Why does it take 2-4 weeks for a V5C?

Why does it take 2-4 weeks for a V5C?

Author
Discussion

pariah

Original Poster:

2 posts

104 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
I'm a UK national but currently expat. I was planning on flying into the UK in a couple of weeks, buying a bike and then riding over to Sweden/Finland. I say planning because it looks like it will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to get the V5C change of ownership processed. And I can't technically ride the bike abroad until I get this.

Why, in this age of databases, autoprinting and the web, does it take so long to issue a standard change of ownership registration certificate?

Emeye

9,773 posts

223 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
This is baffling, as since you have been able to arrange for a reg plate transfer online you get the new V5c in a couple of days....

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
pariah said:
I'm a UK national but currently expat. I was planning on flying into the UK in a couple of weeks, buying a bike and then riding over to Sweden/Finland. I say planning because it looks like it will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to get the V5C change of ownership processed. And I can't technically ride the bike abroad until I get this.

Why, in this age of databases, autoprinting and the web, does it take so long to issue a standard change of ownership registration certificate?
It doesn't always. Last one I did, it arrived back in a little over a week. But under-promise, over-deliver...

Steve57

2,159 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
the system baffles me somewhat.

Christmas i purchased a new audi, collected 18th December new logbook arrived 23rd december. did a registration change (retention cert was in a different name so couldnt do from new) new logbook between christmas and new year. Scroll forward to the end of march, purchased a pre reg land rover for wifey, 25 days later the logbook arrives....Do the plate transfer when that logbook arrives then 2 days later a new logbook arrives......

vanordinaire

3,701 posts

162 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
I have a few vehicle changes in recent years and the V5 has never taken more than a week. I expect they're just trying to cover all eventualities and not raise expectations.

eybic

9,212 posts

174 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Steve57 said:
Scroll forward to the end of march, purchased a pre reg land rover for wifey, 25 days later the logbook arrives....Do the plate transfer when that logbook arrives then 2 days later a new logbook arrives......
March will be one of their busiest months due to reg changes hence the 25 days.

Steve57

2,159 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
eybic said:
March will be one of their busiest months due to reg changes hence the 25 days.
guess so, i thought maybe partly land rover being slow too action it also being pre reg. just odd that the replacement arrives virtually straight away. probably automated on the plate transfer.

KungFuPanda

4,333 posts

170 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
When I bought my previous car, the garage did the change of keeper notification online. This was done on the Monday, I got the new V5 on Thursday. The DVLA are pretty quick nowadays.

Fish

3,976 posts

282 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Make sure the old owner does the sale notification online and it comes out in a couple of days..


Exige77

6,518 posts

191 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
I have heard all the horror stories about the DVLA but recently changed cars and moved number plates and all done in a week.

Very satisfied with their service.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
I've always found DVLA turnround very quick - less than a week the last time.

I do, however, always take care to fill out forms as legibly as possible. I would hope that DVLA use OCR to scan documents, so perhaps unclear scrawled applications have to be processed manually - with concomitant delays.

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Last car I bought I agreed the deal on the Wednesday, collected it on the Friday and got the V5c on the Saturday.

solo2

861 posts

147 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
If the keeper change or whatever is done online then the replacement V5C will arrive in 3 to 5 days

https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle

if you do it by post then it will take weeks.

boxedin

1,354 posts

126 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
This is where the old offices were great, buy a car. Pop down and get a written up V5, drive straight to Europe.

Done.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Exige77 said:
I have heard all the horror stories about the DVLA but recently changed cars and moved number plates and all done in a week.

Very satisfied with their service.
The volume the DVLA deals with is enormous. I bet their error rate is a fraction of a %.

KevinCamaroSS

11,638 posts

280 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Going through the pain myself at the moment. I am purchasing a Camaro SS that is new to the UK. DVLA is being very awkward about the registration. We have the GM build sheet from 2009, know, but cannot prove, the first US registration in 2010. We also have the documents from the Middle East registration in 2013. They have had the paperwork for 4 weeks now and have just asked for the build sheet details to be on GM headed paper.....

MG Ant

98 posts

123 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Bought car from a dealer on 12-May. Arranged insurance with current provider - took 5 mins. Paid for car-tax by debit card - easy enough. Still waiting for V5...

Roo

11,503 posts

207 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
KevinCamaroSS said:
Going through the pain myself at the moment. I am purchasing a Camaro SS that is new to the UK. DVLA is being very awkward about the registration. We have the GM build sheet from 2009, know, but cannot prove, the first US registration in 2010. We also have the documents from the Middle East registration in 2013. They have had the paperwork for 4 weeks now and have just asked for the build sheet details to be on GM headed paper.....
AACI are a recognised club for providing build details to DVLA.

KevinCamaroSS

11,638 posts

280 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
Thanks Roo, what is AACI?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Wednesday 1st June 2016
quotequote all
KevinCamaroSS said:
We also have the documents from the Middle East registration in 2013.
In Arabic...?

Assuming they're not in Arabic, do they state that it was first registered in 2009/2010? If so, I'm surprised DVLA aren't taking that.

You don't have any US registration docs, just the ME?