Number plates can also be transferred directly from vehicle to vehicle. Use DVLA form V317 which allows to you transfer you personal number from one vehicle to another. An £80 transfer fee is payable to the DVLA and you must always bear in mind you can never make a vehicle appear newer than it is.
What happens to my current registration when I assign my new registration?
It is automatically made void, unless you pay the Department of Transport a fee to retain it. This is only advisable if you already have a private number plate on your vehicle.
Do I have to keep the registration on my vehicle for a certain time before I can transfer it again?
There are no time restrictions and transferring a registration is a simple procedure which may be completed by yourself at your local DVLA office. Please note that any registration mark purchased from us must not be offered for re-sale until our transaction with you has been finalised.
I have seen my registration number on your website, but it is not for sale and I haven't given permission for it to be advertised. Why is it listed?
Very occasionally a typing error may occur when details are entered onto our systems resulting in the listing of a combination that is in fact not for sale. If you have seen your registration listed and wish to provide us with further information or want us to remove it from our website, please send an email to info@capeplates.co.uk. Please remember to specify the registration in question and the validation character from your V5 (log book) for confirmation.
I live in Northern Ireland. How do I transfer a number onto my vehicle?
When you purchase a registration number from Cape Plates it will typically be supplied on a certificate of entitlement or retention certificate. These cannot be assigned directly onto a Northern Ireland registered vehicle so they must first be transferred onto a UK DVLA registered vehicle and then transferred to your vehicle. As two transfers are required an additional £80 transfer fee is applicable. If you do not have a DVLA registered vehicle, Cape Plates can offer the use of one of our donor vehicles and handle the entire transfer process for you. For more details on this service please feel free to contact us.
Timescales of transfer to Northern Ireland are extended as they involve two licensing agencies. The average time of such a transfer is 8 weeks.
An exception to this rule would be if you were purchasing a number plate from Cape Plates which we are selling on behalf of a client and is already assigned to their vehicle. In this case the standard single transfer fee of £80 is payable.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the government department which is responsible for maintaining registers on driver and vehicle information. It also collects vehicle excise duty and aids in road safety and law enforcement.
Where is my local DVLA office?
To find your nearest DVLA local offic please call this number: 0870 850 007
I cannot find my personal number plate question in this list. What should I do?
If your question has not been answered here or you have an enquiry please feel free to contact us at info@capeplates.co.uk or by calling 0845 4890498
Do you swap links with other websites?
If Cape Plates may occasionally consider swaping links with other website so long as they are relevant to our topic (automotive etc). An example of a relevant site we link to is Motor Cars Directory - A Motor Cars Directory for finding car dealers, motoring news, road tests, used and new car databases, find a used car for sale, or search for a car dealer.
Email us at info@capeplates.co.uk for more information.
