DVLA Sold Car
Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle
Telling The DVLA You Have Sold Your Car
As we know, if you have sold your car you must inform the DVLA.
We will cover exactly everything you need to do when selling your car – the entire ‘DVLA sold car’ process
Before you can tell the DVLA that you have sold your car you need to make sure you done a couple of things.
Firstly, your name and address on your vehicle log book (V5C) must be up to date. You can update your address with the DVLA relatively easy.
If you have incorrect information with the DVLA (such as your address) you can be fined up-to £1,000.
Secondly, you must have transferred any personal registration plates that you wanted to keep. If you would like to like to keep your plates, be sure to transfer them in advance.
Great, so once you’ve completed those two items let’s see how you tell DVLA you’ve sold your car.
What you need to get started
- To tell the DVLA that you have sold your car you will need the 11 digit document reference number from your V5C (your registration certificate)
How to tell the DVLA you have sold your car online
Great, so now you have yoru 11 digit reference number from your V5C, here’s the step-by-step process to follow.
It’s important to know that you can update the DVLA on a sold or transferred vehicle both online and via post. You can only update the DVLA on the sold (or transferred) vehicle online if you have not sent your log book via post.
Updating the DVLA online:
Head over the the DVLA’s website and fill-out the relevant sections when prompted. The DVLA will also give you advice on what to do with the log book (v5c) that you have in your possession.
And it’s that simple. The DVLA will transfer the name of the registered keeper over once you have completed that process. You will get a notification within 4 weeks that you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle.
When you receive that documentation from the DVLA make sure to keep it safe as it proves you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle.
If you are selling to a motor trader, dismantler or insurer you can still update the DVLA online in the same way.
You will need to provide:
- Your Trader’s or insurance companies name
- Their postcode
- Your Car’s registration number
- Your 11 digit document reference number from your log book (V5C)
Then, you will need to destroy Section 9 of your log book.
Tell DVLA sold car by post
You can also inform the DVLA of your sold vehicle via the post.
Here’s how:
If this is a private sale (to another person):
Grab your log book and flip to sections 6 and 8 of your v5c which is for a private sale.
Fill-out all of the relevant details on that part of your log book (including who the new registered keeper is, new address, that you’re selling your car etc…)
Then, you will need to post the section to the DVLA. You can post that section to the DVLA here:
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BD.
Selling to a motor trader, dismantler or insurer
In your log book go to Section 9.
In addition to this, making sure you taxing you vehicle is essential. If you are acquiring a new one (or have a new one) you must make sure that you tax your vehicle with the DVLA. You may find this article on how to tax your vehicle with the DVLA helpful.
Here’s how updating the DVLA compare for offline/online
| Online | Offline |
|---|---|
Quick process | Slightly longer |
Free | Free |
No need to post | Must post |
Guide to selling your vehicle
We’ve just covered all the essential elements of selling or transferring your car, bike or van to another person. We’ve covered how to register a new keeper.
Now that is ticked-off your list, feel free to grab a coffee and see how SlothMove can help make your home life easier 😎
We also thought you may find it helpful to have a complete step-by-step visual walk through of the process.
This guide covers a full V5 document tutorial.
DVLA Sold Car Process
We hope you found this article on informing the DVLA you have sold you car helpful. The ‘DVLA sold car’ process can seem complicated, but once you know how it’s relatively straight forward.
Whilst you are completing your DVLA admin, it’s a good time to see if your licence is out of date. You can check a full guide on how to renew you driving licence here.
Also, make sure you go ahead and check out Slothmove’s DVLA guide.