Can you put a private number plate on a leased car?

You've managed to get your dream car on an attractive leasing agreement, but what if you really want to make the car your own? Can you put your private number plate on your lease car?  

The short answer is yes – but it's not as straightforward as doing so on a car that you own outright.  

As the car remains the property of the finance company for the duration of the lease agreement, you need their permission to change the registration of the vehicle. 

In this guide, we take you through the process of adding a private number plate to your leased car, and what to do when the time comes to hand back the car at the end of the leasing agreement.  

What is the process of adding a private number plate to a leased car? 

While it's a little more complicated than adding a private number plate to a car you own outright, it is a process that many people go through in order to make their leased car feel more personalised. Here we break down the steps you need to take. 

Step 1. Get permission from the funder 

The very first step before you do anything else is contact your leasing company or finance provider to ask for their permission. Some firms allow private plates to be added to leased cars, while others do not. It all depends on the company.  

Providing permission is granted, the company will usually outline their conditions, and charge an admin fee. You must not apply to the DVLA until you have permission from the leasing company or finance provider in writing. 

Step 2. Apply to the DVLA 

Once you have written permission from the lender or finance provider, you can begin the application to assign the plate to your car with the DVLA. This is usually done using a V750, a V778 or a V317 form.  

• A V750 form is a certificate of entitlement, and is used if you've just bought the plate or it hasn't been assigned to a car. 
  
  
• A V778 form is a retention document and is used if the private plate is already in your name, but it's on retention and not attached to a car.   
  
  
• A V317 is an application to transfer. You use this form if the plate is already on another vehicle and you want to transfer it to your new leased car. 

The forms are available online or in paper form from the DVLA, and once you have filled out the correct one for your circumstances it needs to be sent to your leasing company or finance provider. They will then send this to the DVLA as they are the registered owner of the vehicle. 

Step 3: Pay the fees 

Normally, there are two types of fees that need to be paid: 

• DVLA assignment fee (usually £0 if assigning directly, £80 if retaining later). 
  
  
• Leasing company admin fee, which can range from £25 to £50, or can be over £150 in some cases. 

Step 4: Receive new documents and plates 

Once the DVLA has approved the form, it will issue new documents confirming the car's new registration number. At this point you can arrange for your number plates to be made and fitted. Note, some leasing firms require the plates to be fitted by an approved supplier, while others will allow you to do this yourself.

Step 5: Inform insurers 

Before you drive your car after changing the number plates, you must inform your insurance company of the new registration number or you may invalidate your policy It just involves a quick phone call but is essential as failing to do will likely invalidate your policy.  

Key considerations and potential pitfalls 

You are not the registered keeper 

It's essential to remember that while you have the keys to the leased car, you do not own it. So any changes you make to it, including changing the registration, have to be carried out with the leasing company's or finance provider's permission. 

Administration fees vary 

Not all leasing companies are the same. Different firms will charge different fees – some charge small amounts, while others will charge more. There may even be a charge to remove the number plate at the end of the agreement, too.  

You could lose the plate 

Continuing the timing consideration mentioned, you must remove the private plate before you hand the car back. Failure to do so could result in you losing the plate forever. 

How to remove your private plate at the end of your lease

Removing your private plate is not just a case of loosening the screws and taking the plate off the car. 

Step 1: Contact your leasing company 

In the same way as when you asked for permission to attach a private plate to your leased car, you must inform the company again for removing and retaining your plate. They'll handle the DVLA process, but they will need the V317 form and the car's V5C logbook. Importantly, begin this process six to eight weeks before the end of the lease agreement. 

Step 2: Pay fees 

If you want to keep your private plate, you'll need to put it on retention. The DVLA charges £80 for this and the registration will be placed on a V778 retention certificate.  

Step 3: Original registration is returned 

Once the private plate has been removed and placed on retention, the DVLA will issue the car's original number plate back to the vehicle. 

Step 4: Refit the original plate 

Before returning the vehicle back to the leasing company, you will need to refit the car's original plate. 

Step 5: Inform your insurer 

Again, your insurance provider will need to be informed of the car's change of registration. 

Conclusion 

Making your leasing car feel like your own car with a private registration does not be stressful, as long as you follow this step-by-step guide. Check out AA Lease for the best leasing deals on the market.