Selling a car: they're sending a truck, signing the V5

[Skyedriver]

Situation: Selling a car to someone at the other end of the country. They send truck after cheque clears. How do you go about dealing with the V5? They aren't there to sign it as the new keeper. He wants me to send the complete V5 with the car, but whilst I'm sure he's trustworthy, I don't know him personally.
Do I send the V5 to DVLA unsigned by him? Send him the V5 then inform DVLA separately (by email)?
Any advice guys, I'm sure it's a regular occurrence.

[catman]

Is this a private sale? Why do they want the entire log book? I can see a few problems with this, from parking/speeding fines to a stolen cheque that clears and is then cancelled.

Have they bought the vehicle unseen? Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

Tim

[TooMany2cvs]

It depends on the buyer.

If he's a trader, then - yes - you give him the complete V5C except for the yellow V5C/3 slip, which you send to DVLA.
If he's exporting the car, then you give him the complete V5C except for the purple V5C/4 slip, which you send to DVLA.

Otherwise, you give him the green V5C/2 slip, and send the main bit back to DVLA yourself.

If he isn't there to sign it himself, then leave the signature blank. Mebbe write "(not present)" or similar in the box.

[JB!]

Filled in their address, posted the V5 and banged an X in the signature bit.

[Skyedriver]

Tim
it used to be regular practice for the buyr to send off the whole thing to make sure the car was transferred to them whereas now it seems to be the other way around. And if I send him the whole thing rather than the green slip he can actually sign it as the new keeper.

2CVs and JB!
Seems like the best idea to sign it with a X or maybe say not present like suggested.

[TooMany2cvs]

Skyedriver said:

it used to be regular practice for the buyr to send off the whole thing to make sure the car was transferred to them whereas now it seems to be the other way around.

The legal onus changed to be on the vendor back when the old single-page V5 changed to the two-page V5C booklet. A quick google says 2004, with all changed over by 2005. I'm surprised it's not longer, tbh.

Skyedriver said:

And if I send him the whole thing rather than the green slip he can actually sign it as the new keeper.

Or he could just "forget" all about it, leaving you to fend off speeding tickets, continuous insurance/SORN/tax fines etc etc until the cows come home.

[Renovation]

Truck driver PP's it.

[rallycross]

Anyone can sign it, just make sure it's filled in with new keepers details and sent off to the dvla ASAP.
(You could get a passing tramp to sign it for you as long as he puts a pp before the 'signature'). Yes really.