How do I register a used car in my name?

What the seller does

GOV.UK says the seller will usually register a used vehicle for you. They can do it online, by registering the vehicle to you, filling in the green new-keeper slip, giving it to you and destroying the V5C. Or they can do it by post, by completing the new-keeper section of the V5C, filling in the green slip and sending the V5C to DVLA.

What you do

Keep the green slip. You need its reference to tax the car, and you must tax it before you can use it on the road: the tax does not transfer from the previous keeper.

You must also have insurance before you use the car on the road.

When the new V5C arrives

You usually get your new V5C within 4 weeks of the vehicle being registered, or within 5 to 7 working days if it is a used vehicle and the seller registered it to you online. Check the details when it arrives; changes are made on the V5C and sent back to DVLA, with a replacement within 4 weeks.

If it has not arrived after 4 weeks, contact DVLA before 6 weeks have passed. After 6 weeks without telling DVLA you pay £25 for another.

If the car has no V5C

DVLA advises that you should not buy a vehicle that does not have a V5C. If you buy one anyway, you download form V62, send it to DVLA to register the vehicle in your name and pay £25.