Private (personalised) number plates
If the person with the right to use the private number dies
If someone has died and left you a personalised number in their will, or you’re in charge of the will (an ‘executor’), you can:
- keep the private number
- transfer it to another vehicle
- put it in someone else’s name
- give up the right to use the number (you can apply for a refund)
To do this, you’ll need to send a form to DVLA, along with documents that prove you have the right to use the number.
Prove you’ve got the right to use the number
You must send DVLA the death certificate when you send in your form. The death certificate can be an original or a certified copy.
You must also send at least one of the following:
- a certified copy of probate
- a copy of the will
- a letter from the solicitor confirming who the executors are or next of kin is
Keep or transfer the number, or give it to someone else
Which form you send depends on whether the number is already on (‘assigned to’) a vehicle.
If the number is already assigned to a vehicle
Fill in:
- the V317 form (if you have an old blue form, fill in section 2)
- section 2 if you have a new style log book (with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover) or section 6 if you have the older style log book
Make sure you include:
- a covering letter signed by all the executors confirming that they agree with the application
- the details of the person you want to transfer the number to, for example an executor or next of kin
It costs £80.
DVLA Personalised Registrations
Swansea
SA99 1DS
If the number has not been assigned to a vehicle
Send the documents that prove you’ve got the right to use the number and either the:
- V778 retention document
- V750 certificate of entitlement form
The executors must sign the V778 or V750 before you send it.
You must also send a covering letter signed by all the executors saying if you want to:
- keep the number
- give the number to someone else
DVLA Personalised Registrations
Swansea
SA99 1DS
If you do not have the V778 or V750
Send DVLA:
- the documents that prove you have the right to use the number
- a covering letter signed by all the executors confirming that you do not have the forms, and explaining what you want to do with the number
Give up your right to use the private number
You might be able to get a refund of the £80 assignment fee if:
- a private number was not assigned to a vehicle after the fee was paid
- you have the latest V778 or V750 document - if you’ve lost it and it’s still valid you can get a replacement from DVLA
Check the V778 or V750 document to find out if a fee was paid.
If the document was issued before 9 March 2015, you can only get a refund once it expires. You cannot get a replacement document if it’s expired.
Send DVLA:
- the V778 or V750 document - tick the ‘Refund of the assignment fee’ section and get all the executors to sign it
- the documents that prove you have the right to use the number
- name and address details of the person the refund is to be issued to
DVLA Personalised Registrations
Swansea
SA99 1DS
If you do not have the V778 or V750
Send DVLA:
- the documents that prove you have the right to use the number
- a covering letter signed by the all the executors confirming that you do not have the forms, and explaining what you want to do with the number