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Protect Your Rights

There is a possibility that you can lose the right to your registration number and for the DVLA to claim it back. This happens to people every year, due to failing to understand the registration rules.

There are two ways of owning the right to a registration:

* Having the plate registered to a vehicle
* Retaining the registration on retention certificate

It is imperative to safeguard your rights to a registration once purchased. The rights to a number are helf by the registered keeper shown on a V5 or the name indicated at the top of a retention certificate (if not currently assigned to a vehicle).

Before selling or scrapping a vehicle, the mark must be transferred to another vehicle in your name or put on retention. Failure to do so will result in the loss of this registration. You should check with the DVLA if you are exporting your vehicle, as failure to adopt the correct procedure could also mean the loss of your number.

When transferring registrations, the donor vehicle must have a current V5 and MOT certificate (if applicable - for vehicles older than three years). The tax disc must be current or have been so within the last six months and have expired naturally (not cashed in). The receiving vehicle must have a V5 and a current MOT (if applicable) and be taxed (although the tax can be obtained at the same time as the transfer is carried out).

It is also possible to lose your rights to a registration if you fail to renew a retention document when due. The duration is one year and can only be renewed within 28 days of expiry for a fee of £25.

Finally, illegal display of your number plate can lead to losing the rights to your number.