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What is a V5C? Complete guide to your car’s log book

Lost your V5C or need to change the address? Our guide covers all your need to know about the V5C, also known as the log book

V5C close up

As most drivers are well aware of, car ownership comes with plenty of paperwork. From insurance policy documents to service history, it can be difficult to get your head around all the various records. If there’s one document to keep track of, however, it’s the V5C log book.

Our guide will take you through how to register a change of vehicle keeper both online and by post. We’ll also tell you what other uses there are for your V5C, such as to tell the DVLA when you’ve moved house or scrapped your vehicle, and what to do if your V5C is lost or damaged.

What is a V5C?

The V5C, also known as a ‘log book’ is a paper document issued by the DVLA to the registered keeper of a vehicle. Your V5C contains specific details about your car and needs to be updated to reflect major changes, such as a new keeper.

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It is important to clarify the distinction between the ‘registered keeper’ and the ‘owner’. The DVLA defines the registered keeper, named on the V5C, as the one ‘who is responsible for registering and taxing the vehicle’. This is not necessarily the same person who owns the vehicle, so the V5C is not actually a proof of ownership. When leasing a vehicle, the leasing company’s name will appear on the V5C, not the driver’s, as the company is responsible for registering and taxing it.

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You’ll need the V5C to change the name or address associated with your car or to sell your vehicle to a new keeper, and it contains a reference number used to pay your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also known as road tax. It’s also used if a car is modified, written-off or scrapped.

Although insurance certificates have gone digital and paper counterpart driving licences have been abolished completely in recent years, the V5C is still sent to registered keepers in paper form.

It’s likely to remain a physical paper document for the foreseeable future as a special physical watermark helps prevent fraud. You can still register a change of ownership and change the address on the V5C document via the DVLA website, however. This is now the quickest way to update any relevant details compared to filling in the physical V5C, tearing it off and sending it by post to the DVLA.

What does a V5C look like?

A car should be supplied with one of the following two types of V5Cs:

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  1. Green and blue document – This is generally known as the ‘old’ variation of the V5C log book and was first introduced by the DVLA in 2004. It has 12 sections comprising various details, with number six being the all-important ‘New keeper details’ section. In section 10, you’ll find the green slip that will be used to transfer the vehicle over to the future owner should you wish to sell your car. This is called the ‘New keeper supplement’ section, or the V5C/2.
  2. Pink and red document – Otherwise known as the ‘new’ variation of the V5C, the pink/red document has been in use since 2012. The information and section orders are slightly different in these log books, with the most notable changes being that the ‘Selling or transferring my vehicle to a new keeper’ segment is found in section two, and the green ‘new keeper’ slip has moved to section six. 
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If your car’s log book is still in the older format, it’s worth noting that, while the DVLA has suggested owners to update to the new V5C log books, it’s not a legal requirement. 

When do I need to update my V5C?

You must update your V5C if you change your name or address. This is usually free to do. Failure to notify the DVLA of changes can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Vehicle tax reminder letters from the DVLA and VED road-tax refunds will also be sent to the wrong address if you don’t. Another reason to keep your address updated is because it could be used to contact you if your vehicle is the subject of a manufacturer recall.

road taxCar tax rates 2024: VED tax and bands explained

Any major modifications – including to the colour, engine, engine cylinder capacity, fuel type, chassis or body shell (replaced or modified), seating capacity or the weight of a van or campervan – must also all be logged via the V5C and submitted to the DVLA. If you spot any inaccuracies, these should be amended and reported to the DVLA, too.

How do I change the address on my V5C online?

Since mid-2020, drivers have been able to complete V5C address changes online. The service is free, quick to use and is accessible at https://www.gov.uk/change-address-v5c. The address change will be completed instantly and a new log book should arrive within five days.

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To use this service, you’ll need to have your current V5C document along with the 11-digit log book reference number, the registration number of the vehicle, and a UK address and postcode. Once the change of address is completed, the DVLA will issue you with an email confirmation.

You must also update the address on your driver's licence and VED (road tax) payment details whenever you change your address.

How do I change the address on my V5C by post?

You can still change the address on your log book by post, which takes up to six weeks. If you have the new style V5C (issued after 15 April 2019), write your new home address in section three. If you have the old V5C (issued before 15 April 2019), you should complete section six and sign it. Regardless of which version of the V5C you have, you should ensure that you leave the ‘new keeper’ box unticked.

Once completed, you should send the V5C to the DVLA. Remember to update your driving licence and VED (road tax) payment details whenever you change your address.

