When the logbook was sent off and when he removed it from the car he will have been issued with the retention documents and they will be in his name too.

Legally the plate will belong to the car owner but as said if he has put the car back to a standard plate and requested that he doesn't want the private plate then you'll need to ring dvla to see how to go about buying it, probably at an auction.

I have the original document here. The plate isn't on the DVLA website either?

If hes changed the plate to an 'age related'/previous plate normally the personal plate will just surrendered and drop into the DVLA personal plate section for buying again, unless you have the original retention document/ownership document.

I was in a bad place at the time, just come out of hospital and no help to sell it.

I was under the impression I had lost it but with finding the receipt I was just being optimistic.

You have no legal right to the plate now and you just have to rely on his good will.

If he's transferred the car into his name, and then removed the plate, I'm pretty sure the plate will go to him. As it was on the car he owned.

Should have taken it off before selling it! You need a retention document to say you own it so think your receipt is worthless! :(

Long story short I sold my old car with my private plate on and buyer said he would send the logbook off for me when he received it back. It never happened and I kind of forgot about it.

Digging through old paperwork I've found the DVLA Receipt for said plate. Askmid says it's not insured and .gov website says its not on the car I sold it on.

Do I have a leg to stand on to say I still own the plate and can get it back or have I got a piece of worthless paper?

Thanks