Can you sell a car without a V5C logbook?

If you’ve ever bought or sold a car then you’re probably familiar with the V5C logbook, a document that contains information on a car and its registered keeper.

When you sell a car the V5C passes to the new registered keeper, but there are certain situations when that might not be possible, and the seller doesn’t have the logbook in their possession.

While it’s advisable to have a V5C before you sell your car, and as a buyer, it’s highly advisable that the car you’re looking at has the V5C present, it isn’t impossible, or illegal, to sell or buy a car without one. Below, we explain what the V5C is, how you can sell a car without one, and how to apply for a new one.

What is a V5C logbook?

The V5C logbook is one of the most important documents associated with your car. It’s issued by the DVLA to the registered keeper of a vehicle, and includes both that individual’s name and address, as well as all the pertinent information about the car itself, including its registration number, vehicle identification number or VIN, fuel type, the date of first registration, and more.

All registered vehicles should come with a V5C logbook, and when a car changes registered keepers, or is taken off the road (such as when it is scrapped), different sections of the logbook can be filled in and sent off depending on the situation.

You might have heard, and indeed it’s printed on the V5C itself, that the document is not proof of ownership. The owner of a vehicle may not always be the person responsible for registering and taxing it, such as when a car is owned by a leasing company.

Can you sell a car without a V5C?

It isn’t illegal to sell a car without a V5C, just inadvisable – and likewise, we’d recommend that if you’re buying a car, you avoid buying one that doesn’t come with a V5C, as it could be a red flag that the car has some significant problems, like having been written off, or even stolen. As a seller, you should ideally apply for a new V5C from the DVLA before moving your car on, while buyers should probably just walk away.

How to sell a car without a V5C

Selling a car without the V5C logbook isn’t recommended, but it is still possible using the steps below.

1. Decide whether you really do want to sell your car without a V5C. The absence of that paperwork will put off many buyers and could be used as a haggling tool. Given that a replacement V5C is only a small amount of work and £25, is it really worth selling your car without it?
2. If you still want to proceed with the sale, then make it very clear to the buyer that you do not have a V5C with the car. Again, as it’s something that may put off buyers and will involve extra work for them, you should be up-front with them.
3. Provide the seller with a bill of sale including all the necessary information. This is the important step and will ensure the new buyer can apply for a new V5C. This bill of sale should include the vehicle make and model, its registration number, the VIN, the buyer’s full name, date of sale, the price and payment terms, a note expressing that the vehicle is ‘sold as seen’, and the signatures of both parties.
4. Once the vehicle has been sold, you will need to inform the DVLA in writing via the GOV.UK website, including the details from the bill of sale.
5. All being well, a week or two later you should receive a letter from the DVLA confirming that you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle.

How to get a replacement V5C

You can apply for a replacement V5C directly from the DVLA. The GOV.UK website has a dedicated page which goes through the various steps, but it’s a fairly straightforward process either using the website or over the phone, providing you have the necessary details handy.

For a start, you must already be the registered keeper. You will need the registration number of the car, the vehicle identification number (VIN) – in most modern cars, this is usually visible somewhere at the base of the windscreen, and also stamped on a plate somewhere in the engine bay or directly on the firewall – and the name and postcode associated with the V5C.

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