What paperwork do I need to sell my car in the UK?

Selling a car in the UK is mostly about having the right paperwork ready. Get the documents in order before you contact a buyer and the whole process — from valuation to payment — takes a day or two instead of a week. Here's the checklist.

The essentials

1. V5C Vehicle Log Book

This is the main document proving you own the car. It's the green/red booklet (or a digital equivalent if you're recently re-registered) showing the registered keeper. You can't legally sell a car without the V5C — though if you've genuinely lost it, you can order a replacement from the DVLA for £25.

2. Two forms of ID

Any buyer (including us at Carmora) needs to verify you're the legal owner. Two of the following will normally do:

• Driving licence (photocard)
• Passport
• Utility bill dated in the last 3 months
• Bank or credit card statement dated in the last 3 months

At least one of them must show an address matching the V5C.

3. Bank details

So the buyer can BACS the money to you. We just need the account name, sort code, and account number.

Strongly recommended

4. Service history

Service stamps in the manual, or a digital service record, materially affect the value of the car. A full main-dealer history (FSH) can add hundreds — sometimes thousands — to the price. Even an independent service history (ISH) is far better than nothing.

5. MOT certificates

The current MOT cert at minimum. Older certificates are easy to look up online but having them physically with the car is a nice touch — and any advisories (or actions taken on previous fails) help the buyer assess condition.

6. Any spare keys

Genuine OEM keys cost £200–£500 each from a main dealer. If you can hand over both keys (or all three for some manufacturers), the price reflects that. Missing keys reduce what a buyer can pay.

7. Locking wheel nut

If your car has locking wheel nuts (most do these days), the buyer needs the key for them. Cars handed over without one can mean a £150 specialist removal job — and the price drops accordingly.

If finance is outstanding

8. Settlement letter

If there's outstanding finance on the car, get a settlement figure from your lender before you call the buyer. The settlement letter sets out the exact amount owed and the validity window. We've written a full guide to selling a car with outstanding finance.

Nice to have

• Owner's manual and handbook
• Any receipts for recent work — cambelt change, new tyres, major service
• Roof boxes, tow bars, mats, hub caps and other accessories sold with the car

Once everything's together

Drop your registration on the Carmora home page for a free valuation. We'll come back to you with a price within 24 hours, and if you accept, we'll arrange free collection and pay you the same day via BACS — often before we even pick up the car.