Sold my car but did not keep V5! Help please.

[Dead Cell]

Hi

I sold my car last week and stupidly handed over the entire V5 to the buyer who said that he will fill in his part and send off to DVLA. I signed my section but did not retain for my reference.

Even more stupidly I did not even get the buyer's full name or address so I sent him a text and he replied back with his full name and only the street name and the name of the area but no door number or postcode.

He assures me that he has posted the V5.

Should I be concerned?

Should I call DVLA to inform them that I have sold the car?

If the buyer has posted the V5 then will I, the seller, receive any documentation from DVLA to confirm change of ownership?

I would really appreciate any help/advice you can provide as I'm very worried right now.

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice you can provide.

[Dead Cell]

I really appreciate your help Neville and lesson learnt. It was my first car sale but even so that was a pathetic transaction.

I will request the full address and write to DVLA.

Just so I know, if the buyer has indeed sent off the V5 then will I receive confirmation from DVLA?

Cheers mate

[johnnyBv8]

If he says he's posted it to DVLA, I wouldn't bother making an issue of it by telling him you don't beleive him (i.e. telling him you're writing to DVLA). You should be able to get his postcode from the street name and area using a postcide search. Assuming you cant find out his house number by Google search etc, I'd just write a quick letter to DVLA stating the address as you have it. No need to go into too much detail in the letter - just explain that the new buyer took all sections of the V5 and confirm the date of transfer. If they need any more info, they can write back to you!

[john2443]

Definitely write to DVLA - I sold a shed to a dealer years ago (Older type V5 when IIRC trader took the whole document) and then received a string of parking tickets; more serious now with scameras - you want to be sure that tickets don't come to you.

Look at BT.com and 192.com, you may find the house number from there.

[LuS1fer]

Write to the DVLA and you'll get a letter back noting you've sold it. The address is not critical, I am sure many ne'r-do-wells give false addresses...and names.

[300bhp/ton]

Dead Cell said:

I really appreciate your help Neville and lesson learnt. It was my first car sale but even so that was a pathetic transaction.

I will request the full address and write to DVLA.

Just so I know, if the buyer has indeed sent off the V5 then will I receive confirmation from DVLA?

Cheers mate

st happens. But not to try and put you down - all the info you needed was CLEARLY written on the V5 and what you needed to do. It really takes only a tiny bit of common sense.

Also I wouldn't waste time texting the new owner - phone them as you evidently have their contact details. One phone call will easily sort out what multiple text messages might fail to achieve.


Chances are you'll be fine, but there is a risk should anything happen with the car, then you will be the first port of call in any investigation or speeding related incident. So get that letter (I'd send it recorded delivery) to the DVLA as soon as.

And for future reference when selling a car:


-write out two receipts, one for you and one for the new owner. Put your name/address on it and get the buyer to do the same. Put the car make, model, reg number, colour and maybe even a brief description down and the date of sale, amount and how it was paid for. Get you and the buyer to sign both copies.

This way they have proof of purchase and you have proof of sale. It'll protect you (and the buyer) should anything untoward occur.

-fill out all of the bits on the V5 that need completing (it tells you which bits) and only give the seller the bits they need, no matter how insistent they may be. Always send it to the DVLA yourself.

[Dead Cell]

Wow so many replies I'm very grateful to each and very one of you for your advice.

I have a letter written ready to send to DVLA via special delivery on Monday.

The buyer did seem very genuine and paid in cash.

It was very stupid of me to not have kept my part of the V5 and to not have made a receipt. It was rushed and I was very unorganised.

You live and learn I guess.

Will update thread once I'm in the clear!

Cheers guys.

[technobob]

There is a form on the dvla website to notify them if you have not had a confirmation of sale of car. I used it when I had not received the letter from them, got the confirmation in a couple of days.

[technobob]

Here is the link to the form

https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail...

[Grenoble]

300bhp/ton said:

-write out two receipts, one for you and one for the new owner. Put your name/address on it and get the buyer to do the same. Put the car make, model, reg number, colour and maybe even a brief description down and the date of sale, amount and how it was paid for. Get you and the buyer to sign both copies.

You forgot to add the time as well... Not to put you down or anything.

[technobob]

Here is the link to the form

https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail...

[J4CKO]

I sold a Metro Gti to a chimp, I did the v5 but matey boy grabbed both halves, I then get a speeding ticket and several parking fines of the tit, I was surprised the car was still going as it was an utter shed, I sent a letter to the dvla and had a word at work as I worked at the Police at that point, they went round for a word and to arrest him on unrelated matters, how surpassed was I to get overtaken at speed by chimp boy on Trafford park a week later.

My brother sold a pug 309 to a young lad and his grandad and just gave them the v5 without filling it in, the armed response vehicle arriving at 3am was a shock, but apparently said Pug had been used in an armed robbery so obviously armed robbers always use cars registered to their home address.

So, always get it filled out, if you forget, deal with it sooner rather than later !

[Irepairapples]

I have sold my car to a scrap dealer but didn't get his name and address or get my to fill in the v5C I didn't think I needed to because it had been off the road for 3 months and had told the DVA this what can I do now I got this reg number of his lorry as he was driving away I don't want any fines if he put it back on the road

[LittleEnus]

Irepairapples said:

I have sold my car to a scrap dealer but didn't get his name and address or get my to fill in the v5C I didn't think I needed to because it had been off the road for 3 months and had told the DVA this what can I do now I got this reg number of his lorry as he was driving away I don't want any fines if he put it back on the road

First thing you need to do is write a coherent sentence.

I can't understand you.

[Levin]

LittleEnus said:

First thing you need to do is write a coherent sentence. I can't understand you.

He had a car that was not on the road for three months (I presume SORN), and sold it to a scrap dealer. He did not get the scrap dealer's name or address, nor did he get him to fill out the V5C form, though he did make a note of the scrap dealer's registration. Now he's worrying that he could be fined if the car is put back on the road in the future, since the V5C will still have him down as the registered keeper.

I read the post and was able to take that much out of it.