How to sell a car without a V5C logbook

If you’re here, you’re probably looking to sell your car without a V5C logbook — and wondering if it’s even legal to do so.

The good news is, yes you can, but it’s a little trickier than it would be having it. Read on for the carwow guide to selling your car without a V5C.

Oh, and if you want to take the hassle out of selling your car, why not tap that green button below? You can now sell your car with carwow quickly and hassle-free.

What is a V5C logbook?

The V5C for your car, commonly referred to as the logbook, is the red slip that has your details and information on the car within. It’s not legally proof of ownership but is used to show who is responsible for taxing and registering the car.

What happens if I lose my V5C logbook?

Not to panic, losing your V5C logbook isn’t the end of the world. You can continue to use your car as you would, and it’s not a requirement to keep it taxed or insured.

You should still look into getting a replacement V5C though, and you can easily do this on the DVLA website.

It usually costs £25 which can be paid by card, and you’ll need a few details including the vehicle’s reg, chassis number (usually found on top of the dashboard of your car), your name and your postcode.

Can I sell my car without the V5C?

It’s entirely possible to sell a car without a V5C logbook, and 100% legal, though it’s worth the investment to get one before doing so.

Not having a V5C could deter potential buyers, as it can be a sign of a stolen vehicle. Not to say that’s the case, but you do have to put yourself in the shoes of the person parting cash for your car who has never met you before.

You may even find buyers will look to haggle the price down in the absence of a V5C. £25 and a few weeks wait may not look so bad with that in mind.

How to sell a car without a V5C logbook

If you are going to sell your car without the V5C though, here’s how:

• List the vehicle for sale and clearly state a lack of a V5C

If you’re selling the car privately, this will be no different to any other car. In fact, why not check out this handy guide to doing just that?

You should make it clear that you do not hold a V5C for the car though, rather than surprising potential buyers with that bit of information when it comes to the sale process.

• Once sold, inform the DVLA

If you do not have the V5C for your car, you’ll need to inform the DVLA of the sale in writing.

You can find exact details of how to do that here, but you’ll need these details:

• Your name and address
• The vehicle registration number
• The make and model
• The exact date of sale
• The name and address of the new keeper

Can I scrap my car without a V5C?

Legally, you don’t need a V5C to scrap a car, but you may struggle to find a place to do so.

Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) may be unwilling to scrap a car without the V5C out of fear it doesn’t belong to the person bringing it for scrapping. Not to say you won’t find one, but it’ll be a much easier process with the logbook.

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