How do I change the name on my V5C?

A change of name on a log book can only be completed by post. You need to enter your new 

details in section three of a new V5C, or section six of the older V5C. Again, you need to leave the ‘new keeper’ box unticked, and include proof that you’ve legally changed your name, such as marriage or deed poll certificate. If the registered keeper is a business, include proof of its name change (such as a certificate of incorporation from Companies House).

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Changing your name and address at the same time must also be done by post. As mentioned above, you must include proof that your name has changed.

I’ve lost my V5C – what do I do?

If you’ve lost your V5C or it’s been stolen or become badly torn or stained, you can apply for a duplicate log book at www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book. You will need your vehicle’s registration number, the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the name and postcode that your vehicle is registered to. There’s a £25 fee and it should take up to five working days to arrive in the post.

You can also apply for a duplicate log book by calling the DVLA on 0300 790 6802, as long as you’re the registered keeper.

Only use this service if the details on your V5C, such as your name or address, are remaining the same. The duplicate log book must have exactly the same details as the lost, stolen or damaged copy.

How do I fill out my V5C when selling a car? (online method)

If you’re selling a car, it’s good practice to ensure you have the V5C for the vehicle and that it’s intact and undamaged. The buyer should check the V5C prior to a sale, so make sure it's ready to go and not tucked away in the attic somewhere.

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Once you’ve agreed on a deal to sell your car, it’s time to inform the DVLA that the owner of the vehicle has changed. If you plan to do this online, you’ll need to take down the new owner’s email address as you’ll have to provide this contact information at www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle, a service that is available between 7am and 7pm every day.

When you’ve completed the simple online form, you’ll receive an instant email from the DVLA to confirm the ownership change, followed by a letter in the post. The same also applies if you sell your vehicle to a garage, trader or dealership.

You will then need the paper V5C document to complete section V5C/2 – ‘Selling or transferring my vehicle to a new keeper (not a trader)’. Fill this in, tear it off, and give it to the new owner as proof of the transfer of ownership. You must then destroy the rest of the V5C. The buyer will receive their new V5C in the post.

The online form will prompt the Government to refund you any road tax overpayment on the vehicle, or alternatively, cancel any Direct Debit if you pay monthly. This is because under the latest Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system, road tax cannot be transferred between owners.

Filling out the V5C when selling a car (postal method)

If you are unable to complete a change of ownership online, you can still fill out the V5C by hand and send it to the DVLA by post when you sell your car.

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From 15 April 2019, the V5C registration certificate was revised. If you have a new V5C, your name and address will be at the top of the front cover and there will be a multicoloured guidance section located at the bottom of the form. Regardless of which version of the V5C you have, you should always fill it out in block capitals with a black ballpoint pen.

V5C issued after 15 April 2019:

  • Seller: complete section two, called ‘selling or transferring my vehicle to a new keeper’
  • Seller: fill in the date of sale in section six, called the ‘new keeper slip’, and give it to the buyer
  • Seller: send the V5C to ‘DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA’.

V5C issued before 15 April 2019:

  • Seller: complete section six, called ‘new keeper details’
  • Both: sign the declaration in section eight
  • Seller: fill in section 10 (also called V5C/2), called the ‘new keeper supplement’, and give it to the buyer
  • Seller: send the V5C to ‘DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA’.

The buyer should receive their new V5C within two to four weeks. 

What do I need to do when buying a car?

If you’re buying a car privately, check beforehand with the owner that they have the V5C, as it could save a wasted trip if the owner needs to get a replacement. Once you decide to purchase the vehicle, you should always inspect the V5C to ensure it’s genuine. Does the owner’s name and address appear correctly and do the details of the vehicle (VIN number, make, colour, engine size, etc.) match the one you’re buying? Also ensure the paper is intact and undamaged, and that any details are filled out in block capitals with a black ballpoint pen.

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Check if the owner plans to register the change of ownership online and, if so, supply them with your email address. Ensure you’re given the tear-off V5C/2 ‘new keeper’s details’ to temporarily prove your ownership of the vehicle you’ve bought. You’ll receive an email from the DVLA when the change of ownership is registered and a new V5C will be posted to you.

It’s also important to note that you’ll need to tax or make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) on the new vehicle straight away, as you don’t take ownership of any remaining road tax when you purchase a car.

