A private number plate as a gift
A private number plate gift works on paper first: buying it means buying the right to the number, then naming the recipient as the nominee recorded on the certificate. When they are ready, they put it on their own car, and applying costs them nothing.
A21 OYL: £250 all-in at DVLA, and our price check found it the cheapest DVLA plate.
What happens with a personalised number plate gift
Buying a private number means buying the right to apply for it on a vehicle registered under your own name, or under the name of another person, who is the nominee. The grantee is whoever holds the right to the number, and their name appears on the V750 certificate of entitlement, or on the V778 when the number came off a car.
When it is a gift, name the recipient as the nominee. They can only use it on the road once the number has been assigned to their vehicle.
Buying a personalised number plate as a gift
- Give their car a check. It must not make the car look newer than it really is, and a Q registered vehicle cannot carry it. A dateless number plate carries no year, so the age rule never holds you up.
- Find the plate itself. Use their name or initials in our plate search tool, or look through named plates. The same plate appears at every seller, with the all-in price shown.
- Name them as the nominee. You do this in section 2 of the V750 or V778. You can add a nominee at a DVLA auction with no extra cost when you pay online.
- Hand them the certificate itself. Keep photos and scans of the V750 or V778 to yourself.
- They apply online or by post to assign the number to their car. There is no charge, and online it is done straight away if the car needs no inspection.
- New plates are fitted by them before they drive, and a registered number plate supplier makes them.
If you buy from a dealer, most of them do the transfer to the buyer's vehicle, so ask if they can put it directly on the recipient's car. You can read the rules on the give a private number to someone page at GOV.UK.
Budgeting for the costs
- the plate price, which at DVLA already covers VAT and the £80 assignment fee, though some dealers charge both on top
- a set of physical plates, and DVLA does not supply those
- no payment for assigning the number, and no payment for renewing the certificate
If a budget is in mind, Cheap private plates shows the lower priced numbers.
If they have no car yet
The number can sit on its certificate for now. Unless it is on a vehicle, the right must be renewed every 10 years. There is no charge for renewal, and you can renew up to 28 days ahead of the expiry date. The right is lost for good if it is not renewed by then, so pass the date on to them. The details are in our V750 guide.
Changing who the nominee is
The grantee, who holds the right to the number, can change the nominee. This is useful when your plans change, or when the gift turns out to be for someone else.
Common questions
Can I buy a personalised number plate from DVLA to give away as a gift?
That is possible. Put the recipient down as the nominee. Adding a nominee at a DVLA auction costs nothing extra, and a company may be named as the nominee.
What is the way to transfer a personalised plate to someone else?
On the V750 or V778, list them as the nominee and give them the certificate. They then apply to have it assigned to their car. Most dealers handle the transfer for you.
Is there a cost for the recipient to put the plate on?
There is no fee for applying to assign the number. They will need to buy physical plates as a set from a registered supplier.
What if they have no car yet?
It can remain on the certificate. While it is off a vehicle, it must be renewed every 10 years, and that renewal is free.
Is it possible to change the nominee later?
That is possible. The grantee, who holds the right to use that number, can change the nominee.