Can You Put a Private Plate on a Lease Car?

A private number plate is one of the best ways to personalise your car. This is particularly true for those who are leasing (or financing) as you do not outrightly own the vehicle.

Having a personalised number plate may help you feel more attached to your car, especially if you’re swapping your lease every few years.

But, how straightforward is it to put a private number plate on a lease vehicle? Let’s find out.

Can You Put a Private Number Plate on a Lease Car?

Yes, you can assign a personalised number plate to a lease vehicle, but doing so legally requires you to follow certain procedures. 

However, your car dealer must give you the green light before you may add your new personalised number plate. If your leasing dealer rejects your request you will not be able to add a private number plate to the vehicle.

We've compiled this comprehensive guide to assist you in putting a private number plate on a leased car.

What’s the Difference Between Leasing and Finance?

Leasing a car and financing a car is different and will impact the way you register a personalised number plate. 

But what are the exact differences between leasing and financing, and how does that affect putting on a private plate?

Car Leasing

Car leasing is also known as personal contract hire. It is an affordable way to get a new car without paying a big fee all at once. 

You are essentially renting the car for a prolonged period. Between yourself and the dealer, you will agree on how long you will rent the car and what the monthly repayment will be.

While leasing a car can be an opportunity if you have bad credit or cannot afford the car right out, putting a private plate on a leased car isn’t as easy as you may initially think. Since you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, you cannot put a private plate on your car unless you follow some extra steps. 

Car Finance

There are many ways to finance a car, but what makes leasing different to financing a car is that you pay to own the car over time instead of renting it. Financing a car can allow you to be flexible with your payments depending on your situation.

With most finance agreements you will need to put down an initial payment. This will then be followed by monthly repayments until the full value of the car has been paid.

While you do not own the car until you have made the final payment, you will most likely be both the registered owner (and keeper) of the vehicle. This means you are able to change the registration plate with a private one if you wish, the same as someone who owned a vehicle would.

Now you know the difference between putting a private plate on a leased car and a car on finance. Let's look at how you can put a private number plate on your leased car.

How Do You Put a Private Plate on a Lease Vehicle?

Putting a personalised registration plate on a leased vehicle requires a legal process to be completed before the private plate plates can be secured to the vehicle. You can get a personalised registration plate for a leased vehicle, but some extra formalities are involved since you don't legally own the vehicle.

A private registration plate is prohibited without the consent of the registered keeper and the DVLA. If you would like to fit your private plate to your leased vehicle, you will need to follow these steps.

1. Get approval from the leasing provider

After you've personalised and paid for your private number plate, the first move is to contact your finance/lease company about assigning it to your leased car.

You'll also need permission to switch your new private registration from the leasing provider, who is the vehicle's registered owner.

2. Include your dealer on your COE

When you buy a personalised number plate, they'll provide you with a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) also known as a V750. If the private plate has been assigned to a vehicle previously, you would be issued with a retention certificate, also known as a V778.

These documents are used to give a private registration to a vehicle and specify the owner's legal right to do so. Along with the vehicle V5C, this certificate must also include the registered keeper's details.

3. Send your registration details to the lease company

After that, you must send your certificate details to your leasing company, for them to complete the transfer.

4. Wait for the DVLA's approval

The last step is to receive confirmation from the leasing dealer and the DVLA after you have sent everything over to them. Your lease provider will be your liaison between the DVLA and ensure the transition is handled properly.

Notification and the necessary paperwork for changing the lease vehicle's personalised plate will be sent to you.

What Happens to My Private Number Plate When My Lease Ends?

When your lease is over, you will still be able to keep the private number plate you have registered to the vehicle. 

However, you must contact the leasing provider and explain that you wish to keep your plate. They will need to fill out a V317 form and send it to the DVLA for approval. 

You will then need to put the original number plate back onto the car and let your insurance company know that it has changed as well.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you remove your private plate from your lease car.

How Do You Remove a Private Plate from a Lease Vehicle? 

You must arrange to have the private number plate taken off the vehicle at least 6 weeks before the lease ends.

What You Need to Remove Your Private Plate

The following items should be sent directly to the lender of the vehicle:

• The cheque is payable to the DVLA for £80. This cost covers the price to remove the number plate from the vehicle, however, this also covers the DVLA transfer fee to assign the number plate to a new vehicle in the future.

• The DVLA V62 form must be completed with the details to retain the private number plate.

• We would usually advise for a brief cover letter to be included explaining your request. This is to ensure the process is completed correctly by the lease company.

Then What Happens to my Private Plate?

You will then be issued an acknowledgement note after receiving the request. Typically, a letter will be issued with a pre-paid envelope and a confirmation of the deadline if any required papers are needed.

When the DVLA receives the paperwork necessary to update the vehicle's number plate, they will return the original number plate which was registered to the vehicle on release. If the vehicle has never had a registration number assigned, the DVLA will issue an age-related registration mark.

Transferring the plate is a prerequisite to scheduling car pickup if the lease term has expired.

The DVLA will issue you the retention certificate (V778). The V778 is valid for 10 years, this means you have 10 years to assign the private number plate to another vehicle at no further cost.

Purchase Private Number Plates for Your Lease Car

Selecting a private number plate for your lease or finance vehicle couldn’t be easier.

Simply use our intuitive number plate search engine to find the perfect registration for your lease. Not to mention, we provide finance options that are interest-free if you pay it off within 30 days, as well as a free registration transfer service.