Whenever you are selling your vehicle here in the UK, both you and the purchaser will have to fill out certain sections of a car registration certificate or document and notify the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) immediately the sale and transfer have been completed.  One of these forms is the 2-part V5 Registration Document.  The details below contain the proper procedure that you need to follow should you be required to use this particular form.

The section entitled “notification of sale or transfer” should be completed, detached, and then posted to the DVLA immediately (DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR).  Be aware that the new car registration certificate will not be sent out immediately. If you do not do this, you will receive inquiries as to the subsequent use of the vehicle.  You will need to provide the purchaser with the top portion of the certificate.  Should the sale of the vehicle be a private one, the DVLA must be informed as soon as possible once the purchaser takes possession of the vehicle; you should remind them of this fact to be safe.

Typically what happens once the DVLA has been informed of the sale and transfer is that you will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter within about four weeks.  This letter will confirm the sale and transfer, as well as relieve you of any further reliability for the vehicle.  Just be patient as it can take up to four weeks for this to work through the system at the DVLA.  Do not contact the DVLA before the four week waiting period has expired.