When are registration plates assigned?

[Nintendo]

Hi guys,

I'm hoping someone can clear this up for me. When exactly is a cars registration plates issued for each car? would it be once they arrive at the dealership or do the dealers wait until the customer picks up the car?

N

[Yoda]

Mine was allocated about 2 weeks before I collected my car and before it was in the UK

[CliveP]

For a new car it has to be registered before you collect the car - as the number needs recording with DVLA (to then appear on the log book you'll receive in the post) - it can be done quickly nowadays (think most do it online, Bigfeet will confirm) - I gave the dealer the certificate with my personal reg on and it took him no time to do it.

My friend has a new A5 being delivered in September and he popped into the dealer the other week and the dealer gave him a list of registrations to pick from - they then sort it before he collects the car.

Regards,
Clive.

[Nintendo]

Oh ok. That makes sense. Thanks for the quick reply.

[Bigfeet]

The registration number for any car can be assigned as soon as the order is declared to the DVLA, the car doesn't need to be built or in the UK first.

Most dealers will tend to wait until the car requires it's PDI before sorting out the number.

[CliveP]

I presume the VIN number has to at least 'exist' Bigfeet? As the registration has to be 'attached' to that?

Regards,
Clive.

[Bigfeet]

Nope. Each dealer gets an assignment of registration numbers from the DVLA, when a vehicle is sold the order must be declared to the DVLA, at this point the number can also be declared as well.

[CliveP]

Ah ok, makes sense, then the VIN/Chassis number 'catches' up with it in due course resulting in the log book being produced......

[Bigfeet]

Ah ok, makes sense, then the VIN/Chassis number 'catches' up with it in due course resulting in the log book being produced......

That's right, the manufacture submits the VIN number to the DVLA system once the vehicle is assigned it's chassis plate.