Can You Put Private Plates on a Lease Car?

Driver Guides 

Private number plates are becoming more and more popular, with 45 million currently being driven around the roads of the UK. The trend has been growing in recent years, with many people looking to add a touch of uniqueness to their cars.

There are several reasons why people choose to purchase private plates for their cars, from helping your vehicle stand out from the crowd to saying something about the car’s owner, be that a play on words, a statement of identity or a signal of success, wealth, hobby or other interest.

Personalised plates on a car you own are one thing, but to be able to put a private plate on a lease car is a different matter – technically the car belongs to the finance provider. This article will investigate whether you can put a private plate on a lease car and how to go about it.

Understanding private registration plates

Private registration plates are ones which you purchase from the DVLA and where you can pay to select your own letters and numbers – within reason - instead of the unique series selected to identify the vehicle. Most registration plates or ‘number plates’ are decided by the local registration office, an area code and the year the car was registered along with some randomly selected letters.

Most private registration plate owners select initials or a slogan that is significant to them, and it is also something that businesses can invest in for their fleets as a branding opportunity. There are several benefits to having private plates for your car, such as:

• Making your vehicle stand out on the road – private plates are eye-catching
• As a deterrent to a car thief - as the car is more distinctive
• Personal or business branding opportunity
• Make a statement to other road users
• Be a financial investment – some plates are worth quite a lot and are desirable to others

Leasing vehicles in the UK

A leased vehicle is, in essence, rented via the leasing agency from a finance company. Rather than paying a vast sum upfront to own the vehicle outright, the lessee pays a pre-agreed monthly sum for a set period - at the end of which they either hand the vehicle back and walk away, or renegotiate for a new lease deal on an updated model.

The finance company is the registered keeper of the car, and any modifications to the vehicle must be agreed with this organisation to remain within the contract. However, personalised plates are not considered to be a significant modification and permission from the finance company shouldn’t be difficult to obtain.

Leasing a car is a budget-friendly way to be able to enjoy the latest model and technology of your favourite car without a huge down payment or the worry of a depreciation of value.

How to put a private registration plate on a leased car

Adding private plates to your leased car, with the finance company's approval, is not a difficult process. You can go through the following simple steps to get it set up.

1. Obtain permission from the finance company.
2. Update nominee details on the V750 form (a certificate of entitlement – when the private plates have been purchased) or the V778 form (transferring an already purchased plate to a new car) to include the finance company.
3. Submit the completed forms to the finance company, along with any required fees.
4. Await confirmation from the DVLA before fitting the new plates.

Important considerations

There are several things to make sure you’ve taken into consideration when you put a private plate on a lease car. You need to allow for the cost of the purchase of the plates, which can vary depending on the selected series of numbers and letters.

Those that are very popular can be extremely expensive to purchase and retain, and may even gain value. An example is the anonymous resident of Guernsey who purchased the 007 number plate for £240,000!

There is also a timeframe to consider for the processing of the application and paperwork before the plates can be ultimately attached to your vehicle. There is also a requirement to remove the private plate from a lease car before the end of the term of the lease and to revert the car to its original registration.

Removing a private registration plate from a leased car

At the end of the lease term, it is necessary to revert the car to its original registration and that means processing the relevant documentation required by the DVLA, including fees, and the time needed to do this.

So, can you put a private plate on a leased car?

In answer to the question posed by this blog, yes – it is possible! The process isn’t too difficult if you follow the information set out by the DVLA and the steps discussed above.

Our blog offers more information about personalising your leased car, and our team are on hand to guide you through the process of car leasing and getting your private plates to ensure you stand out from the crowd, so give us a call on 01299 407 360 to start the conversation!

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer a private plate from my previous vehicle to a leased car?

Yes, you must simply fill in the relevant forms on the DVLA site and pay the correct fees. Some car dealers will help manage the process for you. Get in touch with our expert team team to discuss transferring your private plates to your newly leased car.

What happens to my private plate if I end the lease early?

If you’re ending your lease early, you must remove your private plate before returning the vehicle. Private plates can be valuable, and you’ll likely want to transfer yours to your next leased car.

Your lease vehicle cannot be collected until the private plate has been removed. To start the process, contact your finance provider - they will complete a V317 form and submit it to the DVLA (an administration fee may apply).

Don't forget to swap back the original number plate and inform your insurance provider of the registration change once the process is complete. You can then arrange collection.

Are there any restrictions on the type of private plates allowed on leased vehicles?

Normally, there are no restrictions on the type of private plates allowed for leased or owned vehicles, except for those imposed by the DVLA. However, as the leased car is owned by the financing company, permission to use private plates must be sought from them first before purchasing or attaching any private number plates.

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