took 1 of my old cars to the scrap yard back in 2012 :'(

does any one know if it's possible to retrieve the number plate at  all - I believe it's cherreshed number plate.

Has any one managed to get the number plate back after taking there car to the scrap yard or encountered any problems at all?

 

If its a cherished plate, surely you have the DVLA paperwork / put it on retention when scrapping the car?

I tried to get the number of the very first car I owned about 50 years ago and wrote to the DVLA . The answer was no.

Reply "

Unfortunately the DVLA are unable to currently offer for sale registration numbers that were previously issued. However, the DVLA is reviewing the sale of registration numbers and is considering a number of options aimed at both improving service and generating further income.

 

We will note your interest in the previously issued registration so we can contact you if the current position changes and such registration numbers become available for purchase."

Currently it is not possible to buy previously issued plates, even cherished ones. Once they leave the pot and are assigned then they cannot be purchased again.

 

At the time it was stated it is to stop the risk of ringing where you could buy a plate previously issued to a scrapped car and put it on a stolen car of the same make/model and it would appear legit.

cheers for the replys guys.

Think once the car is scrapped, that's it! You have to transfer it BEFORE the scrappy puts the paperwork in.

Yeah if car has been scrapped with the plate on it will never be re issued the plate is gone forever. Im still trying to find a plate that was issued to trade in 1996 and on an old bmw 318is, the dvla know nothing about it being scrapped. Probably in a lock up or field rotting away for the last 10 years ! Would be a masterstoke if i could find it, more likely to win the lottery !

I don't think you ever really 'own' the plate.

 

I thought that on scrapping the plate went back into the DVLA pot to be reused or sold. I might be mistaken.

You are right, you dont really own it. If you dont put it on a car or retention the dvla will take it back.

If the car is scrapped then the plate will be too iirc. You will also find scrappys wont let you remove the physical plate from your scrapped car