Custom Licence Plate Expiry?

[XRLENC]

Not sure if this is the place to put this, but can anyone tell me whether unused license plates expire? I've had custom Victorian Licence plates tucked away for several years now (never been registered to a car) and I'm wondering whether the combination still belongs to me if I ever decide to register them to a car.
Anyone able to shed some light?

[zilo]

I believe that you might have to pay an annual retention fee to keep them alive?

[au2000]

No retention fee but you do have to tell vicroads you want them retained , if you don't you may loose them if someone else orders them

[XRLENC]

Just found this on the vic roads website;

'If plates have been issued but you do not want them to be affixed to a vehicle, the plates must be held on 'self retention'. If you plates are affixed to a vehicle and you wish to remove them and not affix them to another vehicle, you must place them on self retention by calling VicRoads or by visiting a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. If you do not wish your number plates to be assigned to a vehicle immediately, you must ensure that they are kept safely in your possession, and are not fitted to a vehicle until you have notified VicRoads. If you do not notify VicRoads that your plates are held on self retention when they are not attached to a vehicle, you risk losing your registration number rights. (When you receive new plates, they are automatically treated as being on self retention until the number is assigned to a vehicle, and you do not need to notify VicRoads).'

By the sounds of that if they've never been assigned to a car, I don't have to notify them that I intend to use them and the combination still belongs to me.
What's your take on that statement guys?

[au2000]

Sounds like you are safe, might pay to give them a quick call just for peace of mind

[XRLENC]

Yeah reading that gave me a good feeling. Would be a shame to lose the rights to them considering the cost. Plus I plan to use them on day (F4LCN). But I'll give them a ring to be sure. Cheers fellas

[xisled]

If they have never been put on a car you still own the rights. No cost involved and no time limit.

I currently have a set of plates that I took off my car, they have been on self-retention for a few years now.

This is for Vic only.

[XRLENC]

Yeah that's what I gathered, thanks xisled.

[ebv8]

lucky your not in NSW, we need to hand them back to the RMS and pay storage, if we keep them at home we can get fined and the plates cannot be used again, i had plates from a family car that ran out of rego, tried to get them activated on my car a few years later and was told they are cancelled and i will get a fine for not handing them in, so i had to forfeit them (they were bicentenary 1988 plates)

[Silver Ghia]

When you purchase the plates, they are yours to keep, whether they are on a car or not.

Years ago unused plates were kept at Vicroads, but then they changed the system and gave those plates back to the owners to keep at home.

I have had two sets stored away here at home for some years now (another set shortly when the car goes onto club plates), they are mine for me to sell to someone else if I want to, otherwise I can keep them here indefinitely.

[XRLENC]

Yeah I've come to that conclusion. The thing that had me worried was when I picked up the plates from our local Vic Roads Centre, I informed the person I was dealing with that there's a chance they wouldn't be used for some time, he told me that if I don't intend to use them in the first 12 months of owning them, I would have to notify Vic Roads over the phone to let them know so, so that I don't lose the rights to the combination.
Mustn't have known what he was talking about haha.
Anyway, all cleared up now, thanks guys

[Silver Ghia]

What you can do is go to the Vicroads custom plate website and put in the combination you have, and see if they are currently available.

I just tried this for a set I've had unused for 20 years now, and they are shown as unavailable.

Then you can go to the VRE (vehicle registration enquiry) page to ensure there is no vehicle registered with that combination. Mine said 'no record found'. Interesting site this, you can check your registered cars there to see the current registration status and details.

[XRLENC]

I knew about checking if they were still available (doesn't help if someone else has aquired the combination hence being unavailable), but not about the VRE website, cheers man will check it out

[PHANTMXR6]

Different states have different rules, once again.

In WA, I have a set of 'custom' plates.

I own the right to use and display those plates on any vehicle registered in my name.

I haven't had my set of 'custom' plates mounted to a vehicle since 2008, yet I still own the plates and the right to display them.

I've been contacted twice since having them removed form a vehicle about whether I want them retained or turned in.

Obviously I respond saying I want them retained as I have paid for them, but as soon as I relinquish this right, someone else can then purchase the right to display them and in any combination they like.