How to Transfer Vehicle Ownership

A 4-step guide to transferring vehicle ownership either online or via post.

Selling a vehicle is usually a great feeling – you get a bit of cash in your pocket and you no longer have to worry about maintaining that vehicle. However, selling a vehicle actually comes with some admin. Buying and selling most things is usually a simple handshake and cash transaction but, with a vehicle, you’re legally required to transfer vehicle ownership through the DVLA.

Luckily, officially transferring ownership to the new owners or keepers is relatively straightforward: you just need a few minutes and your V5C (your vehicle’s logbook). What’s more, you can still transfer ownership if you don’t have the V5C, but it gets a little more complicated.

Read on to learn more about transferring vehicle ownership today.

The difference between the vehicle owner and the keeper

Because many drivers are both the owner and the keeper of their vehicle, they assume that a vehicle's owner and keeper are the same thing – and this isn't actually the case.

The owner of the vehicle is the person (or organisation) that ultimately owns it, while the keeper is the person responsible for taxing, insuring, and maintaining it. This distinction is usually made because many drivers buy their cars through finance agreements with dealerships.

In these cases, the provider of the finance agreement legally owns the car until the outstanding balance has been paid off – but the driver (the registered keeper) is responsible for insurance, tax, and paying any fines, parking tickets, or maintenance that become associated with the vehicle. The same distinction also applies if you have continued use of a company car. As the registered keeper, you're usually the one responsible for speeding tickets or parking fines (though we're sure your company's not likely to be too happy about them).

A further note here is that the registered keeper doesn't necessarily have to be the person who was driving when the parking or speeding ticket was given. For example, a registered keeper lending their car to a family member who's a named driver on their insurance would still be responsible for paying parking and speeding fines accrued by the named driver.

If you're reading this, you're likely not trying to sell your company car, so let's look at transferring ownership when you're the owner and the registered keeper.

Transferring vehicle ownership when you have the V5C

Inform the DVLA online (the easiest method)

The quickest and easiest way to transfer vehicle ownership is online through the DVLA's dedicated service. Both the seller (or current keeper) and buyer must complete the process together, which can be done in a few minutes.

1. Go to the DVLA website: https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle.
2. The seller needs to enter the 11-digit document reference number found on the front page of the V5C.
3. Enter the new owner's details, including their name and address.
4. The DVLA will process the change immediately, and both parties will receive a confirmation email.

The new owner should receive a new V5C within 3 to 5 working days.

Transfer by post (if you can’t do it online)

If, for any reason, you can’t do this online, you can post the V5C to transfer ownership. Though this does tend to take a fair bit longer:

1. Fill in Section 6 of your V5C with the new keeper’s details.
2. Both you and the new keeper sign section 8 (the declaration of sale).
3. Tear off the V5C/2 (the green slip) and give that to the new keeper.
4. Send the V5C to the DVLA (DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR).

It’ll take the DVLA a few weeks to receive and process the transfer, but you’ll usually receive either an email or letter confirming that they’ve successfully transferred ownership to the new keeper.

How to transfer ownership of a vehicle without the logbook

Especially in the second-hand car market, you can sometimes find yourself in the position of having lost your logbook. This gets a little more complicated, but isn't too difficult.

Usually, you can still declare to the DVLA online that you've sold the vehicle, but if you've lost your logbook, you probably won't have the 11-digit reference number available, so you have to notify them again by post.

In these situations, you’ll need to draft up a “Bill of Sale” outlining:

• Your name and address.
• The vehicle registration number.
• The make and model.
• The exact date of sale.
• The name and address of the new keeper.
• The mileage of the vehicle at the point of sale.

You’ll also need to include a short letter confirming that you’ve sold the vehicle and would like to transfer ownership (the letter may not strictly be necessary, but it can’t hurt). Post both of these in a single envelope to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.

Keep road tax & insurance in mind

It’s important to remember that the vehicle’s road tax doesn’t transfer with ownership. The new owner will need to tax and insure the vehicle before they can drive it but you’ll also need to remember to cancel your road tax and insurance accounts. Depending on how long you have left of the insurance, you may even get a little refund.

Keep a new car healthy with Kwik Fit

If you’re on the receiving end of a vehicle ownership transfer, make sure you keep your investment secure by maintaining your vehicle at your local Kwik Fit centre.