The purpose of the retention scheme is to allow a registration mark to be held, without being applied to a vehicle, for a period of 12 months prior to being re-assigned to another vehicle. You can make an application for retention if you are the registered keeper of the vehicle to which the registration mark is currently assigned. Applications are made using form ‘V778/1 Retention of a Vehicle Registration Number’. The total charge is £105, which includes a £25 application fee and an £80 assignment fee.

If your application is granted, you will be issued with a ‘V778 Retention Document’, which is valid for twelve months. This document provides details of the registration plate, the name of the applicant (grantee) and the name of any nominated person who will own the plate, if different from the grantee. The nominee details can be changed by the grantee, within the twelve-month validity period, by returning the retention document along with the £25 fee.

The terms of the retention document have been fully exercised when the registration plate is assigned to a vehicle. This can be a vehicle registered to the grantee or the nominee. Entitlement to the registration mark then transfers to the registered keeper of the vehicle to which the mark is assigned. This will be detailed on the V5. If the vehicle receiving the registration mark is already registered, its assigned registration mark will become void unless an application to either transfer or retain it is made simultaneously.