Can I keep my personalised number plate when scrapping my car?

If you have a private or personalised registration number, you can absolutely keep it — but you must act before scrapping the vehicle. Once a car is scrapped and the DVLA receives confirmation via a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), the registration number is locked to that vehicle and cannot be recovered. That means your custom plate is gone permanently. At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we remind all customers to remove private plates in advance to avoid costly mistakes. This quick guide shows you how to safely retain your number plate before scrapping your car.

Can I Keep My Private Number Plate When Scrapping?

Yes, but only if you remove the plate from the car before scrapping it. Your personalised number plate is associated with your vehicle on the DVLA system, but it doesn’t have to stay there. You can transfer it to another vehicle or place it “on retention” using the DVLA’s plate retention service. This can be done online or via a V317 form sent by post. Once the plate has been officially removed from the car and linked to your name via a V778 retention certificate, the car can be safely scrapped.

You must retain or transfer the plate before the car is scrapped.

The DVLA will not recover the plate once a Certificate of Destruction is issued.

Use the DVLA’s online service or V317 form to start the process.

Once retained, the plate can be assigned to another car or held for future use.

Step-by-Step: How to Retain a Number Plate

If you want to keep your personalised plate, follow these steps before arranging to scrap your car. Do not delay, as you’ll lose your plate the moment the car is registered as destroyed in the DVLA system.

Step 1: Go to the DVLA registration retention service.

Step 2: Fill in the online form or post form V317 with payment if needed.

Step 3: The DVLA will issue a V778 retention certificate once approved.

Step 4: The car will receive a new reg plate (usually its original age-related number).

Step 5: You can now proceed with scrapping — your plate is safe.

This process usually takes only a few working days. Always wait until your retention certificate is confirmed before you deliver the vehicle to an ATF or book collection.

Why It’s Crucial to Act Before Scrapping

Once the ATF scraps your car and sends the CoD to the DVLA, your vehicle record is closed — and so is the number plate assignment. This happens automatically and permanently. There is no appeals process and no way to reverse the plate’s deletion from the DVLA registry. Private number plates can have significant value, so even if you’re not planning to use it immediately, it makes sense to retain it just in case. Many people lose their reg number simply because they didn’t know they had to take it off the car first.

If you scrap the car before removing the plate, the reg is gone forever.

There is no way to retrieve a plate after a Certificate of Destruction is issued.

DVLA recommends retention for any plate with sentimental or market value.

Scrap yards are not responsible — it’s your job to apply beforehand.

How We Help at BlackburnScrapyard.co.uk

We check registration status with every scrap booking and will always ask if you have a personalised plate you’d like to keep. If you haven’t removed it yet, we’ll guide you through the DVLA process and wait until you’re ready to scrap. Our ATF partners only issue Certificates of Destruction once we’ve confirmed that any number plate transfers or retentions are complete.

We remind every customer about plate retention during booking.

We’ll delay scrapping until the DVLA confirms your retention.

We can help you apply online or find the V317 form.

Your plate is safe — and your car is scrapped legally and properly.

Contact us before your collection and we’ll confirm your plate status before proceeding.

Useful Resources

Don’t let your custom number plate go to waste. Speak to our team and we’ll help you protect it — and scrap your car the right way.

Legal Context

Personalised plates are assigned to the keeper, not the car itself. DVLA allows transfer or retention, but the car must be roadworthy or a recent write-off to retain the plate; do this before confirming scrappage.

Why This Matters

Forgetting to retain means losing a valuable plate permanently. DVLA cannot retrieve a plate after a CoD is issued. Some scrappers may remind you, but it’s on you to do it in advance.

Quick Step-by-Step Summary

  • Apply online via DVLA registration retention
  • Pay retention fee if applicable
  • Get retention certificate (V778)
  • Confirm new (or no) plate for car
  • Then scrap car at ATF
  • Plate is safe for future use.

Sources & References

  • DVLA personalised plates guide
  • GOV.UK scrapping checklist

Helpful External Links

  • GOV.UK – “Apply to take the registration number off”
  • Carwow – reminder to keep plate before telling DVLA