Plate change prior to used car sale
Discussion
I’ve found a used car for sale privately. It is currently registered with a private plate which the seller will retain, so it needs to be returned to its original reg prior to the sale.
Do I need to wait for the seller to physically receive the updated V5 before we can compete the purchase or, with the ability to do online change of ownership and VED, can we go ahead without it?
Also, will trying to insure it be a pain while the DVLA updates their database between the two registrations?
Don’t really want to potentially wait weeks to complete the purchase but similarly don’t want to hand over cash for something I can’t register, tax or insure easily!
Do I need to wait for the seller to physically receive the updated V5 before we can compete the purchase or, with the ability to do online change of ownership and VED, can we go ahead without it?
Also, will trying to insure it be a pain while the DVLA updates their database between the two registrations?
Don’t really want to potentially wait weeks to complete the purchase but similarly don’t want to hand over cash for something I can’t register, tax or insure easily!
The plate removal and the transfer to a new registered keeper are two separate steps with DVLA, they cannot be done at the same time.
The plate needs to be removed, either by post or online with DVLA.
If done online it is instant and a new registration is assigned. The replacement V5c seems to be taking about a week to arrive if the transfer is done online. The transfer to new keeper needs this new V5c in order to tell DVLA as the old one showing the private registration will no longer be valid.
If they don’t remove the private registration and use the old V5C to inform DVLA then the new V5C will come to you with the private registration still on the car.
It may be possible to post the original V5C to DVLA informing them of change of keeper and at the same time transfer the private reg using the online system. I suspect the transfer to you would fail as by the time DVLA get the form in the post they would have already issued a new V5C so the one in the post would no longer be valid.
The plate needs to be removed, either by post or online with DVLA.
If done online it is instant and a new registration is assigned. The replacement V5c seems to be taking about a week to arrive if the transfer is done online. The transfer to new keeper needs this new V5c in order to tell DVLA as the old one showing the private registration will no longer be valid.
If they don’t remove the private registration and use the old V5C to inform DVLA then the new V5C will come to you with the private registration still on the car.
It may be possible to post the original V5C to DVLA informing them of change of keeper and at the same time transfer the private reg using the online system. I suspect the transfer to you would fail as by the time DVLA get the form in the post they would have already issued a new V5C so the one in the post would no longer be valid.
Ah thanks! So the consensus is that I should wait for the seller to get the updated V5C back before purchasing the car? He doesn’t want to remove the plate until I see it so I guess I can put a deposit down on the day.
I’m also guessing it’s probably not a good idea to buy it without the updated V5C as the old one is then invalid. This is my first time buying a car privately so any advice is welcome!
I’m also guessing it’s probably not a good idea to buy it without the updated V5C as the old one is then invalid. This is my first time buying a car privately so any advice is welcome!
The seller is making this more difficult than it needs to be. If he has decided to sell his car he needs to remove his plate ASAP. Waiting till he finds a buyer will only delay the sale by a week.
Don’t buy a car without a valid V5 showing the number plate that will be on the car when you take ownership.
Don’t buy a car without a valid V5 showing the number plate that will be on the car when you take ownership.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff