Number plate terminology

Number plates explained

What all those words and form numbers mean...

• Age Identifier (year identifier)
  
  Number plates have been issued in the UK since 1903. All number plates issued from 1963 have an age identifier.
  
  The age identifier is different depending on the number plate style. For example, suffix style number plates have a letter at the end of the registration number, which indicates the year. Prefix number plates have a year identifying letter at the beginning, and the new (current) style number plates use 2 digits as an age identifier.
  Full list of car registration dates.
• Assignment Fee
  
  The DVLA charges a fee to assign a registration number to a vehicle. The fee is usually paid up front when you purchase the pesonalised number plate, whether privately, via a dealer, or direct from the DVLA. The Assignment Fee is sometimes also referred to as DVLA fee or DoT fee.
  
  The assignment fee is £80. You may have to pay £105 if the registration number is on a Retention Document or Certificate of Entitlement.
  
  DVLA fees are payable every time you transfer a personalised number plate from one vehicle to another, or change ownership.
  
  You may also be interested in: how to assign a personalised number plate.
• DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is responsible for administering assignment of registration numbers to vehicles, and all changes of ownership. They also issue vehicle log books (V5 / V5C), driving licenses, and so on.
  
  The DVLA was previously known as the DVLC.
• DVLA Local Offices
  
  There are DVLA offices located throughout the UK. You can assign your registration number, apply to retain your personalised number plate, and so on. It's also the best place to get the answers to all your complicated questions.
  You can also pick up all the forms you need at your local DVLA office. Or, to save yourself the trouble you can download the number plate forms.
• Donor Vehicle
  
  If you are retaining or transferring a personalised number plate from a vehicle, the vehicle you are removing it from is called the donor vehicle. The vehicle you assign it to is called the recipient vehicle.
• Grantee
  
  The Grantee is the person named on the V778 Retention Document. The grantee has the rights to add or change a nominne name, assign the registration number to a vehicle, or extend the certificate, etc.
  There may also be a nominee named on the Retention Document, though it is not always the case.
• Nominee
  
  The nominee is the 2nd person named on either the V750 Certificate of Entitlement, or the V778 Retention Document. It is also possible that the nominee name may be blank.
  
  A registration number can be assigned to a vehicle in the name of either of the two names on the Certificate / Document.
  
  The nominee has limited rights to the registration number. They cannot, for example, apply to extend a certificate or change the nominee name. This can only be done by the grantee (on V778) or purchaser (on V750).
• Number plate styles
  
  These are the number plate styles:
  
  Prefix
  Suffix
  Dateless
  New (or Current) style
  Irish number plates
  
  Registration numbers issued before 1963 have no age (year) identifier, so they are referred to as dateless number plates. This is not the same as Irish number plates.
  Suffix, prefix, and new (current) style number plates all have a year identifier. The year identifier restricts the age of the vehicle you can assign it to.
• Purchaser
  
  The Purchaser is the person named on the V750 Certificate of Entitlement.
  Note: this is not the same as nominee.
  The purchaser has the rights to add or change the nominne name, assign the personalised registration number to a vehicle , or extend the certificate, etc.
• Recipient Vehicle
  
  If you are transferring a personalised number plate from one vehicle to another, or assigning one that is on Cetificate, the vehicle you are assigning it to is called the recipient vehicle.
  If you are transferring directly from one vehicle to another, the vehicle you transfer from is called the donor vehicle.
• V5 / V5C Log book
  
  The V5 / V5C document (also commonly called the log book) is the 4 page document showing the vehicle registration number and other details, as well as the registered keeper.
• V317 Application to Transfer or Retain a Vehicle Registration Number
  
  The DVLA form V317 "Application to Transfer or Retain a Vehicle Registration Number" is what you need to either place your personalised number plate on a V778 Retention Document or transfer it directly from one vehicle to another.
  You can get one from your local DVLA office, or download the V317 form.
• V750 Certificate of Entitlement
  
  Your personalised number plate may arrive on a V750 Certificate of Entitlement. This works in much the same way as the V778 Retention Document.
  The V750 is initially valid for 12 months, when first issued. The Purchaser named on the V750 can later extend it for up to 3 years. You can continue to extend the certificate until you are ready to assign it to a vehicle.
• V778 Retention Document
  
  The V778 Retention Document (sometimes called a Retention Certificate) allows you to keep a rpersonalised egistration number on a 'certificate' if you are not ready to assign it to a vehicle. This is useful if you are changing your vehicle, or for buying and selling the registration number itself.
  For more details see how to retain a personalised number plate.

5 things you didn't know about number plates

...but should!

1. You never own a personalised number plate
   
   No matter what the cost of your personalised number plate, whether £100 or £100k, you never really own the registration number. You merely have the 'right to use it'. When you sell the registration number, you're effectively passing that 'right' to the buyer.
2. It's illegal to misrepresent a number plate
   
   If you distort the letters, add screws or tape, or even change the spacing from its legitimate place, you are breaking the law. Italics and other fancy fonts, football emblems, and 3D lettering are also illegal.
   The DVLA have very specific rules for the display of number plates. If you are stopped by the police, you face the possibility a fixed penalty notice. For repeated offences, the registration number could even be confiscated.
3. You can lose your registration number if your car is written off
   
   If you are unfortunate enough to be in an accident, and your car is written off, there are a few things you must do to be sure you don't lose your personalised registration number along with your car. Don't rely on your insurance company to know what to do - they may not even realise your registration number is special.
   
   See this guide to what to do with your personalised number plate if your car is written off.
4. The value of a personal number plate can go down as well as up.
   
   There's a general misconception that the value of personalised number plates will always go up. In reality, only the really good number plates go up in value. And even then, it may take some time.
5. You think it's yours...but is it?!
   
   Beware of dodgy number plate dealings. You can be 'done over'!
   Unfortunately, there is a loophole in the number plate sale and transfer process that allows some unscrupulous sellers to mislead buyers.