8 Simple Steps to Change of Ownership of a Vehicle

Selling your car in the UK can involve some confusion, especially when it comes to the change of ownership. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process in 8 simple steps, whether you’re selling privately, to a dealer through Exchange My Car, or even scrapping your car.

We’ll also cover the details of online ownership transfer and postal transfer in this blog post. So, let’s get started!

1. Make Sure that You’re the Registered Keeper of the Vehicle

To proceed with the change of ownership, you must be the registered keeper of the car. Only the registered keeper can legally transfer the ownership of a car in the UK. Here, it is important to understand the difference between a car’s owner and its registered keeper. While often the same person, they can be distinct. Here’s what you need to know:

• Registered Keeper: This is the person named in the V5C logbook, legally responsible for the vehicle. This means they handle insurance, taxes, and MOT testing (if applicable). The registered keeper is fined and not the owner if there are any motoring offences.
• Owner: The owner is the person who paid for or registered the car with the DVLA. This could be the keeper or someone else who holds the legal title. Leasing companies, for example, may own the car while you’re the keeper. The same applies to company cars.

If unsure about who is the registered keeper of the car, you can request this information via a V888 form, which you can submit via the gov.uk website or by post.

2. Gather Essential Details

The first step of the ownership transfer is to gather the essential details. You’ll need:

• The 11-digit reference number from the vehicle’s V5C logbook
• The new owner’s full name and address
• The new owner’s email address (if transferring online)

Having this information readily available will streamline the process.

3. Filling Out the Change of Ownership Form/Section

The next step is to fill in the change of ownership form online or complete the relevant sections of the V5C log book in case of postal transfer. The current registered keeper is responsible for this step. Here’s how to do it:

• While selling privately: Fill out Section 6 of the V5C logbook with the new owner’s details. As the current keeper, you’re responsible for completing this section and sending it to the DVLA. The seller and the buyer must also sign the declaration in section 8 if the car has the older style V5C.
• While selling to a dealer or scrapping: Instead of Section 6, you must complete Section 9 of the V5C logbook. Later, you have to detach this section, send it to the DVLA, and give the remaining parts of the logbook to the trader or scrapyard.

In case you have bought a car and the seller hasn’t filled out the change of ownership form, you can do it yourself as well by filling in Section 2 of the V5C with your name and address if you have a new style log book or section 6 if you have the older style log book.

4. Handover the Green “New Keeper” Slip

After completing the relevant sections, detach the green “new keeper” slip from the V5C logbook and hand it over to the new owner. This slip serves as temporary proof of ownership until the new V5C arrives. This step must be completed in case of online transfer as well.

5. Inform DVLA Online or by Post

The next and most important step in the change of ownership is to inform the DVLA of the sale. No matter the transaction type (sale, gift, scrapping), you must do so within 14 days. This can be done online (if you haven’t already sent the V5C by post) or via mail.

• Online: Use the simple form on the DVLA website. This method is faster but can’t be used if the vehicle is being registered abroad. You must choose the relevant options depending on the situation, follow the prompts, and provide the necessary details.
• By Post: Complete the V5C sections as described above and send it to the DVLA at the following address: Swansea, SA99 1BN. For exported vehicles, you should fill out the ‘Permanent export’ section of the V5C and post it to the same address.

6. Confirm Change of Ownership

Once the process is complete, you’ll receive an email confirmation and a letter stating you’re no longer the keeper. Similarly, the new keeper will also receive an email confirming the change of ownership. This happens only for online transfers. If you applied for a change of ownership via post, then the confirmation comes in the form of the new V5C log book.

7. Get Tax Refund (If Applicable)

If you’ve paid vehicle tax in advance, you’ll automatically receive a refund cheque for any full months remaining, calculated from the date the DVLA processes your information. If you used to pay by Direct Debit, it would be cancelled automatically.

8. Issuance of New Log Book

The final step in the change of ownership is the issuance of the new V5C logbook. The DVLA will send a new V5C logbook to the new owner within five working days if the transfer was done online or within 1-4 weeks if done by post. If the new owner doesn’t receive the logbook within 6 weeks, they should contact the DVLA to register the vehicle themselves.

When the new owner receives their V5C, they must ensure that all details are accurate. If there are any errors, it must be reported to the DVLA. One can add the new details and send it back to the DVLA. It wouldn’t take longer than 4 weeks to get the replacement V5C.

Once the transfer process is complete, you must shred the old V5C log book in case of a private sale. However, if you have sold to a dealer, you must hand them the old V5C log book.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you transfer ownership when selling your car on Exchange My Car?

When selling your car on Exchange My Car, you’re essentially selling to a verified dealer. This means the transfer of ownership follows the same steps as selling to a dealership. So, once the buyer has collected your car and paid you, you are responsible for completing the V5C Section 9.

Fill in the dealer’s details and the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook. You can then send the V5C to the DVLA by post or complete the process online. The DVLA will mail a new V5C logbook to the new owner within five working days.

Please note that you should never transfer ownership to Exchange My Car. We just connect you with a verified dealer. The dealer is the actual buyer and the new owner of the vehicle.

2. Can you change car ownership without the V5C log book?

While it is technically possible to change car ownership without the V5C log book, we don’t recommend doing so. It is better to request a new V5C log book from the DVLA. If you’ve lost or misplaced your V5C, you’ll need to write to the DVLA providing the following information to change or transfer the ownership:

• Your name and address
• The vehicle registration number
• The make and model of the car
• The exact date of sale
• The name and address of the new keeper

Once the DVLA receives your notification, they may request further documentation to verify the vehicle’s ownership history. As you can see, it complicates the process, which is why it is not recommended. Plus, trying to sell your car without V5C can also decrease its value.

3. Is vehicle tax transferred when ownership is changed?

No, vehicle tax is not transferable between owners. Instead, when you sell your car, the unused portion of your road tax is refunded to you. But it’s important to inform the DVLA promptly of the sale to ensure you receive the refund. The DVLA will determine the refund amount based on the number of full months remaining on your road tax. The new owner will need to purchase their own road tax to legally drive the vehicle on public roads.

Wrapping Up: How to Change Ownership of a Vehicle in the UK?

At Exchange My Car, we understand the importance of a hassle-free vehicle transfer process. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the change of ownership with ease. If you’re looking to sell your vehicle quickly and efficiently, look no further than Exchange My Car. We connect you with highly specialised buyers of your car at a single click, ensuring a simple and straightforward transaction. All our buyers will collect your car from anywhere in the UK and pay you fast!