Which Documents Do I Need to Sell My Car Online in the UK?
FixMyCar discusses what documents are needed to sell your car in the UK today.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Tuesday January 16 2024
5 min read
There may come a time when you want to sell your car. Whether you’ve outgrown your current vehicle and are looking for an upgraded model or need some extra cash, there are several important considerations to make before selling up.
Once you’ve closed the deal and agreed on the price, the next step is gathering all the necessary documents.
What documents do I need to sell my car?
If you’re selling your car privately, whether you choose to do it online or face-to-face with a buyer, it's a good idea to provide your original purchase receipt. Not only does this prove that the vehicle has belonged to you previously, but it also gives the buyer important information about the car.
You should also have a copy of the following documents:
Logbook or V5C
Evidence of service history
Proof of purchase for both parties
Receipts from any car parts purchased
Insurance policy
What to do when you want to sell your car
Your logbook or V5C
You use the logbook to inform the DVLA that you are no longer the vehicle's registered keeper. If you're not sure what a V5C is, check out this guide for more information.
You must tell the DVLA that you’ve sold the vehicle and provide the full name and address of the buyer. Failure to do this may interfere with any tax refund you may be owed. If you are owed a refund on your vehicle tax, this will be paid within 4-6 weeks.
As long as the buyer of your car is in the UK and not taking the vehicle abroad, you simply need to give them the green ‘new keeper’ slip from your logbook.
If you have a private registration on the car you want to sell, you must apply to remove this before selling it.
Evidence of service history
Though you may not be able to provide the service history in full, providing evidence of previous servicing gives your buyer greater confidence and is more likely to help you make a sale. Providing a full-service history shows the new owner that you have taken care of the car, as you can prove that it has been checked over regularly by a professional. A complete service history also shows the buyer the car's actual mileage.
Proof of purchase
Upon completion of the sale, you, as a seller, need to be able to give the buyer a receipt slip that confirms they have purchased the vehicle.
This should include the names of both the buyer and seller, the address of both buyer and seller, the date, the amount paid and signatures from both parties.
MOT certificates
An annual MOT is a legal requirement, and as such, you should be able to provide the buyer with all of the past certificates the car has received.
These certificates are available online for all MOTs issued after 2006. However, you may want to provide physical copies to your buyer for greater peace of mind, particularly for older vehicles.
Car warranty
You must let the company from whom you have the warranty know that you are no longer the vehicle owner and provide the documents to the new owner if this outstanding warranty is transferable.
Car parts receipts
If your car has received any new parts during servicing and repairs over your period of ownership, it’s good to provide evidence of this to the new vehicle owner for greater transparency and should anything ever go wrong with the part in the future.
Insurance policy
Once your car is sold, you must tell your insurer that you are no longer the car's owner. You must also update your insurance policy with any new vehicle purchased.
How to safely sell a vehicle online
The thought of selling your car online can be daunting. However, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Follow these simple steps and you shouldn’t put a foot wrong.
Be prepared - Have all of the right documents ready for the buyer.
Get paid - Always ensure you have received payment before handing over the keys.
Beware of scammers - A legitimate buyer should be able to provide details such as their name, home address and phone number.
See what your car is worth with Motorway.
Think you might need a mechanic to repair your car before you sell? Here at FixMyCar, we've got a network of thousands of trained specialists who can help.
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