How to sell a car without a V5C logbook

What the V5C is for

The V5C records the registered keeper. That's the person responsible for the car's tax, fines and post from the DVLA. It also lists the make, model, colour, engine size and VIN (the chassis number).

It is not proof of ownership. You can legally own and sell a car without it. But stolen and cloned cars often come without a genuine logbook, so buyers are wary when one is missing.

Option 1: get a replacement first

If you're the registered keeper and your name and address haven't changed, you can usually apply online or by phone. There's a fee, currently £25 (check GOV.UK for the latest). Online and phone applications usually arrive within about five working days.

If your details have changed, or you can't apply online, you'll need form V62 and the post. That takes longer, so allow several weeks.

This is the best route for a private sale, because private buyers want to see the logbook. Make sure the DVLA has your current address, since that's where the new one will go.

Option 2: sell without it

You can sell before the replacement arrives. It's much easier with a trade buyer, who can check the car and your identity in other ways:

• Photo ID and proof of address that match the DVLA's record for the car.
• Checks on the VIN against DVLA records, plus checks for outstanding finance, theft and write-off markers.
• Other documents in your name, such as the purchase receipt, finance papers, insurance documents or service invoices.

A private buyer would have to apply for a V5C themselves after the sale using form V62. Many won't bother. Expect fewer interested buyers and probably a lower price.

Telling the DVLA without the V5C

You must tell the DVLA when you sell. The online service needs the 11-digit reference from the V5C, so without it you'll have to write to them. Include:

• the registration number, make and model
• the date of sale
• the buyer's name and address, or the motor trader's business name and address
• your own name and address

The current postal address is on GOV.UK. Keep a copy of your letter and note the date you sent it. Until the DVLA updates its records you might still get post about the car, so keep your proof of sale safe.

Expect questions

If you're selling without a logbook, a buyer will ask why it's missing and how long you've had the car. That's normal. It's how honest buyers avoid stolen cars. Have your ID and other paperwork ready and the sale will go faster.

Check the VIN on the car matches your documents. You'll usually find it at the bottom of the windscreen, and on a plate under the bonnet or in a door frame.

When it's more than a lost logbook

If you're the registered keeper, a lost V5C is a nuisance and nothing more. If the car isn't registered to you, for example you bought it without a V5C or it belongs to a relative, sort out who the keeper is first. A buyer will want to deal with the person on the DVLA's record, or someone with written permission from them.