Guide - How do I assign a number plate, from a certificate, onto a car?

First of all, we need to establish what sort of certificate the number plate is on. There are two different types of ‘certificates’ which personalised number plates are stored upon.

* V750 Certificate (a PINK coloured form called a ‘Certifcate of Entitlement’)
* V778 Certificate (a GREEN coloured form called a ‘Certificate of Retention’)

Where do I start?
Whether your registration is stored upon a V750 or a V778 certificate, the procedure to get the registration mark assigned to the vehicle will go down a similar route.

V750 Certificates
The V750 certificate will show the details of the ‘purchaser’ along with the ‘nominee’ details.

You will first of all need to check that the registered keeper named on the V5C or V5C/2 of the vehicle to receive the registration mark, matches exactly with either, the purchaser on the V750 or the nominee on the V750 If it doesn’t click here.

You also need to check that the expiry date on the V750 has not expired. This will be worded on the V750 as “this registration mark must be assigned to a vehicle before DD/MM/YYYY”

V778 Certificates
The V778 certificate will show the details of the ‘grantee’ along with the ‘nominee’ details.

You will first of all need to check that the registered keeper named on the V5C or V5C/2 of the vehicle to receive the registration mark, matches exactly with either, the grantee on the V778 or the nominee on the V778.

You also need to check that the expiry date on the V778 has not expired. This will be worded on the V778 as “this registration mark must be assigned to a vehicle before DD/MM/YYYY”

Once you have checked the certificate details above you are ready to submit the application as follows:

Now you will need to observe the section on either the V750 or V778 titled ‘assigning your registration mark to a vehicle’, here you will need the signature of the purchaser if it is a V750, or the signature of the grantee if it is a V778.

In this section you will also be required to print the current registration mark of the vehicle that is going to receive the cherished number plate, along with the validation character which is to be found on either the V5C or V5C2 next to where the registration mark is printed.

Now that you have filled out the V750 or V778 you need to take it into your local DVLA vehicle registration office, along with the receiving vehicle documentation listed below.

Vehicle documentation required:
* The original Vehicle Registration Certificate coded as a V5C (If you have just acquired the vehicle, you may submit the V5C/2 ‘new keepers supplement’ along with a V62 application form)
* The original MOT certificate (only required if the vehicle is over 3 years old)
* Photocopy of the vehicle excise license disc (tax disc).

What happens when the DVLA Local Office has completed the assignment?
When the DVLA have processed the assignment of your cherished registration mark, you will then be issued with a new vehicle excise license disc along with a new MOT bearing the cherished registration. At this stage you should ensure the vehicle is fitted as soon as possible with number plates displaying your cherished registration. Please note: the new V5C for the vehicle will arrive direct from the DVLA Swansea around 3 to 4 weeks later.