subject: Registering Your New Vehicle With The Dvla [print this page] In the UK, it is the seller's responsibility to notify the DVLA of a vehicle's change of ownership. Occasionally, the seller forgets to do so. If after a month or so, you do not receive a new V5 registration document showing you as the new owner contact the DVLA to find out what is causing the delay.
It is wise to help the seller to fill out the V5 form before you pay for the car. That should ensure that your name and address are correct on the V5 registration document thus enabling the DVLA to correctly change their database and make you the registered owner of your new vehicle.
If you are buying a new vehicle, the dealer should arrange for the vehicle to be properly registered in your name with the DVLA. They should provide this service free of charge, but it is wise to ask if registering the new vehicle for you is part of their service and if it is included in the price of the new vehicle.
Regardless of whom you buy your car from the seller should give you the top half of the V5. If you are stopped by the police, having the top part of the V5 form will help to prove that you legally own the car. The police will also ask to see a receipt for the vehicle to provide additional proof that you are the new owner. The top part of the V5 form must be signed by the seller and fully completed.
Many owners lose the V5 and are not able to produce a copy of it. Most of the time, they really are the legal owner of the vehicle, but you should always check that this really is the case by paying for an independent vehicle check. Never buy a vehicle unless you are 100% certain that the seller is the legal owner. Once you have verified that you are buying from the legal owner use a V62 form to complete the purchase. You can get a V62 form either from the Post Office or by downloading one from the DVLA website. Complete the V62 with the seller when you pay for the car then make a copy of it and send the original to the DVLA.
