Can The Legal Owner Of A Car Change The Name Of The Registered Owner?

When you sell your automobile or only just transfer ownership to another person, in that location's quite a bit more to the process than only agreeing on the terms with the new owner and handing over the keys.

Unlike other possessions y'all may have (including ones that may be even more valuable than your car) if yous give your automobile to another individual, the ownership of that motorcar has to be legally registered by U.k. constabulary. This official procedure of transferring car ownership is what this guide concentrates on.

Even if no money is changing hands (e.g. you are giving a car to a family fellow member), the transfer of ownership still has to be logged with the DVLA and there's several important things you need to be aware of when you lot complete this handover…

a pen and car documents — The DVLA handles the transfer of vehicle ownership

So, how do you transfer car buying?

Footstep one: find out if you are you the possessor or the keeper
Step ii: who needs to complete the V5C?
How to transfer motorcar ownership online
Transferring motorcar buying to a dealer or flake 1000

Detect out if you are the owner or the keeper

Offset, we need to sympathize the difference between the owner and the keeper of the car. This tin can be a little confusing. The owner and keeper tin can be the same person, only they can also be dissimilar people or companies.

When nosotros talk almost transferring ownership of a car, we are talking about what is legally required in order to be registered as the keeper. The keeper of the motorcar is the person named on the V5C (registration document or logbook).

The keeper is legally responsible for the vehicle, and the person who could potentially be pursued if a motoring law is broken.

Someone else could have paid for the car, but the person who is named on the V5C is the legal keeper. The keeper is responsible for things like insuring and taxing the motorcar, keeping information technology in roadworthy condition, and obtaining an MOT if it's more than than three years erstwhile.

If the automobile is involved in an offence such as being defenseless past a camera driving in a double-decker lane, the government volition contact the keeper who is named on the V5C registration certificate.

The keeper may or may not have been driving at the time, but the keeper will be the 1 held responsible for any fine.

VC5 — A V5C, logbook or registration document

What do I need to do on the car's V5C?

Well-nigh people exterior the motor industry are likely to refer to the machine's registration document or logbook, but the correct name of the legal document that names the keeper is actually the V5C.

Until 2014, the V5C was a blue, cream and green document, but the current V5C is now red, blue and pink in colour.

The document is originally issued past the Commuter and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) when the auto is commencement registered. Every time the automobile'southward ownership changes, the motorcar's current V5C has to be completed and sent back to the DVLA. A new ane is then issued in the new possessor's proper name.

The electric current owner'southward details are already on the V5C, so you accept to complete the section for the new owner's details. It's also a skillful idea to make full in the section for the current mileage to aid prevent fraud in the future.

Car buyers — Transferring ownership is more than than just handing the keys over

Who needs to complete the V5C?

The person who is currently named on the V5C is the one who is responsible for completing it and sending it to the DVLA to transfer ownership.

Although it is important for both parties, if you lot are the owner, it's imperative you fill in the V5C with the new possessor's details and transport it off. This will ensure y'all're no longer held responsible for a vehicle you do not legally ain.

How to transfer car ownership online

The days of endless paperwork is over. Y'all can now apply to transfer the ownership of a vehicle online, which makes the whole process faster and easier. than ever before.

To transfer ownership online you'll need to complete a form on the DVLA website. To practise this you need the details of the new owner, you'll demand the 11-digit reference number from the car's V5C.

In one case the online form is completed and submitted you'll receive an email confirmation. As long as you've included the new owner's email accost too, they volition also get an email confirming the transfer.

A new physical V5C volition be sent to the new owner within 5 working days.

How to transfer the buying of a machine to a dealer or scrap yard

On the V5C you'll encounter how many owners a vehicle has had since new, and each fourth dimension it is transferred to a new owner, that number will increase by one – except when sold to a dealer or trader.

In that instance, y'all don't fill in section vi equally you would exercise when selling privately. Instead you fill up in department 9, separate it from the remainder of the V5C document, and ship it to the DVLA.

The remaining parts of the V5C should then be given to the trader. The same process is used if the machine is existence sold for scrap or transferred to a scrapyard.

The importance of completing the right procedure for transferring a vehicle to a new owner shouldn't be underestimated, simply it's non as daunting as you might think.

We hope we've covered everything off equally clearly equally possible in this guide.

Still unsure about auto buying?

Have a await at these related guides to car ownership below:

The DVLA and selling your car – The ultimate guide
Where tin I sell my motorcar?
How to buy or sell a private number plate
What documents do I need to sell my automobile?
Is my automobile insured? How to check your car has insurance
V5C – The ultimate guide to the V5
How to sell a car without a V5C
Sell a car privately: The definitive guide
Sell a car to a dealer: The definitive guide
Best ways to sell a automobile
Tips to sell your car