Time frame on plate transfers?

ubersonic · 30 Apr 2012 at 13:42

A buddy of mine went to look at a car today and agreed to buy it but the seller needs to transfer there personal plate off it /groan. They have got a form for it they have printed off and said they would post it tomorrow.

What's the usual time frame for this? Im guessing it gets posted, arrives at DVLA, gets processed, they have to send out new VO5/tax disc, they arrive, they get new plates made, the guy pays for the car and drives off. So... 3-6 weeks depending on postage/processing time sound about right?

[TW]Fox · 30 Apr 2012 at 13:51

This is the most annoying thing ever isn't it? Why dont they sort it all out before they waste peoples time selling the car!

it could take anything between 3 and 6 weeks depending on how quick the DVLA are. Both times I've done this it has taken about 4 weeks.

Scottland · 30 Apr 2012 at 13:54

Same position, it's taken nearly 2 weeks so far. Expecting at least another 2.

rodenal · 30 Apr 2012 at 14:17

I've done it twice too - 4 weeks all in both times. If the seller lives locally he could probably sort something out so that when the transfer authorisation comes in he takes the car then gets the v5 when it arrives. Not a particularly clever thing to do though in all honesty, especially if any fines are incurred before the v5 has been completed and ownership transferred

Si. · 30 Apr 2012 at 14:24

I did mine a few weeks ago, took the forms to the local DVLA office in person on Monday, new tax disk and MOT documents arrived Wednesday the same week, just 3 days later. V5 took about 3 weeks to come, but you can buy/sell the car without the V5 in hand as long as you agree this with the other party and get a good signed receipt from them.

Only took 2 days to get the reg put on my new car.

[TW]Fox · 30 Apr 2012 at 14:44

Si. said:
but you can buy/sell the car without the V5 in hand

If you are daft, yes you can do this.

Vince · 30 Apr 2012 at 19:31

Si. said:
I did mine a few weeks ago, took the forms to the local DVLA office in person on Monday, new tax disk and MOT documents arrived Wednesday the same week, just 3 days later. V5 took about 3 weeks to come, but you can buy/sell the car without the V5 in hand as long as you agree this with the other party and get a good signed receipt from them.

Only took 2 days to get the reg put on my new car.

Same thing happened to me, took the documents into the local DVLA offices and had my plate transferred onto my new car within a week.

[TW]Fox · 30 Apr 2012 at 19:42

Vince said:
Same thing happened to me, took the documents into the local DVLA offices and had my plate transferred onto my new car within a week.

Transfering onto the new car isnt what takes the time. It's getting the V5 back for the old car.

matt99man · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:48

It could well be a lot quicker than you think! I transferred my reg off retention last week, I posted the letter on the Monday, received the new tax disc the following saturday so less than a week. I was expecting much longer, didn't even have my plates made up then

[TW]Fox · 30 Apr 2012 at 20:57

matt99man said:
It could well be a lot quicker than you think! I transferred my reg off retention last week, I posted the letter on the Monday, received the new tax disc the following saturday so less than a week. I was expecting much longer, didn't even have my plates made up then

But you've not had the V5 back yet, which is kinda the important bit. Nobody has said the replacement tax etc takes a long time - it's the V5 that takes the time.