Number Plate Law

Rules for the transfer, assignment and retention of UK registration number plates

See also: Law and guidance for the display of UK Number Plates

Familiarise yourself with the government's protocols for the transferring of UK registration numbers and physical display of the actual number plates.

The transfer and retention law is broken up into the following sections below. Please take your time to read through. If you are unclear with or have any queries relating to the law of registration number plates please get in touch with us via our dedicated contact page or email us at contact@platemaster.com It will be a pleasure to help you.

• Transferring a registration number TO a vehicle (or assigning to)
• Transferring a registration number FROM a vehicle (or retaining from)
• Rights to registration marks following vehicles being written-off, stolen and not recovered or scrapped.
• Subsequent re-transfers
• Transferring number plates to new / unregistered vehicles
• Northern Ireland registered vehicles and registration numbers
• Transferring registration numbers to motorcycles, tricycles or mopeds
• Law and Guidance for the Physical Display of UK Number Plates

Subsequent re-transfers

Registration plates can be transferred between vehicles provided the recipient vehicle satisfies the DVLA's Transfer and Retention Scheme. Generally, the recipient vehicle must not be older than the year associated with the registration mark. You cannot make a vehicle appear younger. In addition, the receiving vehicle must have current road tax and a valid MOT (see tax and MOT exception).