Firstly, what does retention mean?
It means you have the ability to keep hold of something or continue having something in your possession, so in number plate terms, if you do not assign a private plate to a vehicle through the DVLA it will be held on a retention certificate (V317) for up to 10 years.
When checking if a particular number is on retention through either the DVLA or us here at Moonstone Plates, any plates that are not currently on retention they will be visible in your search results, enabling you to proceed with purchasing them. If they don’t appear in your search, they are not available.
What do I do if I have lost me retention certificate?
If you lose or damage your retention documents before they expire, you can request a replacement through the DVLA – click here for more details on how to do this
How can I take my plate off retention?
The process to take your plate off retention and assign it to a vehicle is a straight forward procedure through the DVLA website
You will need both the retention certificate and also the V5C registrations certificate (logbook) of the vehicle you are wanting to assign your private plate too and if applicable, a valid MOT certificate for vehicles over three years old. If you've lost or misplaced your V5C, for a £25 fee you can get a replacement from the DVLA.
How long can a number plate be kept on retention for?
When a plate is on a retention certificate, it is valid for 10 years before expiring, so you can keep it on retention for as long as you want, but you must renew it BEFORE the expiry date as each certificate is only valid for 10 years – this service is completely free of charge.
Retaining your number plate is a great way to keep your plate without displaying it on your vehicle.
Contact Moonstone Plates
If you have any further questions or would like to buy/sell a number plate, get in touch with our team today and we can help you. Either click here to contact us, give us a call on 01995 213112 or drop us a message on our social media and we would be more than happy to advise and assist you.
