How to transfer car ownership
June 20, 2025 by Ryan Hirons
If you鈥檝e sold your car privately, or given it as a gift to someone, you鈥檙e legally required to inform the DVLA of a change of ownership. This guide explains how to do that.
How to change ownership of a car in three steps
Step 1: Find out who is the registered keeper
The owner of the car and the registered keeper are usually the same person, but this isn鈥檛 always the case. For example, in the case of company cars, the company is the owner and the employee who uses it will be the registered keeper.
The registered keeper of a car will be the person who 鈥榢eeps鈥 it and uses it day-to-day. This person appears on the car鈥檚 V5C logbook, which is why it states 鈥淭his document is not proof of ownership鈥.
The registered keeper of the vehicle is responsible for taxing and insuring it, and ensuring it has a valid MOT. They will also be the initial contact for any speeding tickets, parking fines or police enquiries related to that car.
On the other hand, the owner of the car is the person or company who purchased it, or was gifted the vehicle. If you are the owner of the car but someone else is the registered keeper, the vehicle鈥檚 registration documents must reflect this, or you could be liable for any offences connected to that vehicle.
Proof of ownership will come in the form of a receipt or invoice from when you bought it. Even if you buy the car privately, make sure the seller gives you some sort of written agreement detailing the date of sale, the amount you paid and the method of payment.
Step 2: Fill in the V5C
The V5C, commonly known as the vehicle鈥檚 logbook, is the most important document when transferring ownership of a car.
If you transfer ownership, you must fill out section 2 of the V5C form, entering the new owner鈥檚 name and address. You then fill out and tear off the new keeper slip (section 6 of the V5C) and hand it to the new owner.听
The remainder of the V5C, including section 2 which you have just completed, must be sent to the DVLA.
Step 3: Tell the DVLA you鈥檙e transferring ownership
Transfer car ownership online
You can transfer ownership of your vehicle online. Fill out a website to transfer ownership of the car, including the details of the new owner, and the 11-digit reference number from the car鈥檚 V5C. You鈥檒l receive an automatic email from the DVLA to confirm the ownership change (if you鈥檝e included the new owner鈥檚 email address on the form, they鈥檒l also get an email confirming the transfer), followed by a letter in the post.听
As a new logbook will be issued automatically to the new owner within five days, you鈥檙e advised to tear up and dispose of the old V5C.
Transfer car ownership by post
Transferring a car鈥檚 ownership by post is much like doing it online 鈥 only slower.
First, fill out the V5C, entering the details of the person you鈥檙e transferring the car to in section 2, at the bottom of the left-hand page, and the new keeper slip (section 6) at the bottom of the right-hand page. Tear of section 6 and give it to the new owner.
You then send the V5C to the DVLA at:
DVLA, Swansea SA99 1BA
How to transfer the ownership of a car to a dealer or scrap yard
If you鈥檙e trading your car in at a dealership or selling it to a scrap yard, the process is a bit different from a private sale. You don鈥檛 fill in section 6 of the V5C (which would register a new keeper). Instead, you fill in section 9 (or section 4 on newer forms), which is used when a car is sold to a dealer, insurer, or dismantler 鈥 this doesn鈥檛 add another owner to the logbook.
Tear off that section and send it to the DVLA. Then give the rest of the V5C to the dealer or scrap yard. They鈥檒l handle things from there.
What happens if you fail to notify the DVLA?
It鈥檚 in your own interest to inform the DVLA as quickly as possible that you鈥檝e transferred the car, because until the transfer is recorded, you鈥檒l be liable for any offences committed in the car.听
Worse, if you fail to notify the DVLA when transferring ownership of your car, you could receive an Out of Court Settlement letter and a fine of 拢55 (reduced to 拢35 if paid within 17 days). If you fail to pay before the deadline, you could end up in a magistrates鈥 court, with a potential penalty of up to 拢1,000.
Transferring car ownership FAQs
Do I need to transfer ownership of a car?
If you鈥檙e selling or giving a car to somebody, you鈥檙e legally required to tell the DVLA that you鈥檙e transferring ownership of it.
Can I transfer ownership to a family member?
You can transfer ownership of a vehicle to a family member. Even if you live at the same address, you鈥檒l still need to inform the DVLA.
Can I transfer my car tax?
You can鈥檛 transfer any outstanding car tax on a car you鈥檝e passed on. The new owner must retax the car in their name and you鈥檒l receive a refund on any remaining months you have the car taxed for.
What if I don鈥檛 have a V5C?
As the vehicle logbook is a record of the registered keeper, not proof of ownership, it鈥檚 possible to transfer ownership without the V5C. Once a car has changed ownership, you can notify online without needing the V5C.听
Can a car have more than one registered keeper?
A car can have a separate owner and keeper, but there can be only one keeper listed on the V5C.听
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