How long does DVLA take to send a retention cert?

SB118 · 3 May 2018 at 16:02

We're in the middle of buying another car, the wife wants to move her private plate from our current wagon to the new one.

Is is still a paper document or do they email it to you now? I know it happens the moment i process it on the DVLA website, so i need to pay the insurance company an adjustment charge because of the different reg.

Then i have to pay another insurance charge to change the policy to the new van, changing back to the private reg at the same time.

In a perfect world it would be an email and i could do it all at the dealer when i collect the new van and only pay one insurance charge, but it's not going to be that easy is it....

SB118 · 3 May 2018 at 16:21

Glanza said:
Less than a week last year when I took mine off.

Ideal, cheers.

Hyburnate said:
Pretty sure you can do it all online now?

I can put the plate on retention online, but do they provide an online cert to put the plate on the next vehicle?

SB118 · 3 May 2018 at 17:31

azibux1 said:
From memory, I believe they provide a certificate number instantly which is all that you need

That's good news. Thanks.

SB118 · 4 May 2018 at 09:52

Our insurance company (Admiral) weren't that helpful. £20 now, £20 in a few days, as well as the extra £30 policy cost.

But it's done (and it turns out you DO get the retention code instantly), now we just need for the dealer to ring and we can get rid of this van and get our new one.

SB118 · 9 May 2018 at 12:34

Hyburnate said:
Weird Admiral didn't charge me a thing...

Maybe a different underwriter? Just took another £20 this morning to change the vehicle again.