Buying a Private Number Plate as a Gift

A private registration makes a lasting gift, and the recipient does not need to have the right car yet. This guide explains how buying a registration for someone else works, what to check before you buy and how to hand it over.

How does buying a plate as a gift work?

When you buy a registration that is not on a vehicle, the right to it is held on a V750 certificate of entitlement or V778 retention document. The certificate names:

• the grantee (or purchaser), the person who holds the right to the registration; and
• the nominee, the person the registration can be assigned to.

To buy a registration as a gift, name the recipient as the nominee. They can then put it on their vehicle whenever they are ready, in the same way as any private number plate transfer.

What should you check before buying?

• The recipient's exact name. The nominee's name must match the registered keeper on the V5C of the vehicle it will go on.
• The age rule. A registration cannot make a vehicle look newer than it is. If you do not know which car the recipient will use, choose a dateless or Northern Irish registration, which can go on a vehicle of any age. See which vehicles a private plate can go on.
• The total cost. Prices from dealers may or may not include VAT and the DVLA's £80 assignment fee. Check what is included before you pay.
• The price compared with real sales. Search similar registrations in our Sales Explorer to see what comparable registrations have sold for.

How do you hand it over?

Most people give the certificate itself, sometimes framed or with a presentation plate. Remind the recipient to:

• keep the certificate somewhere safe and never post a photo of it online;
• note the expiry date, because certificates last 10 years and must be renewed free of charge before they expire; and
• tell their insurer when they put the registration on a vehicle.

Can you keep the gift a surprise?

Yes. You can name yourself as nominee at first and change the nominee to the recipient later. The grantee can add or change the nominee at any point up to the registration being assigned to a vehicle.

Can you buy a gift registration from the DVLA?

Yes. Registrations bought from the DVLA's online sales or its auctions are issued on a V750 and can name a nominee in the same way. At auction, the buyer's premium, VAT and assignment fee are added to the winning bid. See our guide to DVLA auction fees.

Frequently asked questions

Does the recipient need a car straight away?

No. The certificate lasts 10 years and can be renewed, so the registration can wait until they have a suitable vehicle.

Can I give a registration I already own?

Yes. If it is on a certificate, change the nominee to the recipient. If it is on your vehicle, you can transfer it directly to theirs, or put it on retention first.

Can a registration be given to a child?

The nominee must be the registered keeper of the vehicle it goes on, so the registration can be held until they have a car of their own, provided the certificate is renewed when needed.