Can you put private plates on a leased car?

Driver Guides 

In most situations, it is absolutely fine to put your personalised number plates on a leased car, but there are several factors to consider before going ahead with this. You must first ensure your leasing company allows this in the terms and conditions of the agreement, and if you are uncertain, you should contact them directly to clarify. It is also important to check on any local regulations and requirements for private plates and to register them properly. Once the new plates are installed, you will also need to update your insurance policy with your provider.

What is a private number plate?

One of the most famous personalised number plates rolled onto our screens in 1965 when a bright pink Rolls-Royce with FAB 1 emblazoned on its plate helped the Thunderbirds protect the world. However, in the US, the practice of customising number plates goes back to the 1930s, when Connecticut citizens were permitted to add their initials. In the UK, the DVLA began selling personalised registrations in 1989 and they were often seen on the cars of footballers, celebrities and the toast of high society.

These days private plates are a lot more common and can often be seen on Britain's roads from vehicles as diverse as a blue McLaren 570S to a banger worth less than the actual plate. Prices can vary significantly on a personalised number plate and if you want your initials, you could be expecting to pay in the tens of thousands. But if you wanted 25 O to fit your Ferrari 250 TR or GTO, you would need to fork out a quarter of a million pounds.

How can I put a private plate on a leased car?

The first thing you need to do is to acquire your perfect private plates and there are a few ways to achieve this. You can visit the DVLA website and type in your desired number plate, but it is very unlikely they will have exactly what you want and so you may need to compromise. Alternative ways of purchasing your private number plate are by visiting online auction sites where they often have numerous registrations for sale, and you can often find out the value of the exact number plate you desire and make a bid to the owner.

After acquiring your private number plates, the next step is DVLA registration. To initiate this process, it's essential to reach out to your finance provider, who is the registered owner and keeper of the vehicle, and they will facilitate the application on your behalf.

Your finance provider will guide you regarding the specific address to be recorded on either the V778 form or the V750 form. The V778 form, a retention document, is an A4 green document, while the V750 form, known as a Certificate of Entitlement, comes in an A4 pink format.

Regardless of whether you're updating the V778 or V750, the newly completed document should be forwarded to your finance company. This can be returned to them via post or by scanning and emailing it. It's important to note that you will be responsible for covering the DVLA transfer fee, and your finance provider may also charge an administration fee. Once you've completed these steps, the finance company will send the necessary documents to the DVLA, finalising the transfer process.

You will need to wait until you receive written confirmation from the DVLA, informing you that the transfer is complete before you fit your new private number plate.

Once received, all that is left is to simply fit them. All you will need for this is the correct size screwdriver and possibly other fasteners depending on your make and model. Unfasten and unscrew all fastenings to both your front and rear plates and carefully remove them, ensuring not to scratch or damage your paintwork, and reverse the process to install your new ones.

Removing a private plate at the end of your lease

It is very important to remember to remove your private plates at the end of the lease term, before returning your vehicle to the lease company, particularly as private plates are often quite expensive, and you will more than likely wish to install them on your next leased car. It is very important to store the original plates of the leased car somewhere safe and you can access them easily when it comes to the lease end.

You'll need to begin the process of removing your private number plate at least six weeks prior to the end of your finance agreement. You will not be able to arrange collection until your private registration plate has been removed. Again, you will need to contact the finance provider, who will then complete a V317 and send that to the DVLA and 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 has been completed.

Adding your personal touch

We all like to add our touch to many things in life to show our personality and this is certainly true of our cars. Some people like others to know who is driving this high-end vehicle, others may want it for the added security, as cars with private plates are less likely to be stolen, and some just want to feel like a rock star.

At Gateway2Lease, we understand everyone is different which is why we offer such a wide selection of car makes and models and lease agreements to suit all. Get in touch with our expert team to discuss placing personalised plates on one of our leased cars and browse our superb range of stunning vehicles to see which would complement your personalised plate best.

If there is one thing we can relate to at Gateway2Lease, it is the value of making every single customer leave feeling like a rock star.

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