Contents
In short
- The V5C shows the registered keeper, who isn't always the legal owner.
- Check the name and address against the seller and the place of viewing.
- Match the VIN, engine number and colour with the car.
- After buying, the seller gives you the new keeper slip and tells the DVLA.
- Vehicle tax doesn't transfer: tax the car before you drive it away.
What the V5C proves, and what it doesn't
The V5C (logbook) records the registered keeper: the person responsible for taxing and registering the car. It doesn't prove ownership: a car on finance, for example, belongs to the finance company.
It's still the key document to check that the person selling the car is the one who should be.
Checks before you pay
- Name and address: they must match the seller's ID and, ideally, the address where you view the car.
- VIN: the 17-character vehicle identification number must match the windscreen and chassis plate.
- Engine number, colour and date of first registration: all must match the car in front of you.
- Watermark: hold the document up to the light; a genuine V5C has a DVL watermark.
- Number of previous keepers: compare it with what the seller told you.
After the sale: the DVLA and vehicle tax
- The seller tells the DVLA about the sale, online or by post, and gives you the new keeper slip (V5C/2).
- You receive a new V5C in your name from the DVLA, usually within a few weeks.
- Tax the car before driving it: vehicle tax no longer transfers with the car. You can do it online with the reference on the new keeper slip.
- Insure the car from the moment you drive it.
Written by
The Carvizia team
Every day we analyse used car listings: engines, known faults, maintenance and market value. Our guides bring together what to check before you buy, without jargon.
About usFrequently asked questions
Can I buy a car without a V5C?
It's possible but risky: without the logbook you can't check the keeper or the VIN. Unless there's a very good reason, walk away.
Who tells the DVLA about the sale?
The seller. You keep the new keeper slip until your new V5C arrives.
Does the tax stay with the car?
No. Since 2014 vehicle tax doesn't transfer: the seller gets a refund for full months left, and you tax the car in your name before driving it.