Selling a car, what order to do things with DVLA?

[Ascender]

Looks like you can do lots of the selling and registering of a car online now, but what’s the right order of events if you want to sell a car with a cherished plate on it which you want to retain?

Confused….

Plate off first?
New V5
Then update new keeper details online?

[Zonda_]

Looks like you can do lots of the selling and registering of a car online now, but what’s the right order of events if you want to sell a car with a cherished plate on it which you want to retain?

Confused….

Plate off first?
New V5
Then update new keeper details online?

Yep, putting a plate on retention is instant now, a new V5 will be a couple of days. Updating new keeper is instant too.

[Jobbo]

Put the plate on retention as soon as you know you're selling - it is *usually* instant but sometimes there's a hiccup for whatever reason and you have to post docs to the DVLA. That's very much not instant, and you'll need the replacement V5 back before any buyer will collect.

If you transfer the vehicle with the cherished reg attached nobody can do anything with the registration until the new V5 is sent back by the DVLA, which will be to the buyer in their name. Don't rely on their goodwill, sort it yourself in advance.

[Sundayjumper]

Yep, putting a plate on retention is instant now…

Unless the car has been SORN at any time in the last 2 (?) years. I got caught out by that when I sold the Touareg. I’d had it less than two years. It must have been SORN at some point before I bought it. Or maybe *when* I bought it. I don’t suppose I would have checked at the time.

[Ascender]

Thanks, I think that makes sense with what we've done!