What happens to my car’s registration number after the car is scrapped?

Once your car is scrapped and the DVLA is notified, your vehicle’s registration number is automatically cancelled. It becomes void in the DVLA system and is no longer associated with an active vehicle. If the number plate is a standard-issue (non-personalised) registration, it usually just disappears from circulation. It may be held in DVLA records but won’t be reused for a long time — if at all. At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we always remind customers to act quickly if they want to keep a cherished or private number — because once the vehicle is marked as destroyed, there’s no way to recover it.

Can I Keep My Registration Number After Scrapping?

Only if you take action before the vehicle is scrapped. The DVLA offers a retention scheme for personalised plates, which you can access online or via form V317. If the registration number is important to you, apply to retain it before handing the car to a scrapyard. Once the Certificate of Destruction is issued, the registration number is permanently locked to the scrapped vehicle — and cannot be transferred or reused, even if the number was previously personalised or had sentimental value.

Scrapping the car without retention permanently cancels the registration number.

DVLA will not allow reuse of a cherished number unless it was retained in advance.

Retention must be done before the car is scrapped and deregistered.

Once destroyed, the plate is void and shows as “scrapped” in vehicle lookups.

How to Retain a Number Plate Before Scrapping

If you want to keep a personalised number plate, you must formally remove it from the vehicle before scrappage. Do this through the DVLA retention service. You can apply online if the car is currently taxed and MOT’d, or via form V317 if not. Once approved, DVLA will issue a retention certificate (V778), and you can reuse the number on a future vehicle. Don’t leave it until the last minute — once the ATF processes the Certificate of Destruction, your plate is gone for good.

Step-by-Step: What Happens to Your Registration

Step 1: If keeping a personalised number, apply for retention before scrapping.

Step 2: If not retaining, hand the vehicle to a licensed ATF — they’ll process the CoD.

Step 3: DVLA marks the vehicle as scrapped — the registration is voided.

Step 4: You cannot reuse the registration — standard or personalised — unless it was formally retained.

Step 5: Check the status of a scrapped reg anytime via the DVLA vehicle checker.

What If I Forget to Retain the Plate?

Unfortunately, once a car is scrapped and the Certificate of Destruction is issued, there’s no way to recover the registration number. Even if it was a personalised plate, the DVLA will not allow it to be reused. This is why we always ask customers upfront whether they want to keep their plate. If there’s any doubt, it’s better to apply for retention early — the process is quick, and you can transfer the reg to a new car later or hold it for up to 10 years.

How We Help Protect Your Registration

At blackburnscrapyard.co.uk, we ask customers during booking whether they plan to keep their number plate. If so, we’ll delay scrapping until you’ve completed the DVLA retention application. We’re also happy to walk you through the V317 process or help you remove and safely store your plates until they’re reassigned. Our goal is to make sure you don’t lose a valued plate due to paperwork delays or confusion.

We ask if you’re keeping your number plate before collecting your vehicle.

We delay scrapping until your DVLA retention is confirmed (if needed).

We help customers remove and store plates safely.

We provide the CoD once scrapping is complete — the final reg status change.

Get in touch if you want to retain your registration or need help before your vehicle is scrapped.

Useful Resources

Want to keep your plate before it’s too late? Talk to us now — we’ll help you protect your reg before the vehicle is scrapped.

Legal Context

DVLA’s database will update the status of the vehicle to “Scrapped” or “Destroyed” once CoD is processed. The registration ceases to be associated with a live vehicle. There’s no specific law needed; it’s administrative.

Why This Matters

The key pain is people losing personalised plates unintentionally. If scrapped with car, that plate cannot be reclaimed later. DVLA is strict on that – they say once a car with a cherished number is scrapped without retention, number’s gone.

Quick Step-by-Step Summary

  • If plate is special: complete retention online (or via V317) pre-scrap
  • Confirm retention certificate. If not special: no action needed specifically for reg. After scrapping, don’t attempt to use the old reg anywhere. If curious, you can check DVLA vehicle status online to see it’s marked scrapped after a few weeks.

Sources & References

  • DVLA number plates FAQ
  • forums where someone asks if they can get their old plate back (and answer is usually no unless retained)

Helpful External Links

  • GOV.UK – “take the registration number off” (plate retention)
  • DVLA guidance on number plates and scrapping