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    How to transfer car ownership

    Knowing how to transfer car ownership matters whenever you sell your car or pass it to someone else. There is more to it than agreeing terms and handing over the keys. Unlike other possessions, UK law requires you to register the change of ownership legally.

    Even if no money changes hands, you still have to tell the DVLA. This applies when you give a car to a family member too.

    There are several important things to be aware of when you complete this handover. Read on to understand the key steps for transferring ownership of your car.

    Transferring ownership to an individual 

    Transferring ownership to another person breaks down into three easy steps:

    • Step 1: Find out if you are the owner or the keeper.
    • Step 2: Fill in section 2 on the new-style log book and section 6 on the older style.
    • Step 3: Send the V5C form off to the DVLA.

    You can also transfer car ownership using the DVLA online form, which we cover in full below. Whichever route you choose, telling the DVLA is free.

    As the RAC explains, there is no DVLA fee for telling it you have sold or transferred a car. So use GOV.UK directly rather than third-party sites that charge for the same service.

    Giving a car to a family member or friend for free still counts. You have to tell the DVLA, and you follow the same process as a sale.

    The steps below walk through each part. We also explain how to transfer car ownership to a dealer or scrap yard.

    The DVLA handles the transfer of vehicle ownership.

    Find out if you are the owner or the keeper

    The owner and the keeper can be the same person, but they can also be different people or companies. The keeper is named in the V5C logbook and is legally responsible for the car. That covers insuring it, taxing it, keeping it roadworthy, and obtaining an MOT once it is over three years old.

    If the car is involved in an offence (e.g. speeding), the authorities contact the keeper named on the V5C. That person is held responsible for any fine, so it pays to get the paperwork right.

    VC5
    A V5C, logbook or registration document

    Who needs to complete the V5C logbook?

    The DVLA issues the V5C logbook when the car is first registered. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) is the government body that keeps the record of who is responsible for each car on the road.

    Every time the car’s ownership changes, you update the logbook and send it back to the DVLA. The DVLA then issues a new V5C logbook in the new owner’s name.

    The current keeper, usually the seller, completes the logbook and sends it to the DVLA. If you are the owner, fill in the V5C with the new owner’s details and send it off. That way you are no longer responsible for a car you do not legally own.

    Transferring ownership is more than just handing they keys over.

    How to transfer car ownership online

    You can transfer car ownership quickly online. Complete the form on GOV.UK. You need the new owner’s details and the 11-digit reference number from the car’s V5C logbook.

    Once you submit the form, you receive an email confirmation. If you include the new owner’s email, they get a confirmation too. The DVLA sends the new owner a new physical V5C within 5 to 7 working days.

    If you do not have a V5C, you can still transfer ownership. You will need to sell a car without a V5C by writing to the DVLA at Swansea SA99 1BA.

    In your letter, give your name and address, the car’s registration number, and the make and model. Also include the exact date of sale and the new keeper’s name and address.

    Transferring ownership to a dealer or scrapyard

    When you sell to a dealership or scrapyard, you must legally transfer ownership, just as you would with an individual. The process is three steps:

    • Step 1: Find out if you are the owner or the keeper.
    • Step 2: Fill out the V5C Section 9.
    • Step 3: Separate Section 9 and send it to the DVLA.

    Filling in the V5C logbook when selling to a dealer or scrapyard

    On the V5C you can see how many owners a car has had. Each time it is transferred to a new owner, that number increases, except when the car is sold to a dealer or trader.

    In that case you do not fill in Section 6 as you would when selling privately. Instead, you fill in Section 9, separate it, and send it to the DVLA.

    The remaining parts of the logbook go to the trader. The process is the same if the car is sold for scrap or transferred to a scrapyard.

    How do I transfer ownership when selling my vehicle on Motorway?

    When you sell your car on Motorway, you sell to a verified dealer, and this counts as a ‘trade sale’ with the DVLA. So you follow the same steps as selling to a dealer.

    Once your buyer has collected your car and paid you, fill out Section 9 of your V5C logbook with the dealer’s details. Then send the booklet to the DVLA.

    You can also do this online on GOV.UK. You are asked whether you sold privately or to a motor trader, and you must select ‘Sold it to a motor trader’.

    Then fill in the dealer’s details and the 11-digit reference number from the V5C. If you included the new owner’s email, you both get a confirmation. The DVLA then sends the new owner a new V5C logbook within 5 to 7 working days.

    Please note that you should not, under any circumstances, transfer ownership to Motorway, as we did not purchase your car. If you believe you have done this in error, please get in touch with us at documents@motorway.co.uk.

    What happens to road tax and your refund?

    Road tax does not transfer to the buyer. The new keeper must tax the car before driving it, even if there is time left on your current tax.

    Once you tell the DVLA you have sold the car, it cancels your tax. It then sends a refund cheque automatically for any full months left. The refund is calculated from the date the DVLA receives your notification, so tell them promptly to avoid losing a month.

    If you pay by Direct Debit, the DVLA cancels it automatically. If the cheque has not arrived after eight weeks, contact the DVLA. You can check the details on the GOV.UK vehicle tax refund service.

    Does the MOT transfer to the new owner?

    An MOT is recorded against your car’s registration rather than against you as the owner. The new owner can look up the car’s MOT expiry date at any time using the registration number on the GOV.UK MOT history service, and the existing certificate runs to its stated expiry date.

    It is worth confirming the expiry date at the point of sale, so the new owner knows when the next test is due. You can find the current MOT rules on GOV.UK.

    What happens if you do not tell the DVLA?

    Until you tell the DVLA, you stay the registered keeper on record. That means you keep receiving correspondence and penalties for a car you no longer own, including parking fines, speeding notices, and ULEZ charges. Any tax refund you are owed may also be affected.

    You could be fined up to £1,000 for failing to notify the DVLA. You can read your responsibilities when selling a car on GOV.UK, and Ask the Police sets out the fine for not telling the DVLA.

    To be safe, follow GOV.UK’s guidance whenever you give a car away. GOV.UK asks you to enter the new keeper’s name as the person you sold to, even if no money changed hands.

    Transferring car ownership FAQs

    Is there a fee to transfer car ownership?

    No. Telling the DVLA that you have sold or transferred a car is free on GOV.UK, so avoid third-party sites that charge for the same service.

    Can I transfer my car to a family member?

    Yes. Giving a car to a family member or friend for free still requires you to tell the DVLA, using the same process as a sale.

    Can I transfer ownership without the V5C logbook?

    Yes. Write to the DVLA at Swansea SA99 1BA. Include your details, the car’s registration, the make and model, the date of sale, and the new keeper’s details.

    Does road tax transfer to the new owner?

    No. The buyer must re-tax the car before driving it. The DVLA refunds you for any full months of tax left once you notify them.

    Does the MOT transfer with the car?

    An MOT is recorded against the car’s registration, so the new owner can check the expiry date on GOV.UK and the certificate runs to its stated expiry. The new owner needs a fresh test once it is due.

    What if I do not tell the DVLA?

    You stay liable as the registered keeper, any refund you are owed may be affected, and you could be fined up to £1,000.

    Need to sell your car?

    Want to learn more about owning, maintaining, and selling your car? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from Clean Air Zones to car tax, and plate changes to part exchange. 



    The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.