All you need to know about registration numbers

Your Questions Answered

Q: How should a registration be displayed?
A: Registration numbers must be correctly displayed in accordance with the regulations governing the design, manufacture and display of vehicle registration plates. It is an offence to mis-space or mis-represent registrations on number plates or to corrupt numbers to appear as letters or vice versa. More information on spacing can be found in leaflet V796 Display of Registration Marks which is obtainable from your nearest LO and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea.
Q: What is a registration number and who has entitlement to it?
A: Registration numbers are not items of property in their own right. They are assigned, and may be withdrawn by the Secretary of State as part of the basic registration and licensing process which is required by law. The registration number is a unique means of identifying a vehicle, primarily for taxation and law enforcement purposes. It is assigned to the vehicle, rather than its keeper, and unless it is transferred or retained the registration number normally remains with the vehicle until it is broken up, destroyed or sent permanently out of the country.
An individual acquires entitlement to a registration number when he or she becomes the registered keeper of the vehicle which carries the number. When the vehicle changes hands, entitlement to its registration number will automatically pass with the vehicle to the new keeper unless use is made of the special facilities which have been designed to allow motorists to acquire and retain particular registration numbers. Visit www.regtransfers.co.uk to read about these facilities as well as the Cherished Transfer, Retention and Sale of Marks schemes.

Other question in this chapter, answered in the book are. . .
Q: What do I get from the seller for my money?
Q: How can I safeguard my entitlement to a number?
Q: What if my vehicle is stolen and not recovered?
Q: What if my vehicle is "written off"?
Q: What if my vehicle has been scrapped?
Q: What are the Cherished Transfer and retention schemes?
Q: Are there any special rules for motorcycles / mopeds?
Q: What if my assignment / retention rights are due to expire and I do not have a receiving vehicle for the number?
Q: Can I add or change nominee details on my certificate of entitlement / retention document?
Q: What if I decide that I no longer want the number?
Q: What happens to my registration number if I export my vehicle?
Q: I have an old vehicle which is not registered at DVLA. Can I register the vehicle and transfer or retain its registration number?
Q: My V5 registration document says my registration number is non-transferable. Can I transfer a cherished number onto my vehicle?
Q: I have seen Northern Ireland registration numbers advertised. Can I transfer one onto my vehicle?
Q: I have an old style log book / V5 registration document but the vehicle no longer exists. Can I claim the registration number?