Transferring or assigning a personalised number when registering a new vehicle

If you are registering a vehicle using form V55/4 or V55/5 and want to transfer or assign a personalised registration at the same time, you will need to produce documentation confirming both your customer’s name and address details.

Name and address checks are required on all V55/4 and V55/5 applications which are associated with:

cherished transfer application (V317)
assignment application from a retention document (V778)
assignment application from a certificate of entitlement (V750)
retention application (V778/1)
this includes vehicles from Northern Ireland which are registered using forms V55/4 and V55/5

Name and address checks do not apply where the transfer or assignment application is supported by a V5 registration document or V5C registration certificate.

Forms V317 and V778/1 are available from DVLA form ordering service or your nearest DVLA local office .

Cherished transfer dealers

Motor dealers who hold a full trade plate licence can carry out the name and address checks on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by completing form V959. This should then be sent along with the transfer or assignment application, and the other documents required to license and register a vehicle, to a DVLA local office.

Motor dealers who do not hold a full trade plate licence must send all the relevant documents confirming the applicants name and address to a DVLA local office for checking, along with the transfer or assignment, V55/4 or V55/5 and the other documents required to tax and register the vehicle. In all cases, DVLA local offices will return the identity documents direct to the customer.

Applications which do not include the relevant documents will not be processed and will be rejected back to the customer by the DVLA local office.

Documents required

In order to license and register the vehicle using a V317, V778, V778/1 or V750 you must provide, along with the application, either a DVLA photocard driving licence or one original document from each of the lists below. Copies are unacceptable.

Documentation confirming the customer’s name

current DVLA paper driving licence
United Kingdom or European Union or foreign passport
marriage certificate
decree nisi or absolute
birth certificate

Documentation confirming the customer’s address

utility bill - gas, electricity, water, telephone landline - within the last three months and showing the current address
bank or building society statement - within the last three months and showing the current address
medical card
council tax bill for current year

Corporate or fleet company applications

Applicants will have to provide two documents from the following list, one of which must show the current address:

The only evidence acceptable on its own will be a trade plate licence issued by DVLA (or a dealer number/trade plate licence number).

companies house registration certificate (embossed)
VAT registration certificate
company utility bill - within the last three months and showing current address
company council tax bill
bank or building society statement - within the last three months and showing current address
certificate of company insurance
letter from Inland Revenue showing company details and tax reference number
company mortgage statement
property leasing agreement
solicitor's letter regarding conveyance of property
consumer credit licence

Postal applications

Postal applications can be made by sending the completed cherished transfer or assignment and V55/4 or V55/5 application forms to your DVLA local office ensuring you include document/s confirming the customer’s name and address, documents required to tax and register the vehicle e.g. insurance certificate, MOT certificate (if applicable) and appropriate payment for the vehicle tax disc (if applicable).

Returning identity documents

In most cases the documentation will be returned with the vehicle tax disc. If you would like DVLA to return the documents by special delivery, please provide a prepaid name and address, self-addressed, special-delivery envelope. DVLA cannot guarantee to return the documents by a specific date or event (for example, a holiday).

Non receipt of identity documents

Unless the customer contacts DVLA within three months of the date of sending the application, DVLA will not be able to carry out the necessary follow-up investigation both at DVLA local office and with royal mail. DVLA will not be liable to any claim after the three-month period.

Further information

For further information on name and address checking please ring 0870 8500 750.

Page last updated: 23/11/2005