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Private Plate Glossary

DVLA Terms and Registration Jargon Explained

Whether you’re buying, selling, assigning or investing in a private number plate, you’ll quickly run into a sea of acronyms and terms. This glossary will help you confidently understand the most common (and confusing) DVLA terminology used across the UK private plate world.

A–Z of Private Plate Terms.

Assignment
The process of putting a private registration onto a vehicle.
Certificate of Entitlement (V750)
A pink DVLA document issued when you buy a brand-new, unassigned registration number. Proves your right to assign the plate to a vehicle.
Certificate of Retention (V778)
A green DVLA document that allows you to keep a plate without it being on a vehicle. Often used when transferring ownership or holding a plate for later.
Cherished Transfer
The formal name for the DVLA’s process of transferring a personalised plate between two vehicles.
Dateless Plate
An older registration format (pre-1963) without any age identifier (e.g. “AB 1234”). Can be used on any vehicle regardless of age.
Display Rules
DVLA legal requirements about how number plates must be displayed – including font, spacing, size, reflective background, and approved suppliers.
DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. They manage driving licences, vehicle tax, MOTs, and vehicle registration numbers in the UK.
Donor Vehicle
The vehicle currently holding a private plate before it’s transferred to another car or put on retention.
Grantee
The person who owns the rights to a private plate. Their name appears on the V750 or V778 certificate.
Irish Plate
Registration numbers issued in Northern Ireland. They do not include age identifiers and can be transferred to GB vehicles. Often used to disguise a vehicle’s age.
Logbook (V5C)
A red document that shows who is responsible for a vehicle. Required when assigning or removing a private plate.
Nominee
Someone listed on a V750 or V778 certificate as the person who the plate can be assigned to. Commonly used when gifting a registration.
Plate Transfer
Moving a private registration from one vehicle to another, or from a vehicle to a retention certificate.
Prefix Plate
Registration format used from 1983–2001. The first letter indicates the vehicle’s age (e.g. A123 XYZ).
Suffix Plate
Older format used between 1963–1983 where the final letter indicates the year (e.g. XYZ 123A).
Q Plate
Issued to vehicles with unknown age or identity (e.g. kit cars, rebuilt vehicles). Cannot be replaced by a personalised plate.
Registered Keeper
The person or company listed on the vehicle’s V5C. Not always the legal owner or the same person as the plate’s grantee.
Retention
Keeping a plate off a vehicle and stored on paper (using a V778 certificate), ready for future assignment.
Show Plate
A decorative or novelty number plate not legal for road use. Often used for photo shoots, show cars or marketing.
Supplying Dealer
The business or trader selling a number plate or vehicle. May handle paperwork and transfer on behalf of the buyer.
Transfer Fee
The standard DVLA fee (currently £80) for assigning, retaining or transferring a number plate.
Vehicle Registration Number (VRN)
The official term for your number plate – the unique identifier tied to your car and recorded by DVLA.
V317
The DVLA form used to transfer a registration number between two vehicles or to a certificate (retention).
V750
Certificate of Entitlement – a pink document confirming the right to assign a brand-new private registration number.
V778
Certificate of Retention – a green DVLA certificate confirming you’ve taken a plate off a vehicle and are holding it for future use.

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