Non-transferable registrations

[James - St. Helens]

Move info on registration number's. Why scottish numbers are prevalent and why registration number's can be non transferable.

James.


About the DVLA
The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is one of the best-known organisations in the country and is responsible for keeping track and the recording of just about every piece of information regarding drivers and their vehicles in the UK. Around 70% of the adult population in Britain has a driving license, there are in excess of 20 million vehicles on the roads and new car sales are currently around 2.5 million units per year. The DVLA is the agency that has to deal with all of the information generated. A formidable task!

DVLA provides a wide range of services to the motoring public, the motor industry, the police, the courts, Department for Transport (DfT) and other government departments.

The primary purpose of DVLA’s vehicles operation is the creation and maintenance of a register of vehicles, which allows a trace from a vehicle to a person. It exists primarily for law enforcement purposes - tracking from a vehicle number plate of a vehicle involved in a traffic or criminal offence to a person responsible - but is also used for insurance, parking and other purposes. This is a core activity, to which other activities are attached. To get a comprehensive overview of what they do please visit their website, the address of which is listed at the bottom of this page.


History of Motoring & Licensing in Great Britain

Registration Formats
The first registration marks were made up of one letter with one number, the first (A1) being issued by London County Council in 1903.

Later formats were comprised of two letters and four numbers. These series were replaced as and when they were exhausted. So, whilst the Liverpool series KA lasted for only two years between 1925 and 1927, the series SJ was still being issued by Bute Council in 1963.

By the mid 1930s, the two letter/four number series of registration marks were exhausted in some areas, and new three letter/three number series were introduced. AAA 1 was issued (by Hampshire County Council) in 1934 through to AAA 999 and the commencement of the BAA series in 1936. This process continued until the mid 1950s when marks were reversed to three numbers/three letters.

Between 1963 and 1965, councils began to issue "suffix" registration marks - three letter/three numbers and a year suffix. The registration year ran from 1 January - 31 December until 1967, when the suffix change was moved to 1 August.


Centralised Registration
By the 1960s, the licensing and registration system was beginning to show signs of strain and breakdown, mainly due to the ever growing numbers of vehicles and the increasing mobility of their keepers.

When vehicles were sold, or keepers moved house, logbook details had to be transferred from one area to another. Also it was far too easy for a disqualified driver to apply for a new licence by making a false declaration to another area. The system could not cope with the millions of documents passing backwards and forwards. In 1965 the Government decided that a new system should be administered centrally, with automatic data processing. It was decided that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre should be situated in Swansea, supported by 81 Local Vehicle Licensing Offices.

The Centre is responsible for maintaining the central vehicle record, issuing registration documents and licensing reminders, paying vehicle excise duty refunds and enforcing payment of vehicle excise duty. It also supplies vehicle registration details to the police and ensures that the Police National Computer is updated promptly.

The Local Office network is responsible for the registration of new and imported vehicles; and the issue of vehicle licences to those vehicles not dealt with by Post Offices. Applications must be accompanied by certificates of insurance and, where appropriate MOT certificates. The offices also carry out local enforcement work and various other services - including vehicle export licensing arrangements, trade registration plates and cherished transfers.

Gradually, the number of local offices needed to support the centralised function has reduced. By 1985, the network had been reduced to 53 offices, partly due to the 3,000 Post Offices authorised to undertake vehicle licensing work (95% of all vehicle licence applications are now handled by the Post Office). To reflect the different character of their work, local offices are now known as DVLA Local Office. The introduction of automated first registration and licensing procedures has facilitated a further reduction in the size of the network, to 40 offices in 1997.



Registration Developments Since Centralisation
Number Plates - In 1973 the appearance of registration plates was changed for the first time since 1903. From 1 January, vehicles were required to have reflective number plates - black on white at the front and black on yellow at the back. Reflective plates were introduced so that unlit vehicles could be seen more easily at night. The regulations also provided for the size, shape and character of registration marks.

