Having a registered vehicle is exceptionally important, as it will protect you during any events of theft, accidents, or anything insurance related, and assist with things such as loans and mortgages. One of the first things you should do upon purchasing a new car, is to register the vehicle under your own name, maintaining a registration certificate (V5C). If you are purchasing a vehicle from a dealer, they will usually register the vehicle for you on your behalf. If however, you have purchased a car during a private sale, or have rebuilt a car, there are a few different pathways you can go down to ensure that all the paperwork has been done appropriately and legally.
I’ve bought my car from a dealership
Purchasing from a dealership is one of the safest ways to obtain a new vehicle. There are laws protecting you against dodgy deals, the history of the car should be readily available, and the dealer should take care of all the paperwork for you. Having said that, make sure you are not blindsided by putting all your faith in the system. Ask for copies of all of your paperwork, and take time to read the fine print. It may seem mundane and boring, but you don’t want an oversight to come back and affect you in a negative way. Ask the dealer all the questions that pop into your mind, and get them to confirm the registration has been changed to your name. You don’t need to be embarrassed to ask, there’s a high chance that this is all very new to you, and you want to get it right the first time around.
I’ve bought my car in a private sale
Make sure you do your homework before buying from a private seller, ensuring that you aren’t going to be scammed financially, or hoodwinked by a dodgy vehicle. Once you have all of your ducks in a row, you will need to register the car to yourself. It’s best to have the documentation all filled out, prior to any money changing hands. The person who is selling you the car will need to register the vehicle to you online, fill in the green ‘new keeper’ slip and give it to you. Make sure they destroy their current V5C, so they can not try to claim that the car is still theirs. The DVLA will register the car to you almost immediately, and your V5C should arrive in the post within 5 working day.
If they are unable to achieve this online for whatever reason, they can do so via post. The seller will need to complete section 2 of the log book (section 6 in older versions), and then you are both required to sign the declaration in section 8. These forms need to be sent to the DVLA. The new keeper slip must then be filled out and given to you. If you can not find these forms, you can download them here. This process is much slower however, and can take up to four weeks, so it’s a better option to do so online. In both cases, make sure the vehicle tax is up to date.
I have refurbished/built a car
Before you register a refurbished or rebuilt car, it is best to make sure that the vehicle reaches all of the standards required of it. Once you are confident that this has been done, you will be required to fill out form V627/1, and send it along to the DVLA, alongside photographs of the vehicle, original receipts of all parts purchased, and the vehicle registration certificate for the original vehicle. The DVLA may require more from you, but they will get in touch with you directly if they have any concerns or further requests.
How much does it cost to register a vehicle?
Although there are a few exemptions from the fees, a general flat rate of £55 should apply to registering your vehicle.
Original guide plus DVLA checks
The registration process is smoother when the vehicle identity, road tax position and paperwork already match.
Compare the V5C, registration lookup, number plate and seller paperwork. Registration admin should not hide an identity mismatch.
Pause if the V5C is missing, the seller is not the keeper, the VIN does not match or the seller rushes the online transfer before you have checked the car.
Use Car Check Experts for buyer-focused history checks, then compare key legal and road-use details with official services where they apply.
No. Registration records the keeper. It does not prove the seller owns the car outright.
Yes. Tax and SORN status affect collection and road use.