Completing safely

Plate Circle is an intermediary that connects buyers and sellers and verifies seller identity at listing time. We are not a party to the sale, we do not hold any funds, and we do not act for the DVLA. We do not guarantee legal title or the ownership history of a registration. Identity verification and document checks help reduce risk, but they do not replace the due diligence the buyer and seller should do with each other before money or documents move.

• Confirm the seller's name on Plate Circle matches the name on the V750, V778 or V5C they show you. Names should match exactly, allowing for middle names and initials.
• Ask to see the relevant DVLA document. For an unassigned plate this is the V750 (Certificate of Entitlement) or V778(Retention Document). For an assigned plate currently on a vehicle, it is the V5C (logbook) showing the registration.
• Check the document is in date. A V750 or V778 has a fixed validity period; an expired certificate cannot be used to assign the plate.
• Ask the seller to redact the document reference number before sharing the document image with you. They will share the reference number separately, only when transfer starts, so it cannot be used by a third party.
• For higher-value plates, consider using an independent escrow service, see below.

The exact route depends on which document the seller holds. In every case, the DVLA is the authority that records the transfer, Plate Circle has no role in DVLA decisions and cannot intervene if a transfer is delayed or refused.

If the seller holds a V750 (unassigned, never been on a vehicle)

1. Seller completes the assign-to-vehicle section of the V750 in your name.
2. Buyer applies online or by post to DVLA to assign the registration to their vehicle.
3. DVLA issues an updated V5C showing the new registration.

If the seller holds a V778 (retention document)

1. Seller transfers the V778 into the buyer's name (or directly assigns it to the buyer's vehicle).
2. Buyer assigns the registration to their vehicle when ready.

If the registration is currently on the seller's vehicle (V5C)

1. Seller applies to DVLA to take the registration off the vehicle and put it on a V778 retention document.
2. Once the V778 is issued, the seller transfers it to the buyer (as above).
3. A direct V5C-to-V5C swap is also possible in limited circumstances, but the retention route is the cleaner sequence when a sale is involved.

For peace of mind on higher-value sales, both parties can agree to use an independent third-party escrow service. The buyer pays the escrow service, the seller starts the transfer, and the escrow service releases funds to the seller once you both confirm the transfer has completed.

A UK-based service we'd point buyers and sellers to as a sensible starting point is Transpact. Plate Circle has no commercial relationship with Transpact, they are an independent FCA-supervised escrow provider, and we mention them only because buyers and sellers often ask for a concrete pointer. You're free to use any reputable provider you prefer.

Whichever provider you choose, agree fees in writing before paying, and read the provider's terms carefully, particularly their dispute process.

• Pressure to send money quickly or outside Plate Circle's introduction.
• A seller who will not show a V750/V778/V5C, or whose document name does not match their account.
• A request to send payment to a different name, account, or country than originally agreed.
• An offer to "save fees" by cancelling the listing and dealing off-platform.
• A document image with obvious editing artefacts, mismatched fonts, or a different registration in the metadata.

If something feels wrong, pause. Email support@platecircle.com before sending money or documents. We can review what you have without you committing to anything.

Your Buyer's Premium is refundable if the sale does not complete, for example, if the seller cannot prove ownership, withdraws, or the DVLA refuses the transfer for reasons outside your control. It is not refundable for change of mind. Evidence is required and requests are reviewed by the Plate Circle team. This does not affect your statutory rights.