If you own a vehicle in the United Kingdom and you sell the vehicle to another party, you can keep the number plate from the vehicle and keep the plate number on hold for up to three years. This process is called "retention," and ensures that your favorite number plate is safe from being assigned to another registered vehicle keeper. Car number plate retention is available for a one-, two-, or three-year period.
Download Form V317 (see References).
Fill the form out and sign it.
Send the form to your nearest DVLA office (see References). Include with your application: the vehicle's registration certificate or a new keeper supplement with a completed V62 Form, Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate (see References); a test certificate for the vehicle if it is over 3 years old (one year for heavy goods vehicles); and the application fee, which is £105 for one year, £130 for two years or £155 for three years as of October 2010.
