Private Plate Transfer Cost Calculator & DVLA Fee Tool
Pick what you want to do with a private number and type the price of new plates to see the DVLA fee and the total cost.
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The private plate transfer cost calculator adds up what it costs to move a private (personalised) registration number. DVLA charges £80 when a number is taken off a vehicle, whether you move it straight to another vehicle or keep it on a V778 retention document. Assigning a number you already hold on a V750 certificate of entitlement or a V778 to a vehicle is free. Add the price of new number plates and you have the total.
The calculator does one job: it adds the DVLA fee for the option you pick to the price of a new pair of plates that you type. It does not look up a registration number, check whether a number is available, or price the plates for you.
DVLA fees checked 3 November 2026 on GOV.UK Personalised vehicle registration numbers.
How to use the private plate transfer cost calculator
- Choose what you want to do: move the number from one vehicle to another, put it on retention, or assign it from a certificate. Pick the move option when the number goes straight onto another car, and the retention option when it will wait on a V778 for a later car.
- Type the price of a new pair of plates from your supplier, or leave it empty if you don’t need new plates.
- Read the DVLA fee and the total.
Read the total as the cost of the DVLA fee and the plates only. Garage fees, insurance changes and any admin fee from a leasing company are not included.
Worked examples with a pair of plates at £30: moving a number from one vehicle to another costs £80 in DVLA fees, so the total is £110. Taking it off and keeping it on a V778 costs the same, £110 in total. Assigning a number you already hold to a vehicle is free from DVLA, so the total is just the £30 for the plates. With the plate box left empty, the totals are £80 for a move or a retention and £0 for an assignment, because the tool shows only the DVLA fee in that case.
DVLA fees for private numbers
| What you do | DVLA fee |
|---|---|
| Take a number off a vehicle and keep it (V778) | £80 |
| Move a number from one vehicle to another (take off, then assign) | £80 |
| Assign a number from a V750 or V778 to a vehicle | Free |
| Renew a V750 or V778 (every 10 years) | Free |
DVLA private number fees: what the tool adds
The fee column above is the only DVLA charge the tool uses. A move or a retention adds £80, and an assignment adds nothing. The plate price is separate: it is what your plate supplier charges, and the tool adds it to the DVLA fee without changing either. Renewals of a V750 or V778 are free, so the tool has no renewal option.
Vehicle rules
To take a number off or assign one, the vehicle must be registered with DVLA in the UK, be able to move under its own power, be a type that needs an MOT (or HGV test) and be available for inspection. It must be taxed or have a SORN now, and have been taxed or on SORN continuously for the past 5 years; if it has been on SORN for more than 5 years it must be taxed and have an MOT. Historic vehicles need a current MOT.
Common mistakes
- Counting the £80 twice for a move. A move is one £80 take-off fee, and the assignment to the new vehicle is free.
- Forgetting the plate price. New plates are usually needed, and the price is not part of the DVLA fee.
- Choosing “assign” for a number that is still on a vehicle. Assigning needs a number you already hold on a V750 or V778, so a number still on a car must be taken off first.
After the transfer
Keep the V778 safe while the number is on retention, because the number is only held for you while the document is valid. The vehicle the number came off usually gets its original number back. You must fit new plates before driving and tell your insurer the new number. Plates must come from a registered number plate supplier and meet the British Standard for number plates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the plate price part of the DVLA fee?
No. The tool adds the price you type to the DVLA fee, and the total is the sum of the two. The plate price is charged by the supplier, not by DVLA.
How much does DVLA charge to transfer a private number?
£80 to take it off the vehicle. Assigning it to the new vehicle is free, so a vehicle-to-vehicle transfer costs £80 in DVLA fees.
How long does a V778 retention document last?
10 years. Renewing it is free, and you can apply up to 28 days before it expires. If you miss the expiry date you lose the right to the number.
Does the donor car need an MOT?
Only in some cases: if it has been on SORN for more than 5 years, or it is a historic vehicle. Otherwise it must be taxed or on SORN.
Can I put a private number on a leased car?
The leasing company is the registered keeper, so you need its permission; it may charge an admin fee.
Sources (checked 3 November 2026): GOV.UK: take a private number off a vehicle; GOV.UK: assign a private number to a vehicle; Regtransfers: how to transfer private plates.
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