macturbo

iTrader: (2)

Does anyone know the rules on transferring number plates?

We recently bought a 1972 double decker bus which was converted in 1983 to a mobile exhibition unit for Lancashire County Council.

It has been MOT exempt ever since and had very little in the way of maintenance since '83 so you can imagine the issues with the body and mechanicals. I had a pre MOT done to see how bad it is and the sheet was 3 pages long, most for being the brakes only worked on 1 out of 4 wheels!!!
It is also TAX exempt because it was built before January 1s 1973.

We bought it knowing the frame was rotten, engine knocking, no reverse gear.... the list goes on.

If we decide not to restore it I would like to retain the plate if possible and transfer it to another bus we have just bought.

The new bus is going to be an auxiliary vehicle, collecting parts and towing the other buses in the collection so it will be taxed, mot'd and insured its just the old bus which would never pass an MOT without spending a serious amount of money.

Can I tax and insure it and then request a plate transfer?
Worst case I can have the bus towed for inspection if necessary.

Thanks in advance for any help.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

I've no idea about your question, but I had a nosey at your website. It's probably a cheeky question, but how the hell do you fund restoring buses? Surely it can't be cheap?e

macturbo

iTrader: (2)

Hey Dan.
There is 6 of us who own the fleet of deckers and share the warehouse.
Its all funded from our own pockets, we have have had help from Stagecoach, Go North East and Dons of Dunmow by donating parts and even 2 buses.

macturbo

iTrader: (2)

BTTT folks!
Anyone able to offer any help or info on this please?

phil_focus

i don't know wither but perhaps a call to the dvla will answer your question or maybe a mooch on their website.

focusv8

If it's taxed there shouldn't be any reason why you can't transfer, unless the plate is marked NoN tranferable by DVLA.

Is it a valuable no. i.e dateless or single number, or just relevant to a bus?

If DVLA can make some money out of it they may be reluctant to let it transfer.

3drzetec

when i tried to have a plate transfered the dvla said the car had to have t and t or in some cases if it had run out in the 6 months previous they would consider it, but the car had to be available for inspection. hope this helps.

macturbo

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the advice lads.
I think al ring DVLA today and see what they say about it.

RichardPON

I have just had a resolution to this exact situation after 7 years of trying.

My situation was this:

I had a Renault Laguna with a private plate on that snapped a timing chain in 2002. I took it off the road with the intention of repairing it, but stuck it in the garage and lost interest.

Contacted the DVLA a couple of years ago and they told me that the car holding the plate must be taxed and MOT'd in order to transfer the plate.

After further enquiries, the resolution I have come to with DVLA is this:

If I wish to put the plate on retention, the car must be taxed and MOT'd to do this. As it is not, then I cannot put the vehicle on retention.

If I wish to transfer the plate to another vehicle, then I can do this as long as the donor vehicle is scrapped at an authorised destruction facility, a Certificate of Destruction issued, and the transfer plus fee applied for. Of course the recipient vehicle must be suitable to recieve the plate.

I can give you a contact name at the DVLA who was very helpful in my situation. Will dig it out over the weekend....