# Change of Ownership on a Car: How to Transfer It in the UK

Published 04 November 2026. CarCheckUp guide: https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/change-of-ownership-on-a-car-how-to-transfer-it-in-the-uk/

> The step-by-step way to transfer car ownership in the UK: telling DVLA online or by post, what the seller and buyer each keep, and the tax, insurance and checks that go with it.

A change of ownership on a car is done by the **seller**, who tells DVLA that the car has a new keeper, online or by post using the V5C log book. The buyer gets the green new keeper slip (V5C/2) straight away and a new log book in their own name a few days later. There is no fee, but the buyer must tax and insure the car before driving it.

The process is the same whether you are selling, buying or giving a car to a family member, and it covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, because DVLA registers vehicles across the whole of the UK. Below are the steps for each side, what to keep, and the checks worth doing before any money changes hands.

## Who has to tell DVLA about a change of ownership?

The person selling or giving away the car is responsible for telling DVLA. The buyer does not send anything to DVLA in a normal private sale. If the seller never reports the sale, DVLA still has them on record as the keeper, which means speeding tickets, parking fines and tax reminders keep going to them, and the buyer waits for a log book that never arrives.

Failing to tell DVLA can lead to a fine of up to £1,000, so it pays to do it on the day you hand over the keys, with the buyer there.

## How to transfer car ownership online

Telling DVLA online is the quickest way and works at any time of day. On GOV.UK it is the service called [>Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle](https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle). You need:

- the 11-digit document reference number from the V5C log book
- the new keeper's name and address (and their email address if they want DVLA's confirmation)
- the date of the sale

Once you submit it, DVLA confirms the change straight away. Then:

1. Give the buyer the green new keeper slip (the V5C/2). They need it to tax the car.
2. Follow the instructions in your confirmation for the rest of the log book. Don't hand the full V5C to the buyer.
3. Cancel your insurance on the car, or move it to your next car.

DVLA cancels any Direct Debit for vehicle tax automatically and refunds full calendar months of tax that are left. The refund goes to the name and address on the log book, which is one more reason to keep your V5C address up to date.

## How to transfer car ownership by post

If you would rather use the paper form, fill in the section of the V5C for selling or transferring to a new keeper, together with the buyer. You both sign it. Then:

1. Tear off the green new keeper slip and give it to the buyer.
2. Send the rest of the V5C to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.
3. Keep a note of the date, the buyer's details and the mileage at handover.

Postal changes take longer to go through, and until DVLA processes the form you are still the keeper on its records. For that reason most sellers now use the online service, even if they filled in the paper form as a record.

## Selling to a dealer or a car buying service

When you sell to a motor trader, there is a separate section of the V5C for the trade. Many traders report the change online themselves while you are there; if they do, ask for the confirmation. If they don't, tell DVLA yourself online in the same way as a private sale, choosing the option for a motor trader. You still get the automatic tax refund.

## What the buyer needs to do

As the new keeper you don't need to contact DVLA about the ownership itself, but there are three things to sort out before you drive away.

### Tax the car before you drive it

Vehicle tax does not pass from the old keeper to the new one. You must tax the car in your own name before using it on the road, using the 12-digit reference number on the green V5C/2 slip, online at [>GOV.UK vehicle tax](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax) or by phone. Our guide to why [vehicle tax doesn't transfer when you buy a car](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/vehicle-tax-doesnt-transfer-when-you-buy-a-car/) explains the details, including what happens if the seller had a Direct Debit.

### Insure the car from the moment you own it

Arrange insurance before you drive the car away. Don't assume a "driving other cars" extension on another policy will cover you: many policies don't include it, and where it exists it is often third party only and may not cover a car you have just bought.

### Wait for the new log book

DVLA posts a new V5C in your name to the address the seller gave. It usually arrives within about a week of an online change. If nothing has arrived after four weeks, contact DVLA. Check every detail when it comes, especially the spelling of your name, your address and the VIN.

## What each side keeps

| Document | Who keeps it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Green new keeper slip (V5C/2) | Buyer | Proof of the change until the new log book arrives, and the reference to tax the car |
| New V5C log book | Buyer (posted by DVLA) | Shows the buyer as the registered keeper |
| DVLA confirmation (online) or a note of the posting date | Seller | Proof you are no longer the keeper if a fine arrives later |
| Receipt with date, price, mileage and both names | Both | A record of the sale and of what was agreed |
| Service history, MOT paperwork, spare keys | Buyer | They belong with the car |

## Checks to do before you transfer ownership

Changing the keeper is quick. Undoing a bad purchase is not. Before you pay, check that the paperwork and the car match and that the car is clear.

- **The V5C is genuine and matches the seller.** The name and address on the log book should match the seller's ID and, ideally, the address where you view the car. Our [logbook check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/dvla-log-book-check) shows when the last V5C was issued, so you can tell if the one in front of you is the current one.
- **The VIN on the car matches the V5C.** See [where to find the VIN on a car and check it matches the V5C](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/where-to-find-the-vin-on-a-car-and-check-it-matches-the-v5c/).
- **There is no outstanding finance.** A car still on a finance agreement can belong to the lender, and buying one can lead to a dispute you don't want. An [outstanding finance check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/outstanding-finance-check) shows whether finance is recorded against the car.
- **It isn't recorded as stolen or written off.** A full history check also covers insurance write-offs, a police stolen marker and the number of previous keepers.
- **The MOT history makes sense.** The free check by registration shows every MOT result and mileage reading, which helps you spot a clocked car or ignored faults.

Our guide to [what documents you need to buy a used car](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/what-documents-do-you-need-to-buy-a-used-car/) lists the rest of the paperwork to ask for.

## Special cases

### Giving a car to a family member

A gift is still a change of keeper. Report it to DVLA in exactly the same way, with the new keeper's details. The person receiving the car has to tax and insure it in their own name.

### Keeping your private number plate

If you want to keep a private plate, take it off the car and put it on retention, or move it to another car, *before* you sell. Once the car has a new keeper, the plate goes with it.

### The seller doesn't have the V5C

Treat a missing log book as a warning sign. A genuine keeper can apply to DVLA for a replacement V5C before selling. Buying without one makes it harder to prove who you bought the car from and to get the car registered to you.

## FAQs

**Does it cost anything to transfer car ownership?** No. Telling DVLA about a change of keeper is free, online or by post.

**How long does a change of ownership take?** Online, DVLA records it immediately and the new log book usually arrives within about a week. By post it takes longer.

**Can the buyer tell DVLA instead of the seller?** In a normal sale the seller tells DVLA. The buyer's job is to keep the green new keeper slip, tax the car and wait for the new V5C.

**Can I drive the car home straight after buying it?** Only once it is taxed in your name and you are insured to drive it, and it has a valid MOT if it needs one.

**What if I sold my car and still get fines?** Send the issuer your DVLA confirmation or the date you posted the V5C. If DVLA has no record of the sale, report it as soon as possible.