The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has revealed that, starting January 2026, number plates will be registered in the names of individual owners as part of measures to improve road safety and security.
Under the new arrangement, each plate will be uniquely tied to its owner, who must remove it when transferring ownership of the vehicle.
The DVLA explained that plates should now be regarded as personal identifiers, making it the responsibility of owners to safeguard them.
“When a vehicle is sold or transferred, the current owner is required to detach the plate, while the new owner must apply for and secure a fresh number plate for the vehicle,” the Authority stated in a release dated October 3.
According to the DVLA, this initiative will help law enforcement agencies trace vehicles more effectively, as every number plate will correspond to an individual, thereby enhancing security within the transport sector.
The directive officially comes into force on January 1, 2026.
