Different Ways to Tell the DVLA You've Sold Your Car

Different Ways to Tell the DVLA You've Sold Your Car

In this article, we take a look at the different ways you can tell the DVLA you’ve sold your car.

So, you’ve just sold your car. Congratulations! But before you go shopping for new cars, there’s something you need to do first.

That’s to tell the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA), and it’s incredibly important. Especially if you don’t want to be responsible for any tickets or fines that may be associated with the vehicle later on.

Read on for the different options you can use to get the job done.

Use an online service

In the digital age, there’s a service for everything – and this includes buying, selling, or transferring a vehicle.

The Government’s website has an online service you can use to inform the DVLA after selling your car. This runs daily from 7am-7pm and you can only use it if you haven’t already sent your V5C logbook away by post.

To use this service, select the option that says, ‘sold it to a motor trader’. You’ll then enter the trader’s name and postcode into the tool, followed by your car’s registration and the V5C document reference number.

You’ll need to tick a box that confirms you understand you will lose all rights to the vehicle before you can proceed. Then, you’ll be asked to provide information on the date it was sold, and your email address for a confirmation of receipt. You should receive a cheque for any road tax refunds from the vehicle within six weeks.

If you wish, you can have the dealership you’ve sold the car to tell the DVLA on your behalf.

Through the post

Prefer to do things the old-fashioned way? You can also let the DVLA know of a car sale through the post.

Bear in mind that this route will be slower than using an online form, so you’ll need to be more patient. If you do choose to do it through the post, make sure to complete Section 9 of the V5C form. It should say ‘selling, transferring, or part-exchanging this vehicle to a motor trader’.

Once complete, remove this section from the V5C and post it to the following address:

DLVA

Swansea

SA99 1BA

What if I am selling my car privately?

If you’ve chosen to sell your car privately, the process is similar to when selling to a dealership. You’ll need to give the ‘new keeper supplement’ (normally green) and the V5C logbook to the new keeper.

Then, you can inform the DVLA of the sale either online or by post as explained above. After this is complete, it's recommended you destroy the remaining parts of the logbook that you’ll no longer need.

What about if you’re selling your car abroad?

If the person you’re selling your car to lives overseas, then the process will differ slightly. This must be done by post, and you’ll need to complete the section titled ‘permanent export’ in the vehicle logbook, sending it to:

DVLA

Swansea

SA99 1BD

You should also include a letter detailing the buyer’s name and address and send the remainder of your V5C to the new owner. This is so that it can be registered in their own country.

What do I do after I’ve told the DVLA my car is sold?

After you’ve ticked this off your list, the only thing left to do is to inform your insurance company. You’ll need to cancel your insurance policy, and when doing this you may be entitled to a refund.

You’ll also receive a refund for any road tax you’ve paid in advance for the car, which should be all taken care of for you. If you have a vehicle tracker, then remember to cancel this also. Other than that, you should be all good to go!

Find your next car at Bristol Street Motors

We hope you feel well-informed on how to inform the DVLA when selling your car. By using one of the above methods sooner rather than later, you can avoid any surprise charges. Not to mention focus on finding your next car!

If you haven’t yet sold your car and are unsure of what you need to do so, check out our article on the documents needed to sell your car. Our Sell My Car service makes the process easy, where all you need to do is enter your registration to get your free, instant valuation. Then, book an appointment at your local dealership to complete the sale!

Once complete, you can then browse our wide range of new and used car deals and choose your next motor. Browse our latest deals available below. If you need any help along the way, get in touch with our expert team or book an appointment at your local dealership.

Browse new car deals

Browse used car deals