How can I transfer car ownership?
To transfer car ownership, you need to tell the DVLA that the car has a new registered keeper. The quickest way is online on GOV.UK, using the 11-digit reference number on your V5C logbook. You can also do it by post, by filling in the right section of your V5C and sending it to the DVLA.
Whether you’re ready to sell your car, part-exchange it at a dealership, or pass it on to a friend or family member, transferring car ownership isn’t quite as simple as just handing over the keys.
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Car ownership is tracked by the government, and UK law says every change of registered keeper must be recorded. This applies whether or not any money changes hands. If you don’t tell the DVLA, you could be fined up to £1,000, and you’ll stay responsible for any parking tickets, speeding fines or car tax linked to the car.
What’s the difference between the car owner and keeper?
The owner is the person or company the car legally belongs to, while the registered keeper is the person named on the V5C logbook who’s responsible for it day to day. They can often be the same person, but they don’t have to be - for example, if a car finance provider owns the car.
The registered keeper is legally responsible for the car’s upkeep. It’s their job to insure and tax the car, make sure it’s roadworthy, and get an MOT every year once it’s three years old.
If you buy a car on hire purchase (HP) or personal contract purchase (PCP), you’ll be the registered keeper until the balance is fully paid – at which point you’ll become the legal owner.
Keep in mind that organisations and individuals can request a registered keeper check from the DVLA if they have reasonable cause, such as needing to issue a parking ticket or identify the keeper of an abandoned vehicle.
What do I need to update on the V5C?
You need to add the new keeper's name and address, which you can do online or on the V5C itself.
The V5C, also known as a logbook, is one of the most important documents that comes with a car. It’s issued by the DVLA when a vehicle is registered for the first time, and it should be updated each time the car has a new keeper. Older logbooks are blue and newer ones are red. The newest style has multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover, which changes which section you fill in.
To transfer the car to a private buyer or family member by post:
- Fill in section 2 if you have a new-style V5C, or section 6 if you have an older one. On an older V5C, you and the new keeper both need to sign the declaration in section 8.
- Give the new keeper the green ‘new keeper’ slip (V5C/2). This shows they’ve taken on the car until their new V5C arrives, and they can use it to tax the car.
- Post the rest of the V5C to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.
Once the DVLA has been notified, they’ll send a new V5C to the new keeper. If you do it by post, this usually takes up to four weeks.
What happens if you’ve lost your V5C logbook?
If your V5C has been lost, damaged or stolen, you can apply to the DVLA for a replacement, which costs £25. While it is possible to buy and sell a car without a V5C, this isn’t usually recommended, as it could be a sign that the car’s been stolen, previously written off, or has outstanding finance.
You can apply for a new logbook online or by post. You’ll need a few details handy, such as the car’s registration number, its VIN/chassis number, and the name and postcode currently registered to it.
If you’ve already sold or given away the car without a V5C, you can’t use the online service. Instead, write to DVLA with your name and address, the registration number, the make and model, the exact date of sale, and the new keeper’s name and address.
How to transfer car ownership online
You can transfer car ownership online using the DVLA’s Tell DVLA you’ve sold, transferred or bought a vehicle service on GOV.UK. It’s usually quick and easy, and you can update the details in minutes. You’ll need the name, address and email of the new keeper, as well as the 11-digit reference number on your V5C logbook.
The service is open from 7am to 9pm on weekdays, and from 7am to 8pm at weekends. You can’t use it if you’ve already posted your V5C, or if you don’t have one.
Once your request has been processed, the DVLA will update the vehicle record and email you and the new keeper to confirm. You then give the new keeper the green V5C/2 slip and destroy the rest of the old logbook. The new keeper should get their new V5C within 5 to 7 working days.
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What about car tax?
Car tax doesn’t transfer with the car, so the new keeper needs to tax it before they drive it (or declare it off the road). Car tax is the responsibility of the car’s registered keeper.
Once you tell the DVLA you’ve sold or transferred the car, your car tax is cancelled and you’ll get a refund for any full months left. If you pay by Direct Debit, this will also be cancelled.
Since 1 April 2025, electric cars have had to pay car tax too, so every new keeper will need to budget for it.
Do I need to change my car insurance?
Yes. Car insurance doesn’t transfer with the car, so the new keeper needs their own policy before they drive it. You should cancel or change your own policy once the car is no longer yours.
If you’re the new keeper, you can compare car insurance to find a policy that suits you. It’s also worth reading our guide on whether you can insure a car you don’t own if you’re not the registered keeper yet.
How do I transfer car ownership to a family member?
You transfer a car to a family member in the same way as selling it to anyone else: tell the DVLA online or by post, and give them the green V5C/2 slip. It doesn’t matter if they’ve paid you any money or not – if they’re now the car’s registered keeper, you’ll need to let the DVLA know.
The DVLA doesn’t ask how much was paid, so it’s fine to give the car away for free. If you want to help a family member get a car of their own, our guide on financing a car for someone else explains what’s allowed.
How do I transfer car ownership to a dealership?
To transfer your car to a dealership, tell the DVLA you’ve sold it to a motor trader – either online, or by filling in the yellow motor trader section of your V5C. This applies whether you’re selling it outright or trading it in for part-exchange.
If you’re doing it by post, fill in section 4 on a new-style V5C, or section 9 on an older one, and send it to the DVLA. You should then hand the rest of the logbook to the dealership so they can pass it on to the car’s next owner. It’s your job to tell the DVLA, even if the dealer offers to do it for you.
What if my car has a private number plate?
If you want to keep your private number plate, you need to take it off the car before you transfer it. You can do this online on GOV.UK, and the plate will be kept on retention until you put it on another car. If you don’t, the plate will go to the new keeper along with the car.
How do I transfer a car after someone dies?
If you’re dealing with the car of someone who’s died, you’ll need to tell the DVLA and transfer the car to its new keeper, whether that’s you, another family member or a buyer. GOV.UK explains what to do in its guide on telling DVLA after someone dies.
What should I check if I’m buying the car?
If you’re the one taking on the car, check that the V5C details match the car and that there’s no finance still owed on it.
- Use the DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service to check the details you’ve been given match the DVLA’s records.
- Run a vehicle history check to see if the car has outstanding finance or has been written off. GOV.UK has a list of checks to make when buying a used car.
- Tax and insure the car before you drive it away, and keep the green V5C/2 slip safe until your new logbook arrives.
Can I transfer car finance to another person?
No. You can’t transfer an existing car finance agreement to someone else. A car finance agreement is a legally binding contract between you and the lender, based on your own circumstances. If you take out car finance on someone else’s behalf without telling the lender, this is known as ‘fronting’ and is illegal.
If you want to sell your car before the end of your agreement, you’ll need to own it first. With hire purchase (HP) or personal contract purchase (PCP), the finance is secured against the car, so the lender owns it until you've paid in full.
To avoid selling a car with outstanding finance, you can either wait until the end of your agreement and pay the ‘Option to Purchase’ fee (HP) or balloon payment (PCP), or ask your lender for a settlement figure to pay it off early. If you’d rather hand the car back, you may be able to return your car on finance instead.
Once you own the car, you can sell or transfer it. If the new keeper needs finance to buy it, they can apply for car finance in their own name.
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