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    How to sell a car without a V5C

    Important: Motorway does not recommend selling a car without a V5C — it’s an essential document for the smooth sale of a vehicle and most professional buyers will ask for one. We, therefore, require you to have a V5C to sell a car on our website. This guide is intended for informational purposes only.

    Lost your V5C form or simply don’t have one? It’s actually entirely possible (and 100% legal) to sell a car and transfer ownership without a V5C document.

    Most people do not realise that the vehicle logbook is a record of the registered keeper, not proof of ownership. Ownership and registered keeper details can be checked directly on the DVLA database by anyone who has ‘reasonable cause’ as defined by the DVLA itself.

    V5C or Logbook
    The V5C or Logbook holds all the ownership info for your vehicle.

    Once a car has been sold or changed ownership, you can also notify the DVLA without needing the V5C if it’s unavailable.

    In fact, you can now do that online. And you’ll then get an automatic refund on any tax left on the vehicle as it no longer transfers to the new buyer.

    That said, it’s always a good idea to either find, or replace your V5C before you sell your car, we’ll take a look at the reasons why.

    Selling a car without a V5C explained:

    Selling your car without a V5C

    When selling without a V5C, you’ll need to provide a bill of sale which includes all info for the new buyer to apply for a new logbook. That includes:

    • Vehicle make and model
    • Your car’s reg
    • VIN plate number
    • Buyer’s full name
    • Date of sale
    • Signature of buyer and seller
    • Price and payment terms
    • The fact that the vehicle is ‘sold as seen’

    What if I don’t have a V5C?

    It’s not recommended to sell your car until you have all the paperwork in place. Even if you have a legitimate reason for not having a V5C, it will still raise suspicion in the mind of any potential buyer – whether that’s a private individual or a professional car buyer.

    The lack of a V5C logbook could indicate that a car is likely to have been stolen or written off at some point in the past. And if you’re not willing to wait for a replacement document, then it shows any purchaser that you’re obviously in a hurry to sell your car.

    Without a V5C, some buyers may try to haggle the price down even further than normal. This is especially extreme if you are looking to sell a car to a dealer rather than privately, as dealerships (especially franchised dealers offering part exchange) are particularly picky about documentation.

    Logbook loans

    Another reason for a seller to not have the V5C is if they’ve taken out a logbook loan. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it’s possible to borrow money based on the value and ownership of your car as collateral.

    This normally means you will give the lender your V5C, along with signing a credit agreement and a bill of sale.

    DVLA and Selling Your Car - Update Your V5C
    It’s important to keep your VC5, but you can sell your car without it.

    With logbook loans, your lender temporarily owns your car, but you’re able to use it while you meet repayments. This is not the case with a car on finance, where traditional ownership rules apply.

    Obviously this is a big concern for any potential car buyer. If they purchase your car without a V5C, they could then discover outstanding finance on it. That means they take the risk of losing their car and the money they paid you for it.

    So it’s understandable that most people will be extremely wary of buying a car without a V5C logbook. You can still demonstrate the original sale receipt for the vehicle and suggest any buyer goes through a finance check. But anything that causes doubt in the mind of a potential purchaser means another risk they’ll decide against buying your car.

    If you have taken out a logbook loan and do want to sell your car, then you’ll need to ensure it covers the cost of your original loan. Or you’ll still have to pay the shortfall.

    Again, it’s another indication that you might be selling your car because the money is needed quickly. And gives potential buyers more leverage in negotiating your price down.

    Trade buyers will generally be slightly more understanding, but many car dealers won’t accept a second-hand vehicle without a V5C. That even includes some scrap yards.

    Do I need a V5C if I scrap my car?

    Legally, you’re not required to have a logbook to sell your car to be dismantled by a scrap buyer, as you can notify the DVLA online, but even then, scrap metal dealers prefer to have documentation in place for end of life vehicles.

    Ultimately, it’s quick and simple to keep your V5C current, as our ultimate V5C guide shows.

    Address changes are free, and replacing a lost V5C is just £25. That’s cheap compared to the potential problems caused by outdated information, or losing money when it comes to selling your car.

    So, take a moment to find your V5C, check the details are up-to-date and store it somewhere safe.

    Ready to sell?

    Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency. 

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