Lost V5C and selling car

JamesBro

Hi there.
I hope this is the right place for this.
I'm about to buy a new car and part exchange my current one. Very annoyingly, I can't find my V5C form and it seems as though the DVLA services are limited due to COVID.
How much of a problem will this cause me? Is it possible to go ahead with the part exchange without the V5C form or will I have to wait 4-6 weeks, by which time the car will have probably sold?!
Thanks

AdrianC

If you can find somebody willing to buy the car without a V5C, then nothing to stop them doing so.

But a V62 and get hold of the V5C first is by far and away the better way to do it.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-vehicle-registration-certificate

The replacement V5C will come through far more quickly for you than for a new keeper - because they don't have to contact the previous keeper (you) and say "Is this legit?". Also, the trader would be reluctant because it'll add an extra keeper as well as delay - while they know no buyer is going to want to know without a V5C. So, to compensate for that hassle, the price they give you will come down - if they're willing at all. Plus, of course, the £25 fee will come back to you anyway.

In normal times, it'd take a lot less than 4-6 weeks. Now...? Potentially far longer.

JamesBro

Thanks very much for this, AdrianC.
Things have actually moved on a bit since this morning and I've agreed the part exchange. The dealer is aware that I don't have a log book, but he said, "just get a new one from DVLA and post it to me when you get it". He said we can do the sale beforehand anyway and doesn't need the log book right away. Does that sound OK?
1) Am I not still liable for anything happening to the car while it's in my name?
2) And when requesting a new log book, do I need to tell DVLA it's for a sale or they just send a replacement one out with me as the owner and then send it to the dealer to register them as the new owner?

Lastly, and separately, when buying a new car, do I need to change the insurance and tax it the moment I buy it, before I even drive away from the dealership? It's been 13 years since I bought a new car, so I'm out of practice! 

molerat

1. Yes you are, as the keeper any speeding and parking tickets will be sent to you.

2. Just order the V5 and fill out the on line transfer details, don't trust anyone else to do it !

You need to have the car taxed and insured before you drive it away from the dealership.  They can tax it in your name and bill you and they may be able to arrange short term cover to keep you legal.

Another problem is that when you change the insurance over the old car will no longer be covered so you will need to SORN it or you could be liable to a penalty under the continuous insurance rules, the problem there is that you need the V5 reference to SORN.

Things are 1000% easier with a V5

JamesBro

OK, thank you.
Taxing and insuring the new car is fine then.
My problem is with my current car that I'm exchanging. If I request a new V5 through the online form and this takes "potentially far longer than 6 weeks" to come back to me, then what can I do? Or are you able to get your V5 reference before you receive it in the post etc?
The dealer suggested if I call the DVLA they will be able to send me a new logbook within 5-7 days and then just send it onto them. Is he wrong?

AdrianC

JamesBro said:

My problem is with my current car that I'm exchanging. If I request a new V5 through the online form and this takes "potentially far longer than 6 weeks" to come back to me, then what can I do? Or are you able to get your V5 reference before you receive it in the post etc?
The dealer suggested if I call the DVLA they will be able to send me a new logbook within 5-7 days and then just send it onto them. Is he wrong?

You can wait. And, no, the new doc ref is issued when the new V5C is issued - and it's all automated and falls straight off the printer into the post - even if you could, it'd save a day.

The problem is that for fairly obvious reasons, DVLA are pretty much closed at the mo.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dvla-coronavirus-covid-19-update

JamesBro

OK. I've just ordered the new V5C on the phone and they say it'll arrive within 3-5 days. I presume I'm best to wait until I receive it before going to purchase the new car/part exchange my old one?
And then, when I exchange, can I just fill in this DVLA form? https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle 

AdrianC

Yes, and yes.

JamesBro

Thanks for all your help

JamesBro

Hi there.
Back to this...!
I have now received my V5C through the post and can exchange on the new car.

Before I sell the car to the trader, can I complete the form online (https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle) to tell DVLA I've sold it or do I have to wait until I'm home to notify the DVLA? And do I give the trader the V5C form? Surely I need to keep it for now after the sale to be able to transfer the logbook over? Sorry about these elementary questions but I want to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

Thanks.

shaun_from_Africa

JamesBro said:

Before I sell the car to the trader, can I complete the form online (https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle) to tell DVLA I've sold it or do I have to wait until I'm home to notify the DVLA? 

I would say either do it after the sale when you get home or if the dealer allows it, use their computer or internet connection and do it whilst at the dealership.
You could run into problems if you do it now (say for example, you make the transfer then for some reason you can't get to the trader or there is a problem and your new motor isn't ready).

I'm not too sure but there may also be insurance issues if you complete the transfer now then drive the car to the dealer as you would be driving a vehicle that isn't registered in your name.