What is a V5?

What is a V5C?

A V5C (vehicle registration document) is a document issued to you by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) when you register a vehicle with them. It will contain information about your car, such as the manufacturer, engine size and date it was first registered, as well as who the current vehicle's registered keeper is.

V5C - What to do when selling 

If you’ve recently changed addresses or have made modifications to your vehicle, such as the colour or engine, you need to apply to update your V5C. If your vehicle also has a private number plate, you have to apply to remove this before you sell it. 

This is to ensure the information is accurate for the buyer, and the details on the V5C match your vehicle, and it also ensures you get any remaining tax on your vehicle refunded. 

Once you’ve sold your car, it’s important to inform the DVLA as soon as possible to ensure you’re not still the registered keeper and as a result, aren’t liable for anything the new owner should be paying. If you fail to inform them, you could also risk being fined up to £1,000.

The easiest way to inform the DVLA you’ve sold your vehicle is via the gov.uk portal and you should receive an acknowledgment letter within 4 weeks from them that you’re no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle. You’ll need your V5C to do this, so what do you do if you’ve lost your V5C? Can you still sell your car?

Can’t find your V5C to sell your car?

We always recommend having your V5C document if you’re looking to sell your car, to help make the process as smooth and quick as it can possibly be. 

The absence of a V5C logbook can suggest that a vehicle has been stolen or written off at some point in the past, which is not appealing to buyers when you're looking to sell your vehicle. That’s why we advise that you apply for a new V5C.

What should my V5C document look like?

Before you come to sell your car, ensuring the V5C is legitimate and valid is essential. The document should be red in colour, a DVLA watermark should be present on the front, and there should be a serial number printed in the top right hand corner.

If you find any discrepancies, especially with the vehicle information such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), engine code or vehicle registration mark (VRM), contact the DVLA immediately.