The United Kingdom, like all other countries, has its own rules regarding car registration.  When you buy a new or used car, that vehicle must be registered with the DVLA, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.  There are many DVLA offices throughout the country, but the Internet has made the process much easier and faster.  While you’re likely to still need a visit to a DVLA office to finalise your car registration, the forms and directions are available online so at least you can arrive prepared.

When purchasing a new or used car, the dealer or seller is usually the one to notify the DVLA of the sale, although sometimes the purchaser is asked to do this.  The form used to record the sale, the V5 or V5C, has a portion for you as the purchaser to keep and record your information.  Both purchaser and seller must notify the DVLA immediately of the transfer of the vehicle.

If for some reason the seller doesn’t have a car registration document (V5) or certificate, you as the purchaser can move the DVLA registration into your name via form V62, available for download from the DVLA website.  In 4-6 weeks of mailing the form in you should have your new car registration.  Be sure to check it carefully for accuracy.  Mistakes not caught right at the outset can take much longer to correct later on.

If you are registering a car for the very first time, be aware that a fee of £55 will usually be levied to cover the costs of the vehicle’s registration throughout its life.  Under normal circumstances, a dealer will include this in the cost of the vehicle and take care of the registration paperwork for you as part of the sale.