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What is a V5 logbook and why is it important?

Car guides • 19/12/2023 • 3 min read

In the modern marketplace, it’s essential to ensure all purchased and sold cars have their required information on record. Otherwise, the market would be flooded with vehicles that could be improperly advertised and sold.

This is where a V5 logbook comes in. If you have ever sold or bought a car, then you have likely seen one of these. However, what information does a V5 logbook contain? Do you need one? What should you do with a lost V5 logbook?

Discover all you need to know about this all-important document below.

 

What is a V5 logbook?

 The V5 logbook records the Registered Keepers of a vehicle. The named person in this document is the person who has registered for and is paying tax for the vehicle, so it may not always be the owner.

In most cases, the person paying tax and registering the vehicle is the owner, but this can change in cases such as company cars.

So, what information does a V5 logbook record? In total, a V5 logbook contains:

  • The name and address of the Registered Keeper
  • The date the car was first registered
  • The number of previous Registered Keepers
  • The vehicle’s make, tax class, frame number, model and colour
  • Information about the vehicle’s engine
  • Forms to send to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if the car is sold, as well as forms for scrapping and exporting

Overall, the V5 logbook allows a buyer to see the full history of a car. If things look a little out of place on the logbook, or if a car doesn’t have one, it raises eyebrows, such as whether the car has been advertised incorrectly or if it has been stolen.

 

Do I need a logbook?

Technically, it is illegal to drive a car without a V5 logbook. This is because a car without a V5 logbook cannot be taxed.

Driving an untaxed vehicle can lead to serious fines, with a few exemptions:

  1. If you are driving an untaxed vehicle to a pre-booked MOT appointment
  2. If the driver is disabled
  3. If the car is electric
  4. If the vehicle is classed as a “historic vehicle”

Be sure to check the exemptions list before you hit the road if you think you’re exempt. However, even if you are exempt, you should still have a V5 logbook for your own safety. Plus, it makes selling the car much easier.

 

Can you buy a car without a logbook?

The DVLA strongly advises that you should never buy a car without a V5 logbook. This is because cars without a V5 logbook carry a risk of being stolen, written off or having finance owed on them.

If you purchase a stolen or unpaid vehicle, then bailiffs are within their rights to take the car from you as you aren’t the rightful owner.

By extension, trying to sell a car without a V5 logbook will not go down well. You could offer a once-in-a-lifetime deal, but without a logbook, most buyers will walk away.

Usually, when buying or selling a car, the owner will give the buyer a green “new keeper details” slip. Filling out this form confirms the transaction and isn’t available without a V5 logbook.

How to replace a lost V5 logbook

A lost V5 logbook is a common issue. Thankfully, despite its complexity, the logbook isn’t hard to replace.

If you have personally lost or destroyed a V5 logbook, you can pay £25 for a replacement. However, you can be exempt from paying if:

  1. You haven’t received the V5 logbook from the previous owner after 4 weeks
  2. The logbook has been destroyed by an insurance company in a Class C or S salvage

You can apply for a replacement via the DVLA.

Motoring tips with MotoNovo

There’s a lot of unknowns that go into buying a car. With help from the experts at MotoNovo, you can get prepared to venture into the world of car ownership with confidence. Get clued up on our blog.

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