Removing a Personalised Number Plate: What are the Necessary Steps?

If the vehicle is registered under your name, it is possible to remove the number plate through the DVLA's website. To initiate the process, you must present the vehicle's log book (V5C) and pay the mandatory fee of £80. Since the application is being submitted online, the number plate can be removed instantly.

However, if the vehicle is registered under someone else's name, the removal process must be completed through postal application, which can take up to two weeks to finalize. Once the removal is completed, a V778 retention document will be issued, granting the exclusive ownership of the personalised number plate for the next decade.

If you wish to transfer the personalised number plate to another vehicle, you can easily follow the step-by-step guide on the DVLA website, completing the same requirements as above. After the process is completed, the new car's number plate can be replaced with the personalised plate.

If you intend to sell the personalised number plate, the same steps must be followed, whether the sale is to a private dealer or individual. In the latter case, you must assign the personalised number plate to the buyer's vehicle online and present the V5C log book and V778 or V750 documents.

In the event that you no longer have any use for the personalised number plate, whether due to a change in name or profession, you may relinquish your rights to it by informing the DVLA. If you have been bequeathed the personalised number plate, you have the right to maintain its use or transfer it to another individual or vehicle by providing the necessary paperwork, such as certified copies of the death certificate, probate, or will. Removing a personalised number plate can be a straightforward process if you refer to the official guidance provided online.