Changing private plates

[Nemo20]

Hello all

I'm coming back into the fold later this week when I collect a new to me SL400. I hope it lives up to my old SL500, which really was a dream car, until she needed excessive amounts of money pouring into her!

I have a private plate which I have removed from my current car in readiness. The salesman is not particularly helpful in navigating through the purchase, perhaps a story for after collection.

Is there anyway I can put my plate on the new car before sending off the V5C, or must I wait until the V5C has been registered in my name, paperwork returned from DVLA, in order to do it? Even though I purchased the car the week before last, the V5C paperwork wasn't completed, I don't have the number from the document, so I think I'm stuck in a holding pattern, unless someone knows differently. It's been several years since I changed car so I can't remember how quickly it happened.

Thank you!

 

[Blobcat]

They should be a bit more helpful… I’ve done it more times than I care to think about.

Most important is to get your plate on retention and a new V5c for your current car. It is possible (and has happened) that the new owner of your car gets their new V5c with your old number… they then have rights over it.

With your retention certificate you should just be able to hand it to the salesman and they get it registered and a plate made - that’s what I’ve done many times.
It’s a bit more work for them but they should do something for their pay…

 

[V6Matty]

You need the new V5 in your name, once you have it though get online and complete the transfer, it should be with you in a few days, the dvla websites are surprisingly good at walking you through the process

 

[V6Matty]

They should be a bit more helpful… I’ve done it more times than I care to think about.

Most important is to get your plate on retention and a new V5c for your current car. It is possible (and has happened) that the new owner of your car gets their new V5c with your old number… they then have rights over it.

With your retention certificate you should just be able to hand it to the salesman and they get it registered and a plate made - that’s what I’ve done many times.
It’s a bit more work for them but they should do something for their pay…

I’ve found that lots of dealers just don’t want to do it these days, most just say it’s no longer their company policy to get it done, some do still though

 

[Blobcat]

I’ve found that lots of dealers just don’t want to do it these days, most just say it’s no longer their company policy to get it done, some do still though

Company policy… utter tosh

I agree with you in that they can be reticent. They can do something for the folding I’m handing over though.

Probably the easiest was my last company car (W213) apart from them sending it with the wrong plate on… should have been 15, they put 16… they gave me some free mats for that error.

 

[sl500amgsport]

My last swap was quick & smooth, plate put on retention online instant, new logbook for old car approx 1 week, dealer did rest for me prior to pick up.

Are you moving from an R230 SL500 to R231 SL400? If so should be much cheaper to run...

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[Woodleigh]

Exactly as above, when I knew I was selling my old vehicle I put my personal plate on retention and got a new reg for the old vehicle and then sold it.
When I bought the new car the MB dealership made new plates and fitted them before collection.

I do however still have one ongoing issue and that is with the Mercedes me app...If I look at accessories for the new car Mercedes me still thinks my personal reg belongs to my old C Class and after numerous emails, they (Mercedes Support) cannot or will not rectify the issue.

 

[sl500amgsport]

Exactly as above, when I knew I was selling my old vehicle I put my personal plate on retention and got a new reg for the old vehicle and then sold it.
When I bought the new car the MB dealership made new plates and fitted them before collection.

I do however still have one ongoing issue and that is with the Mercedes me app...If I look at accessories for the new car Mercedes me still thinks my personal reg belongs to my old C Class and after numerous emails, they (Mercedes Support) cannot or will not rectify the issue.

Pop into a dealership, they can resolve for you online, the old car needs to be removed fully from your me app for the new to apply, you may need to use a different email address to resolve (that worked for me).

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[Nemo20]

Thanks all. The dealer is definitely not helping me here then. There’s no issue with the retention of the plate, I’m not trading in my old car; they offered about £2.5k less than its private sale value. I won’t be putting it up for sale until I have the new V5.

I’ll email again telling them I have the retention number and say I can’t do anything as they have the V5 and see whether he even bothers to answer.

Yes I’m hoping the 400 will be cheaper to run; it’s similar power to my old 500 with the newer engine but I’m sure will drink a lot less petrol for starters!

 

[AlanGunn]

As said above.
Once you get the v5 in your name then it takes 2 minutes to put your number on the car online and another week to get the new v5.