Bought a Car Without a Logbook or Green Slip: What Next?

If you have purchased a vehicle in Great Britain but did not receive the logbook (officially called the V5C vehicle registration certificate) or the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the seller, you will need to take specific steps to register yourself as the vehicle’s keeper with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Understanding the Issue

The V5C logbook is the official document that shows who is responsible for a vehicle. When you buy a car, the seller should provide you with either:

The V5C with the new keeper section completed (usually the green slip), or
The green ‘new keeper’ slip from the seller’s V5C, which you use to register yourself as the new keeper.

If neither of these was given to you, you are not yet registered as the vehicle’s keeper with the DVLA. This means you cannot tax the vehicle or prove legal responsibility until you rectify this.

How to Apply for a Replacement or New V5C (Logbook)

To register the vehicle in your name and get a V5C, you must complete and send form V62, the “Application for a vehicle registration certificate.” This form is a paper-only document that cannot be submitted online and must be posted to the DVLA along with the appropriate fee (currently £25).

Use form V62 if:

You have bought a vehicle but have not received the V5C or green slip from the seller.
You need to apply for a new V5C because the previous one was lost or never received.
You want to register yourself as the keeper and update the vehicle details.

If you have the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the seller, you should include it with your V62 form. This helps DVLA confirm the chain of ownership and may avoid the £25 fee. However, if you do not have this slip, you will still need to apply using the V62 and pay the fee.

Taxing the Vehicle Without a V5C or Green Slip

You cannot tax a vehicle without being registered as the keeper. If you have the V5C or green slip, you can tax the vehicle online, by phone, or at a Post Office. But if you do not have either, you must first apply for a V5C using form V62.

Once you have submitted the V62 and the DVLA registers you as the keeper, you will receive a new V5C, which you can then use to tax the vehicle. You may be able to tax the vehicle at the same time as applying for the V5C if you do this at a Post Office that handles vehicle tax.

Practical Steps to Take

Download and print form V62 from the DVLA website or get a copy from a Post Office.
Complete the form with as much detail as possible about the vehicle and your ownership.
If you have the green ‘new keeper’ slip, include it with your application.
Include a cheque or postal order for £25 made payable to “DVLA, Swansea.”
Post the form and payment to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1DD.
Wait for your new V5C to arrive, which usually takes about 4 weeks.

If you have not received your V5C after 6 weeks, contact the DVLA to check the status of your application.

Exceptions and Additional Notes

If the vehicle was taken out of the UK and does not have a V5C, you should contact the driving authority in the country where the vehicle is registered and inform the DVLA accordingly.
If you received a green ‘new keeper’ slip from a previous V5C, check that the date on the slip matches the latest V5C issue date for that vehicle using the vehicle enquiry service to avoid delays or extra fees.
Applying for a replacement V5C does not guarantee ownership; the DVLA verifies applications based on their records.

In summary, if you bought a car without a logbook or green slip, your next step is to apply for a V5C using form V62 by post, pay the appropriate fee, and wait for DVLA to register you as the keeper. Only then can you tax the vehicle legally.

Official reference: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-vehicle-registration-certificate. Topic-specific official guidance. Topic-specific official guidance. Always check the latest official guidance. Related forms: Browse our form category.

Important: This article provides general information. Government rules, forms and procedures can change, and this article may not reflect the latest updates. Check current GOV.UK guidance or the relevant authority before relying on it. ITG & Co. is independent and is not affiliated with a government department.