The policy needs to identify the registration actually assigned to the vehicle at the relevant time. Before a private plate transfer is completed, the existing registration remains the vehicle's current registration.

How insurers commonly treat this

• After DVLA completes the transfer, the insurer can update the policy record.
• The vehicle itself remains the same despite the registration change.
• Using an unassigned private registration too early can cause a vehicle lookup to identify the wrong car.

What the quotation may ask for

Quotation forms use the information supplied to determine which insurers can offer cover and on what terms. Where the available answer does not accurately describe the circumstances, the insurer or comparison provider can clarify how that information is recorded.