How to transfer vehicle ownership in the UK
Transferring vehicle ownership in the UK is done through the V5C logbook and the DVLA. The seller notifies the DVLA that the car has changed hands and gives the buyer the new keeper slip; the DVLA then issues a new V5C in the buyer's name. Road tax does not transfer, and it is free to do.
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How does transferring vehicle ownership work?
Transferring ownership means updating the DVLA's record of who is responsible for a vehicle, known as the registered keeper. It is done using the V5C logbook, and it is free. The important thing is that the seller tells the DVLA promptly, because until they do, they remain liable for the vehicle.
Note that the registered keeper is not necessarily the legal owner; the keeper is the person responsible for the car day to day. For most private sales the two are the same person, but it is worth knowing the distinction.
Transferring ownership of a vehicle when the keeper has died follows a different process than a standard sale - the rules on moving a deceased person's vehicle explains who can drive the car legally, how to notify the DVLA, and what insurance is required.
Completing the V5C as seller and buyer
The V5C has sections for a change of keeper. For a private sale, the seller completes the new keeper details and both parties sign, then the seller gives the green new keeper slip (V5C/2) to the buyer and keeps the rest to notify the DVLA.
Make sure the details are accurate, because errors delay the new logbook. The quickest and most reliable method is to do it online rather than by post, which updates the record almost immediately.
Until ownership of the old car transfers to the buyer, you remain the registered keeper and liable for its insurance - car insurance during the overlap between buying and selling covers your obligations as registered keeper and the cheapest ways to maintain legal cover on both vehicles.
How to notify the DVLA
The seller must tell the DVLA that the vehicle has been sold or transferred. The fastest way is online through the GOV.UK service, using the reference number from the V5C, which updates the record straight away and confirms by email.
You can also notify by post by sending the relevant part of the V5C, but this is much slower. Either way, notifying promptly is what ends the seller's responsibility for the vehicle, so it should not be left.
When a car changes hands, the number plate history and any personalised registration rights do not automatically transfer - how DVLA number plate changes work explains the registration system, the retention scheme, and what happens to the old plate when a car is sold.
The new keeper slip (V5C/2)
The green new keeper slip, V5C/2, is the section of the logbook the seller gives the buyer at the point of sale. It proves the buyer is the new keeper while the full V5C is being updated, and it lets them tax the vehicle.
The buyer should keep this slip safe and use it to tax the car before driving it. The full V5C in the buyer's name then arrives separately by post once the DVLA has processed the change.
Until the V5C is transferred, the new keeper may need to arrange insurance without having the document to hand - car insurance without a V5C - what are the options explains the DVLA process for a replacement V5C and how to insure in the meantime.
What happens to road tax?
Road tax does not transfer with the vehicle. When a car is sold, the seller's tax is cancelled and any full remaining months are refunded to them automatically once the DVLA is notified.
This means the buyer must tax the car themselves before driving it, even if the previous owner had paid for tax that still had months to run. The buyer can tax it immediately using the new keeper slip.
Transferring ownership from a deceased estate involves specific V5C steps that affect insurance too - insuring an inherited car to sell - the process covers the DVLA notification, the insurance options while you hold the vehicle, and how to sell it on legally.
How long does the V5C take to update?
When you notify the DVLA online, the record updates immediately and the new V5C is usually posted to the buyer within a couple of weeks. By post it takes longer, often up to a few weeks.
If the new logbook has not arrived after about four to six weeks, the buyer should contact the DVLA. The buyer does not need the full V5C to drive the car, as long as it is taxed and insured, but it is worth chasing if it is overdue.
Road tax must be arranged as part of the ownership transfer process - it does not automatically carry over to the new keeper - how to tax a car in the UK explains the options for taxing via the DVLA website, the Post Office, or the phone, and what documents are needed.
Transferring ownership in special cases
Most transfers are a straightforward sale, but a few situations need a little more. Giving a car to a family member is treated the same way as a sale for the paperwork: you still complete the change of keeper on the V5C and notify the DVLA, even though no money changes hands.
If the registered keeper has died, the executor or next of kin can transfer the vehicle as part of dealing with the estate, writing to the DVLA to update the record. A private or personalised number plate needs handling before the sale: you must take the plate off the car and put it on retention first, otherwise it transfers to the new keeper with the vehicle. And if a car is being sold to a motor trader, scrapped, or exported, there are specific parts of the V5C to complete so the DVLA records that the vehicle has left your keepership. In every case, the principle is the same: tell the DVLA promptly so the record is correct and your responsibility ends. Keep a copy or note of what you submitted and when, so you can show you did your part if any query comes up later.
Ownership transfer from an auction house follows a slightly different process than a private sale - and insurance must be in place for the drive home - auction car insurance - how to get covered on the day explains the V5C steps after an auction purchase and how to arrange valid cover immediately.
Buying or selling: the wider picture
Transferring ownership is one step in buying or selling a car. If you are selling, our guide to selling your car covers preparing it, the paperwork and getting paid safely.
If you are buying, run a history check first, as our HPI check guide explains, and make sure you are insured before you drive away. Our guide to driving a car home after a private sale covers that final step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transfer car ownership in the UK?
Use the V5C logbook and notify the DVLA, which is free. The seller completes the change of keeper details, gives the buyer the green new keeper slip, and tells the DVLA the car has been sold. The DVLA then issues a new V5C in the buyer's name.
How do I notify the DVLA I have sold my car?
The fastest way is online through the GOV.UK service using the reference number on the V5C, which updates the record immediately and confirms by email. You can also notify by post, but it is much slower. Notifying promptly ends your liability for the vehicle.
Does road tax transfer when I sell my car?
No. Road tax does not transfer with the vehicle. The seller's tax is cancelled and any full remaining months refunded when the DVLA is notified, and the buyer must tax the car themselves before driving it, using the new keeper slip.
What is the new keeper slip?
The green V5C/2 slip is the part of the logbook the seller gives the buyer at the point of sale. It proves the buyer is the new keeper while the full V5C is updated, and it lets the buyer tax the car straight away.
How long does it take to get a new V5C?
When the DVLA is notified online, the new V5C is usually posted to the buyer within a couple of weeks; by post it can take longer. If it has not arrived after four to six weeks, contact the DVLA. You can drive the car meanwhile if it is taxed and insured.
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