Selling a car with no V5 - Advice please!

[garycox]

I've found (via ebay) a buyer for my Mazda.

 

The car is registered in my name but I appear to have somehow lost the V5, it's not with all the other paperwork. I have warned the buyer about this, but if I don't have it, what do I need to do when I sell the car?

 

They're coming to collect it in a couple of hours...

[autofive]

give them a receipt

 

someone made an 'autoshite' bill of sale recently - use the same format to cover your ass. legally

[Des]

I would be very careful, you could still be liable for speeding fines, parking fines, box junction contravention fines, sorn fines, etc. Straightforward enough to explain that you sold the car, you would think, but sadly modern motoring legislation tax collecting follows the principle that you're guilty until you prove you're innocent, and nobody's listening to you, could be a load of hassle that drags on for years, threatening letters, bailiffs, having to deal with morons at DVLA.

Probably only a small risk of such trouble, if you do go ahead with it, might be worth sending an empty envelope to DVLA, recorded, or get a proof of posting, you could use this as 'evidence' that you informed the Swansea boys of the change of keeper, they should then accept it as one of their many, many errors.

Compare my paranoid rant to 10-ish years ago when I sold a car, took a deposit, the guy would be back next day and V5 nowhere to be found. I phoned DVLA for a replacement late afternoon, arrived next morning at 6AM.

 

PS

That empty envelope, put in a letter telling DVLA who you sold the car to and when, it might work, (I shouldn't assume they're idiots in spite of bitter experience) keep proof of posting, new keeper will have to pay almost 20 quid for their V5.

[autofive]

i think a new v5c is more like 25 notes

 

send a copy of the bill of sale to dvla, if it makes you feel better, or you could just wait for the sorn/tax reminder (assuming the car is still registered to you), then send it back with the sale details

[scaryoldcortina]

You must tell the DVLA you have sold it - it isn't so much that the new owner might blag the post office on his way home, more that as soon as he pays £25 to swansea for a new log book you will get a fine from them for £55 for not telling them you sold it.

 

Legally speaking, a properly written receipt is MORE use than the V5. Never sell or buy without one.

[dollywobbler]

You must tell the DVLA you have sold it - it isn't so much that the new owner might blag the post office on his way home, more that as soon as he pays £25 to swansea for a new log book you will get a fine from them for £55 for not telling them you sold it.

 

Legally speaking, a properly written receipt is MORE use than the V5. Never sell or buy without one.

Yup, agreed. We had a car where the logbook got lost in the post. The seller then went out of the country and very nearly got arrested on her return as it'd escalated in her absence with a fine and then failure to pay! You will get fined if you leave it to the buyer to send off for a new logbook.

[Cavcraft]

Tell them you'll send it off when you find it and do so asap. If you find the new keeper's part do NOT send this off with a V5 application form to go in their name as you'll get fined by DVLA for not sending the main part of the V5 off.

 

Also get them to write a receipt out which is dated and timed and to include their name, address, postcode and 'phone number to say something along the lines of..'I have purchased this vehicle today (make/model/reg. no.) and I am legally responsible for it from this day and time onwards'.

[Lankytim]

The Maestro I bought was missing its V5 but the seller assured me he'd send it the next day. 2 weeks later no V5 and no reply to any messages. I suppose I should just ring him....

[Torsten2001]

Is that the beige one? I guess it's more of a problem for him rather than you.

Because I have a traders insurance policy I always fill in the traders part of the V5 and keep the rest, I insist on it. One of the advantages of that is that I don't have to SORN or tax a vehicle, never caused me a moments grief.

I also have a slightly bonkers but lovely local postmistress that will tax anything if it's in my name or not so long as I have my document that says I can drive anything!

[Lankytim]

No, its not the beige one, its the silver one! If I apply for a new V5 i'm guessing he'l get fined for it? I'm a bit worried the V5 will end up being sent off as scrapped but again, he will have hard time explaining how the car has resurfaced.

[Rod/b]

Send a letter to the Special Casework team at the DVLA along with a copy of the bill of sale stating when you sold it, time and date. I had a local firm register all their vans to my house recently and i got a stack of fines through - this lot sorted it out.

 

If you'd had more time i'd have said get the V5 application form, get the new owner to fill it out but send it off and pay the fee yourself for peace of mind.