Can I Keep My Personalised Number Plate When I Sell My Car?

If you own a car with a personalised number plate, it often feels like part of your identity. So when it’s time to sell your car, you might wonder — can you keep the plate and transfer it to your next vehicle? The good news is yes, in most cases you can, but there are specific steps you need to follow to do it properly and legally in Sydney, Australia.

This guide will explain how number plate retention works, what to avoid, and how companies like Sell Car Today can help make your car-selling process easier and stress-free.

Understanding Personalised Number Plates in NSW

In New South Wales, personalised plates are registered to you, not to your vehicle. That means you can keep them even after selling your car — as long as you arrange the proper transfer before handing over the keys.

If you’re selling a Subaru Forester, Kia Cerato, or Toyota Corolla, the rules are the same: the plate belongs to you, not the car. However, you must notify Service NSW and complete the necessary forms to retain your number plate.

How to Keep Your Personalised Plate When Selling

Before selling your car, you have two main options:

Option 1: Retain the plate.You can apply to keep your number plate by lodging a Number Plate Hold or Retention Application with Service NSW. This means the plate is reserved under your name and can be transferred to another vehicle later.

Option 2: Transfer to a new car.If you already have another car ready — say, a Hyundai Tucson or Mazda 3 — you can directly transfer your personalised plate to that vehicle. The transfer must be done before finalising the sale of your old car.

If you forget to retain or transfer your plates before selling, you risk losing ownership of them once the car is officially transferred to a new owner.

Why You Should Remove Your Personalised Plates Early

Many sellers make the mistake of waiting until the last minute. Once the vehicle transfer is processed, the new owner automatically gains control of the number plate attached to the car.To avoid confusion or disputes, remove your personalised plates before showing the car to potential buyers or before it’s inspected by companies like Sell Car Today.

At Sell Car Today, our team always advises clients to handle number plate transfers early to ensure the sale goes smoothly.

What Happens After You Remove the Plates

After removing your personalised plates, you’ll need to fit your car with standard NSW number plates before selling. You can get replacement plates from Service NSW.

This ensures the car remains legally registered while you continue with the sale process. Whether you’re selling a Nissan Patrol, Honda Civic, or Ford Ranger, standard plates make it easier to finalise the paperwork and valuation.

Selling Through a Car Buying Company

When you sell your car through a professional service like Sell Car Today, the process is straightforward. We can guide you on how to retain your number plate, prepare your car for sale, and complete all registration steps properly.

We purchase all makes and models — from Toyota Hilux to Volkswagen Golf — and provide same-day payments after inspection. You don’t need to handle the paperwork alone.

Costs and Processing Time

Keeping your personalised plate may come with a small retention or transfer fee (usually around AUD $50–$100). The process is typically completed within a few business days.

If your plate is valuable or has sentimental meaning, such as “MYCAR1” or “SYDNEY88,” this small cost is well worth it. Always double-check with Service NSW for the most current fees and forms.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to remove the plates before sale — this could result in losing them permanently.

Selling the car with the plates attached — once transferred, the buyer owns them.

Not updating your records with Service NSW — this can cause legal and registration issues.

Assuming the dealer will do it for you — most dealers won’t transfer personal plates automatically unless requested.

By taking care of these steps early, you’ll avoid delays and protect your personalised plate from being lost in the sale process.

What to Do If You Already Sold the Car

If you accidentally sold your car with the personalised plates attached, contact Service NSW immediately. They can advise if the plates can be retrieved, but it often depends on whether the vehicle transfer has been completed.

That’s why it’s always best to act before finalizing the sale — or to work with a professional buyer like Sell Car Today who understands the process and can guide you through it.

Conclusion

Selling your car doesn’t mean losing your personalised plate. With the right preparation, you can easily retain it and transfer it to your next vehicle.

Remember to apply for retention early, remove the plates before sale, and fit standard plates on your car.

At Sell Car Today, we help Sydney car owners sell their vehicles quickly, safely, and with full transparency — whether or not you keep your personalised plate. Contact us today for a free quote and same-day car pickup service anywhere in Sydney.

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