If you’ve decided, “it's time to scrap my car”, that doesn't necessarily mean you want to part ways with its number plate too. Maybe you've paid for a private registration, had the same plate for years or just really like the combination of letters and numbers you've ended up with. Whatever the reason, it's understandable that you'd want to hang onto it, even if the car it's attached to has reached the end of the road.
So, can you take your number plate with you when you scrap your car? And if you've not got another car lined up just yet, can you keep it until you do?
The short answer is yes, in many cases you can. That said, there are a few things you'll need to sort out before your car is scrapped, because once it's gone, you could lose the registration for good.
Can you keep your number plate when scrapping your car?
Yes, you can keep your number plate when scrapping your car, provided the registration meets the DVLA's requirements. Whether you've bought a personalised plate or simply want to hang onto the number you've always had, you don't necessarily have to lose it with the vehicle.
There are two ways to keep your registration when scrapping your car, and which one you choose will depend on whether you've already got another vehicle to put it on.
If you've got your next car ready and waiting, you can apply to transfer your registration straight onto it. This means the number moves from your old car to your new one, so you can carry on using the plate you've grown attached to without having to leave it behind.
If you're scrapping your car and haven't decided what you're replacing it with, that's where putting your registration on retention comes in. Rather than transferring it straight away, you can ask the DVLA to take the number off your current vehicle and hold it for you until you're ready to use it again.
Both options can be arranged through the DVLA's personalised registration service, and taking a registration off a vehicle currently costs around £80. You'll need your V5C logbook to apply, and your vehicle will need to meet the DVLA's eligibility requirements. Once the application has been approved, the registration can be kept separately from the car you're about to scrap.
Just make sure you've had confirmation that everything has gone through before handing the vehicle over. Taking the number plate off yourself isn't enough, and once the car has been scrapped, you won't normally be able to get the registration back.
Can you keep any number plate when scrapping your car?
You might assume that only private or personalised plates can be kept, but that's not actually the case. Even if your car has the same standard registration it came with, you may still be able to retain it or transfer it to another vehicle. So, if you've grown attached to your original number plate and would rather keep it than lose it with the car, it's worth checking whether you're eligible.
However, there are some registrations that the DVLA won't allow you to keep. These include numbers beginning with Q or QNI, as well as registrations marked as non-transferable on your V5C logbook. If your plate falls into either of these categories, you won't be able to transfer or retain the number when you scrap the vehicle.
Your car also needs to meet certain requirements. For example, it must be capable of moving under its own power, which is something to bear in mind if you're scrapping it because it's stopped running altogether.
If this is something you’re planning on doing, it’s best to check the full DVLA requirements for keeping a registration before arranging for your car to be scrapped.
Do you need to take your number plates off before scrapping?
If you're keeping your registration, you might be wondering what you're supposed to do with the plates attached to your car.
You can take them off if you'd like to keep them, but removing them doesn't mean you've officially kept the registration. That part needs to be sorted through the DVLA first.
Once the DVLA has approved your application, your old car will usually be assigned a replacement registration. If you're driving it to the scrapyard, you'll need to make sure the correct plates are fitted before setting off.
And if you've already got another car waiting for your registration, you won't necessarily need to reuse the same physical plates. You can have new ones made with your retained or transferred number once it's been officially assigned to that vehicle.
If you're keeping your old plates simply because they mean something to you, you're welcome to take them off before your car is collected. Just remember that the plates themselves don't give you the right to use that registration on another vehicle.
What happens if you forget to keep your number plate before scrapping?
If you've handed your car over for scrapping, only to realise a few days later that you wanted to keep its number plate, you might be wondering if you can get them back. Unfortunately, once the vehicle has been officially scrapped, it's usually too late to retain or transfer the registration.
When a car is destroyed, the DVLA records that it's permanently off the road, and its registration remains associated with the vehicle's history. It doesn't become available for somebody else to claim, and you can't ask for it back after the car has been scrapped
If you've got a number plate you'd be disappointed to lose, make sure you've arranged to retain or transfer it before handing over your car. Once the vehicle has been destroyed, you won't normally get another chance to keep the registration, even if you've still got the physical plates.
Ready to scrap your car?
Once you've sorted out what you're doing with your number plate, you can get on with arranging for your old car to be scrapped. At EMR Vehicle Recycling, all you need to do is enter your registration and postcode into our online quote tool, and we'll give you an instant price for your vehicle.
If you're happy with your quote, you can either drop your car off at one of our Authorised Treatment Facilities or arrange collection with one of our fully trained drivers.
We'll take care of the recycling from there, so you can move on from your old car without leaving your favourite number plate behind!