If the new V5C fails to arrive, you can download a V62 ‘application for a vehicle registration certificate’ form or pick one up from a Post Office. Send this to the DVLA along with the ‘new keeper slip’ (section six) provided by the seller or you’ll be charged a fee. You should receive a V5C within six weeks.

To tax a vehicle as soon as you take ownership, use the website www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax or call 0300 123 4321. Both are available 24/7 and the process should take no more than a few minutes. You’ll need to provide the 12-digit reference number in section six of your V5C ‘new keeper’ supplement.
 

How do I tell the DVLA my vehicle has been written-off or scrapped?

scrapyard image

If your car is written-off and scrapped by your insurance company, you can use an online form to tell the DVLA, available from 7am to 7pm at www.gov.uk/written-off-vehicle.

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You’ll be asked to provide your insurance company’s name and postcode in the ‘provide trader details’ sections, along with your vehicle registration number and the 11-digit document reference number that’s printed on the front page of the log book.

Ensure the name and address on the V5C are correct and tell the DVLA by post instead if they need to be updated.

It’s important to inform the DVLA promptly, as you can be fined £1,000 for not reporting that your car has been written-off or scrapped. Your insurance company can ask you for the whole V5C – if this happens (and you haven’t told the DVLA online), write a letter to the DVLA with the details of your insurance company and the date it received the vehicle.

Is there anything else to know about the V5C?

The V5C contains important information about your vehicle, such as the date it was first registered, its make, colour and engine size. When buying a car it is important to check the chassis number on the V5C matches the one on the car – if it doesn’t it may be a ‘ringer’, a term given to a stolen car that has been given the identity of another car.

The V5C also contains information about your vehicle’s emissions which may be important if you live in an area – such as the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) – that charges a fee for using a vehicle that doesn’t meet certain emissions standards. You will find this information on page two of the V5C in the section titled ‘Vehicle details’. In subsection D2 under ‘Type’ it will say whether the car is EURO4 (or EURO5, EURO6 etc.).

A car’s tax status is also recorded on the V5C so if you are buying a classic car and want to make sure it qualifies for the zero rate road tax, you need to check it is listed as a ‘Historic Vehicle’ in the taxation class section.

Can I find a copy of my V5C online?

Unfortunately not. The V5C is only intended to be a physical document, and there are no plans currently in place for this to change. However, you can use the DVLA’s V62 online form to order a new V5C should you lose yours, or if you need to make any necessary changes to the information currently displayed on your V5C.

Car buying made simple:

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Shafiq has had a serial obsession with all things automotive since he experienced his baptism of fire as a seven-year-old in the passenger seat of a fourth-generation Toyota Supra. He then decided to turn this passion into a profession by becoming a double journalism graduate and cutting his teeth at publications like CarThrottle, Electrifying, and The Intercooler.

He now works as a Content Editor at Carbuyer, and looks to keep the nation informed on the latest trends and news in an industry that is embracing its most significant period of change since Bertha Benz’s historic drive in the Patent Motorwagen. 

Shafiq says…

“Whether you’re a traditional enthusiast looking for your next big super saloon or someone who simply wants to find their perfect back-to-basics supermini, there is common ground to be found for both parties right here at Carbuyer. Our goal is simple: to provide you with all the advice and the details that you need to make a calculated decision that satisfies both your head and your heart.”

Shafiq Abidin’s expertise and interests:

  • Mini SUVs
  • Luxury electric saloons
  • Used performance cars

Shafiq Abidin’s top tips for car buyers:

  1. So often, buyers have their hearts set on a particular colour combination or specific cabin details. There’s nothing wrong with that, but a willingness to compromise on trim and design will often pave the way for big savings. At the end of the day, buyers should first and foremost be looking at whether or not a car satisfies their needs, and only secondarily on the more materialistic things.
  2. Having a full log of service stamps and the entire documented history of a used car is everything you need to understand how its life has been lived. Where one car may have just 10,000 miles on the odometer, but has been plagued with issues over its lifespan, another with 50,000 miles could be completely trouble-free – it’s all an indication as to how its previous owners have treated it. Remember, you’re not just buying that car, but you’re also taking on the responsibilities of what its former owners have done with it, so it’s paramount that you don’t underestimate the value of good maintenance.
  3. Do you really need that bigger, more powerful engine? These days, even the mid-level options for a particular model range provide everything you need to make a statement while retaining a large portion of the economy provided by the more ‘boring’ option. Fuel isn’t going to get any cheaper, and finding the right balance is key to ensuring that you won’t be spending more than you’d be happy to.

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