Vehicle registration https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/new-and-used-vehicles
New vehicles
The dealer will usually register a brand new vehicle for you. If they do, you’ll get a V5C registration certificate (log book) within 6 weeks. Contact DVLA if you do not get one.
If the dealer will not do it, you can register the vehicle yourself.
If your vehicle is a new heavy goods vehicle (HGV), you also need to record the details of your HGV with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Used vehicles
You need to tax a used vehicle before you can use it on the road.
The way a used vehicle is registered to you depends on whether it has a V5C registration certificate (log book).
Vehicle has a registration certificate (V5C)
The seller can register the vehicle to you online or by post.
The seller must follow a different process if you’re buying a vehicle to take abroad including the Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey), Isle of Man or Ireland. They must give you the full log book (V5C) and not send it to DVLA.
Register online
The seller will need to:
register the vehicle to you online
fill in the green ‘new keeper’ slip and give it to you
destroy the V5C
DVLA will update the vehicle record immediately and they will aim to send out a new V5C to you within 3 to 5 days.
Register by post
If you cannot register the vehicle online, you can register it by post. The seller will need to:
complete section 2 if they have a new style log book (with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover) or section 6 if they have the older style log book
sign the declaration in section 8 if they have the older style log book (you must sign the declaration too)
fill in the new keeper slip and give it to you
send the V5C to DVLA
DVLA aims to send out a new V5C to you as soon as possible, usually 4 to 6 weeks after getting the old V5C from the seller.
If you do not get it within 6 weeks:
complete form V62 – ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’
send it to DVLA with the new keeper slip given to you by the seller – if you do not send in the new keeper slip, you’ll have to pay a fee
Download form V62 or get it from any Post Office branch.
Contact DVLA if you do not receive anything 6 weeks after sending in form V62.
Vehicle does not have a registration certificate
DVLA advises that you should not buy a vehicle that does not have a registration certificate (V5C).
Register the vehicle in your name by using form V62 ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate’. You’ll have to pay a fee. See the section above for how to get form V62.
Contact DVLA if you do not receive anything 6 weeks after sending in form V62.
Checking your new registration certificate
When you receive your registration certificate, it’s your responsibility to check all the details are correct. If anything is incorrect, make the changes on the certificate and send it back to DVLA.
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA
You’ll get the replacement certificate within 4 weeks.