How do I unrego my car and keep the plates?

[NC_Steve]

I want to take my car off the road soon to do some major work to it so I don't think there would be any point in paying rego for those couple of years. My problem is that I want to keep my original number plates, but Vic roads tell me if I cancel my rego I have to hand the number plates in. So I was wondering is there any way of canceling rego for a couple of years while still keeping my original number plates?

Any help appreciated.