Selling Car Documents

Author
Discussion

sorin1987

Original Poster:

152 posts

110 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
This is the first time I am selling a car since I moved to UK.
I read online that beside the V5C documents you have to send to DVLA (or let them know online that you no longer own the car) you can have a Seller Contract where both parties sign it. It can be downloaded online from a lot of sites...
Is this contract absolutely necessary? I am selling the car to some good friends and there are no trust issues between us. The online guides I read don't actually mention if this step is mandatory or just an option to reasure each party.

Thanks

Denis O

2,141 posts

242 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Not mandatory but sensible, especially in the case of trusted "friends".

When you're looking down the barrel of a speeding offence, for the day your "friend" drove the car away, a timed receipt/contract is quite a useful tool.

eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Other than notifying the DVLA, all you need to do is a simple receipt confirming the car details including chassis number, the buyer's details, seller's details, price, date and time and importantly "Sold as seen" signed by you and the buyer.

This covers both you and the buyer in the case of speeding/ parking tickets etc.


sorin1987

Original Poster:

152 posts

110 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Does this contract have to be signed in the presence of an official witness? Like a lawyer or notary? Or just my wife being there is enough?


CYMR0

3,940 posts

199 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
No, no formalities needed at all for the sale to be valid.

It's purely to protect you and you should both sign as evidence that you have agreed the terms of the sale, but title would transfer no matter what - it's just like buying a Mars bar in a shop.

You have to send in the V5C but that's only so DVLA can find the car's keeper if they need to, not to assign ownership.

Hol

8,364 posts

199 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
I do it when I buy and when I sell.

When I first started driving, I bought a car and got a parking ticket in the post that luckily I could prove pre dated the receipt my dad insisted on when picked up the car.

Now I also note write down the time as well, just in case the previous owner got a speeding or parking ticket the same day.