How to Buy or Sell a Private Number Plate

Buying or selling a private number plate can feel more complicated than it really is. If you have never owned a personalised plate, the rules and paperwork can look daunting. The same is true if it has been years since you last dealt with one.

The good news is that learning how to buy or sell a private number plate is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide covers buying, selling, retention, fees, and what a plate is really worth. Work through it and you can act with confidence.

private personalised plates — Private and personalised number plates are a tricky business, especially when it comes to buying and selling them.

How to Buy or Sell a Private Number Plate: Key Steps

Private number plates, also known as personalised registration plates, are as popular in the UK as ever. Knowing how to buy or sell a private number plate really comes down to a handful of clear steps. Here is what this guide covers:

Buying a private number plate
Understanding the V750 and V778 certificates
Selling a private reg plate
Putting a plate on retention
Fees, forms, and procedure
How much a private number plate is worth
Private number plate FAQs

Key Private Number Plate Terms to Know

Before you start, here are the key terms you will meet along the way:

Private plate: a personalised registration you can buy, own, and move between cars.
V750: a pink certificate for a number never used on a vehicle.
V778: a green certificate for a number already used on a vehicle.
Retention: holding a number that is not currently assigned to any car.
Transfer: moving a number from one vehicle to another.

Keep these in mind and the rest of the process becomes much easier to follow.

Buying a Private Number Plate

Buying a personalised number plate is easier than ever. The right route depends on what you want. There are four main routes to buy one:

Direct from the DVLA: buy standard plates and skip dealer fees.
Through a dealer: pay a fee for rarer combinations sourced for you.
In a private sale: buy from another owner, handling the paperwork carefully.
At a DVLA auction: bid for reserved plates in person, online, or in writing.

Standard combinations are cheapest direct from the DVLA. If you want something rarer, it is worth looking to dealers or auctions. The DVLA holds back many desirable plates and sells them at auctions several times a year.

When you buy from a dealer, they issue a V750 or V778 certificate through the DVLA proving you own it. If you buy privately, stay on top of the paperwork so you are not left empty-handed after paying.

What’s the difference between the V750 and V778 certificate?

When you buy a private plate you receive either a V750 or a V778 certificate. Both prove who owns the number.

A V750 is pink and covers a registration that has never been on a vehicle. A V778 is green and covers a number that has already been assigned to one.

Selling a private reg plate

You can sell a personalised number plate you own privately or through a dealer. Using a dealer means paying a fee. In return, they handle the paperwork and payment for you.

GOV.UK explains how to sell or give a private number to someone else. You can also list on the large classifieds sites. Selling privately means more admin, but it saves the dealer fee.

Whichever route you choose, agree the price and payment method before you hand anything over. A dealer sale is usually the calmest option, since they manage the transfer and the money for you. A private sale can suit you if you are happy to take on a little more admin yourself.

Tip: never give anyone a photograph of your certificate. In the wrong hands, it could be used to assign the reg to another vehicle without paying you. If the number is on your car and you want to sell it, place it on retention first.

How to put a personalised number plate on retention

You may hear the term “on retention” when buying or selling a private reg plate. It refers to a plate that is not currently on a vehicle but is still owned by someone.

The V778 is also called the Retention Document. Alongside showing who owns the number, you use it to assign a number to a specific vehicle. The pink V750 is a retention document too, for a number not yet used on a vehicle.

Your right to use the number lasts 10 years. According to the DVLA, you can renew it for free before it expires. The plate then stays yours for as long as you keep renewing.

What a Retention Document Does

v750 retention document — An example of the V750 retention document

A reg retention document is only held by the owner while the number is not on a vehicle. Once a plate has gone through the transfer procedure and sits on a car, the owner no longer holds a V778.

To get it back, they apply to the DVLA and pay to put the registration on retention. The car that carried the private number then receives its original number, if it had one and it is still available. Otherwise it gets a new number that suits its date of registration.

This is the step that trips people up most often. If you are selling your car but want to keep the plate, put the number on retention before the sale completes. The plate is then safely in your name, and the car moves on with an age-related registration.

Fees and procedure for changing number plates

The fee to put a number plate on retention and receive a V778 certificate is £80. You can do this at a Post Office or online through the DVLA’s site.

Online is quicker, but you still need the vehicle’s V5C registration document. The DVLA sends the retention certificate to the postcode on the V5C.

If you already hold a retention certificate in your name, the process is simpler. Fill in the relevant sections to assign it to a vehicle, then send it to the DVLA.

There is no fee to assign a number you already hold on retention to a vehicle. The £80 fee applies only to retention or a direct transfer between vehicles.

When You Need a V317 Form

You need a V317 form to transfer a number between vehicles or put a plate on retention offline. You can collect one from the Post Office or download it from the DVLA.

The form explains everything you need. That includes the extra paperwork required, where to send it, and the £80 fee.

How to Transfer a Plate Step by Step

If you are moving a number to another car, or putting it on retention, the process follows a clear order. Here is how it usually works:

Check you hold the V5C for the car losing or gaining the plate.
Make sure both vehicles are registered with the DVLA and available to inspect.
Apply online, or send the V317 form to the DVLA with the £80 fee.
Wait for the DVLA to confirm the change and update its records.
Fit the correct plates once the change has been approved.

Take your time with each step and keep copies of anything you send. Getting the paperwork right first time saves the frustration of a rejected application later. If anything looks unclear, the DVLA guidance walks you through each stage.

How Much Is a Private Number Plate Worth?

The value of a private number plate comes down to a few factors. In general, plates are worth more when they are:

Rare or hard to find
Short, with few characters
Built around recognisable names, initials, or words
In a sought-after plate format

Bought directly from the DVLA, private registrations start from £250, though rarer plates cost more through dealers or at auction.

Want a figure for a plate you own? A specialist private number plate dealer can often give you a free valuation. Treat it as a starting point, because a plate is only worth what a buyer will pay.

There is one thing worth being clear about. A private plate can hide your car’s age from view, but it does not change how the 8,000 dealers on Motorway value it. Our guide on how plate changes affect your car’s value explains why.

Dealers and serious buyers still look at the registration date, mileage, condition, and service history. Focus on those, and a private plate becomes a nice extra rather than a way to add value.

If you are selling the car anyway, decide early whether the plate matters more to you than a quick, clean sale. Keeping it is simple, but it adds a step, so weigh that against the time you have.

Private Number Plate FAQs

Can I Sell My Private Number Plate Back to the DVLA?

No. The DVLA does not buy private plates back. Instead, you can give up your right to the number through GOV.UK.

According to GOV.UK, you get a refund of the £80 fee, but only if the number was never assigned. To sell it instead, use a dealer or sell privately.

How Much Does It Cost to Retain or Transfer a Private Plate?

Putting a number on retention or transferring it directly between vehicles costs £80, paid to the DVLA. Assigning a number you already hold on retention is free.

How Do I Find Out What My Plate Is Worth?

Value comes down to rarity, how few characters the plate has, recognisable names or words, and the format. A specialist dealer can usually give you a free valuation to work from.

Can I Keep My Private Plate When I Sell My Car?

Yes. Put the plate on retention before you sell, so the number stays yours. Your car then reverts to an age-related registration, and you assign the plate to your next car later.

Ready to sell?

Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency.

The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.