The conversion of vehicle records - In 1974 DVLC began registering and licensing all new vehicles and also began converting the old style log book (VE60) registered vehicles onto the computer, a process which continued until 1983. By then, the Department was facing grave problems associated with the forgery of old style log books and fraudulent claims to attractive registration marks. The solution lay in calling a halt to the continuing registration of old vehicles under their original mark.

The closure of the vehicle record - A major publicity campaign was launched regarding these intentions, which included advertisements in the national newspapers. Reports also appeared in specialist magazines and information was also circulated to all known vintage vehicle clubs and societies. To be able to retain an original mark registration had to be effected by 30 November 1983. More than 200,000 motorists took advantage of this opportunity. After the closure of the record vehicles were only able to reclaim their original registration marks if they could show that they were rare or in some way historically significant.

Suffix registrations - 1983 also saw the completion of the suffix format of registration marks. After extensive consultation, it was decided that there should be a simple and straightforward change - a reversal of the suffix format. Prefix registrations, e.g. A123 ABC lasted until 2001.

"Q" marks - At the same time, Q marks were introduced. These are issued to vehicles of indeterminable age, e.g. kit conversion vehicles which are built of major components from more than one donor vehicle, or imported vehicles where the date of first registration cannot be established. Q marks were introduced as a significant step in protecting the used car buyer and they received widespread support from the police and the motor trade.

Sale of Marks - In 1989, DVLA extended its traditional core business by offering for sale certain unreleased registration marks through its Sale of Marks scheme. Registrations are sold by two distinct methods. The more valuable and prestigious, usually without a year identifying prefix/suffix, are included in DVLA Classic Collection auctions held about four or five times a year. More affordable registrations taken from certain prefix series, DVLA Select Registrations are sold through a telesales facility on a "first come first served" basis.

Non - Transferability - The rules applied to the registration of older vehicles after the closure of the vehicle record in 1983 worked reasonably well. But they were perceived to be working against more common marks, and vehicle enthusiasts felt unable to restore their vehicle's historic authenticity. In 1990, after approaches from representatives of the vehicle enthusiast movement the re - assignment of original marks was allowed, on a "non - transferable" basis. It was considered that non - transferability removes the financial incentive to make bogus claims for numbers.
In 1991, non transferability was also applied to "age related" registration marks. These are the marks assigned to older vehicles where the age of the vehicle can be determined and the original mark is not known or is no longer available.


The DVLA is the only Official body in the UK that can authorise the transfer, sale and registration of registration marks. Any other organisation has to go through them when arranging transfers, etc. The DVLA website contains a wealth of useful and relevant information and we recommend that you check out their website before you undertake a sale or transfer yourself.

[rayofleamington]

Would not have anything to do with the Porker would it???

Cam, I'm probably a stereotypical 911 driver! Intelligent, ambitious, likes to live on the edge...... lol. Hmm April is nearly here, time do take the dust sheets off it! I'm interested to see how one taxes a car that was 'SORN declared'

The introduction of automated first registration and licensing procedures has facilitated a further reduction in the size of the network, to 40 offices in 1997

Thanks James! At least now I know why my 'Local' office takes an hour to get to since they closed the Coventry one.
I just wish they would allow change of V5 tax class whilst a car is being restored so I could tax the car locally rather than have to take a day off work or wait >2 weeks to use the car after it passes an MOT.
Oh well, I doubt my 58 will be back on the road this year so I shouldn't whinge until it affects me again.
I just hope they don't close Worcester local office too!!! Mind you compared to Scotland, we seem to have a lot of offices.

[Cam]

I'm interested to see how one taxes a car that was 'SORN declared'

Me too. My MGB should hopefully be back on the road sometime this year, but I very much doubt that my '52 Moggy will

When you find out, let us all know!!

[Peetee]

I was reliably informed last week that the DSL prefix on Denzil's plate was non-transferable.
Were you aware of this Gareth (& Phylis)?

[Gareth]

Yeah, fully resigned to it. I knew about it when I bought her. Didn't know the original (which is etched of EVERY glass area (including the headlamps, until I put halogens in...!) reg was on a Merc tho. Never getting that back now!