Digitisation is sweeping across the motoring world. It has already pushed the windscreen tax disc and the paper part of our driving licence out of existence - much to the dismay of many drivers. But one bit of paper that is yet to bite the electronic dust is the V5C document, also known as the plain old ‘V5’ or your car ‘logbook’. The V5C still exists in hard copy form (though we’re not sure how long that will last!) but that’s not to say it’s been left untouched by the digital world.
If you’ve not bought or sold a car for a few years (or have simply let a dealership handle the nitty gritty) then you may not be aware of the latest developments the DVLA has made when it comes to notifying it of a sale. While the paper logbook remains virtually unchanged, you can now notify DVLA of a vehicle sale online - without having to fill in the logbook, post it off and wait for a response. It’s open to anyone who sells a car, and is surprisingly easy and straightforward - who’d’ve thought?
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Doing away with much of the V5 logbook paperwork negates the need for costly administration. The online platform was primarily designed to save taxpayers money but it also saves sellers time and we’re fully in favour of that. One word of warning is that the simplicity of the new V5C system means it’s quite easy to forget to take the necessary action when you sell a car privately. And nothing has changed in one respect - failure to notify the DVLA of a car’s change of ownership will still land you with a hefty fine.
What to do with the V5 when selling a car
You still need the paper logbook when selling a car. Any potential suitors will want to check it over before making a decision on whether to buy. Negotiations over, a small subsection called the V5C/2 must be filled out, torn off and handed to the new owner as proof of purchase.
Following the above, instead of painstakingly filling in the rest of the V5C - tipex at the ready - simply inform the DVLA online. No visit to the post office is necessary. Once you’ve successfully muddled through the online steps, the DVLA will send you an e-mail and letter confirming the changes. Whether you pass the car onto another private owner or sell it to a dealer, the procedure remains the same.
Under the latest VED car tax system the seller of the car will also be reimbursed by the government for any tax left on the on the vehicle - less the remainder of the month you’re in. The new buyer is required to re-tax the car. That’s a sting for them, but it does take another variable out of the carbuying process.
What to do with the V5 when buying a car
As a car buyer, you don’t have to do anything to transfer ownership - simply wait for the seller to do it for you. You don’t have to give the seller your email address, but if you can it’s best that you do as you will then receive notification of the sale via an email confirmation.
The email confirmation is for peace of mind more than anything else, though - regardless of whether you provide one, you should still get your new V5C certificate within five working days of sale.
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Supplying an email address isn’t compulsory but just adds a layer of convenience. It can potentially be helpful when it comes to insuring and taxing the car before the hard copy arrives in the post.
If you don’t have internet access, what do you do?
Don’t panic, if a computer isn't accessible or simply isn’t your thing, the DVLA is still accepting all changes to logbooks by post. This, of course, will take longer to process than the electronic alternative but the end result is exactly the same.
What do you do with the old V5C?
Once you forgo ownership of a vehicle by means of handing the next owner the V5C/2, briefing the DVLA electronically of the change and receiving the requisite confirmation from the DVLA, you should destroy the old V5C. Burn it, bin it, the choice is yours.
What to do if you lose your V5 log book?
Misplaced or destroyed your V5C? It’s not difficult to acquire a new one. You can either ring the DVLA or file a V62 form and send it to them. You’ll be charged £25 and it can take up to six weeks to arrive.
