What to do when you sell a vehicle

When you sell a vehicle, there are some things that you have to do straight away. As soon as the vehicle is sold you have to tell the DVLA, which stands for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the date of sale using the registration document or certificate.

Note that if yourself, and indeed the buyer, don't follow correct DVLA procedure then the implications could potentially be serious, and indeed you would stay liable for the vehicle as this remains the case until the DVLA records are updated.

When you notify the DVLA using the official document or certificate, you should also independently store details of the buyer - their name and their address.

You should take your own tax disc off the vehicle at point of sale, and you can get a refund through the DVLA accordingly for months that remain on that tax disc. There are full details of all this on the DirectGov website under motoring that you should read in order to find the appropriate documents that you should fill in in the various scenarios, such as selling the vehicle to a motor trader or to a new private individual.

Once you have told the DVLA that you are no longer the owner of the vehicle, then you do get an acknowledgement back so that you know the DVLA is aware and has received your documentation. This usually happens within four weeks, and it will confirm that you are no longer liable for the said vehicle. If after four weeks you have not received this letter then you should contact the DVLA because you need to ensure that they have received the documentation as clearly it is important that if you have sold the vehicle that you are no longer liable for it.

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