Can I Put a Private Registration on My Car If It's on PCP Finance?

A private registration can be the perfect finishing touch to your car. It’s a great way to add a personalised touch, making your vehicle truly yours. But what if your car is on a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) finance deal? Can you still add a private registration? In most cases, the answer is yes, you can. However, there are a few key points to be aware of, which we'll address in this blog post.

Understanding PCP Finance

PCP finance is one of the most popular ways to buy a car, offering flexibility and affordability. You pay an initial deposit, followed by monthly payments for a set period. At the end of this term, you have the choice to return the car, pay a balloon payment to keep it, or use any equity towards a new finance deal.

Private Registration and PCP Finance

When your car is on a PCP finance deal, the finance company is the legal owner of the vehicle until the final balloon payment is made. Despite this, most finance companies will allow you to put a private registration on your vehicle. After all, a personalised registration could enhance the vehicle's desirability and value.

Informing Your Finance Company

Before you decide to put a private registration on your financed car, it’s essential to contact your finance company. You need to inform them about the change as they hold the legal ownership of the vehicle. They will need to provide consent and agree to update their records with the new registration details. Be aware that some companies might charge an administrative fee to process these changes.

Transferring Private Registration

When transferring your private registration to your financed car, the finance company's details must be used as the "nominee" on the DVLA transfer application in cases when they are the registered keeper of the vehicle. Once the transfer is complete, your new private registration will be assigned to the vehicle, and the DVLA will issue a new V5C logbook in the finance company's name but with the updated registration.

Conclusion

In summary, yes, you can put a private registration on a car even if it’s on PCP finance. However, always check with your finance provider in advance and be prepared to cover any administrative costs they might charge. And remember, when you're ready to choose your perfect plate, Utopia Plates offers an extensive range of over 70 million private registrations. Browse our collection and find your ideal personalised registration today.