How To Change Number Plates Back To Original

Sometimes, you may want to revert your vehicle's number plate back to its original registration, perhaps in preparation for selling the vehicle, or you might want to transfer your cherished private registration to another vehicle. The process of putting a private registration on retention allows you to do just this. Here's how to go about it.

Step 1: Put Your Private Registration on Retention

Your first step involves putting your private registration on retention. This process frees up the private registration, enabling you to use it on a different vehicle or save it for future use. This can be done through the UK Government's official service, the DVLA's Personalised Vehicle Registration service, accessible here.

To retain your private registration, you will need the vehicle's logbook (V5C). You will also be required to pay a fee of £80. The online service is available from 7 am to 7 pm. If successful, you will receive instant confirmation that your private number plate has been put on retention.

Step 2: Assign The Original Registration Back to Your Vehicle

Once the private registration is on retention, the DVLA will automatically reassign the original registration number to your vehicle. You should receive a new V5C logbook featuring the original registration within two weeks.

Step 3: Create New Number Plates

With your vehicle's original registration number reinstated, you now need to have new number plates created. Remember, it's essential to use a registered number plate supplier for this task, such as Utopia Plates, to ensure your plates meet the required legal standards.

Step 4: Attach The New Plates

The final step is to attach the new number plates to your vehicle. If you need guidance, you can find a helpful guide on our FAQ page here.

That's all there is to it! Remember, if you decide you want to use your private registration on a different vehicle in the future, you can use the same government service to assign it to a new vehicle.

In conclusion, changing your number plates back to the original registration is a straightforward process that requires a bit of paperwork, a small fee, and a little bit of your time. With this guide, you should have no trouble putting your private registration on retention and reassigning the original registration to your vehicle. Safe driving!