What to do if you’ve lost your V5C log book
You’ve decided to sell your car, but your V5C log book is nowhere to be found. What should you do if you’ve lost your log book?
Here’s what you need to know about replacing a lost log book.
You’ve decided to sell your car, but your V5C log book is nowhere to be found. What should you do if you’ve lost your log book?
Here’s what you need to know about replacing a lost log book.
What is a V5C log book?
A V5C, also known as a log book, is your car’s official registration certificate, issued by the DVLA. You’ll need your log book to sell or scrap your car. You’ll also need it to tax your vehicle and find out which car tax band it’s in.
The V5C document isn’t proof of ownership. It just confirms who the registered keeper of a vehicle is and who’s responsible for registering and taxing it. It also contains important information about your car’s make, model, age, registration number, colour, engine size, CO2 emissions and previous owners.
It’s important to keep your V5C in a safe place.
I’ve lost my log book – what should I do?
Don’t panic. If you’ve lost your V5C or it’s been stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can order a replacement from the DVLA online, by phone or by post.
Apply for a replacement log book online:
The quickest way to replace a lost V5C is online via the GOV.UK website. A replacement log book costs £25, typically, and you should receive your new log book within five working days.
To apply online you’ll need to have the following details to hand:
- Your vehicle registration number
- The VIN/chassis number of your car
- The name and postcode registered in your log book.
If your car information has changed since you lost your log book, you no longer have the vehicle or the car is registered as part of the DVLA fleet scheme, you won’t be able to apply for a replacement online.
However, you can still apply by post.
Apply for a replacement log book by phone:
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can replace a lost log book by phone. Call the DVLA on 0300 790 6802, Monday to Friday 8am-7pm and on Saturdays 8am-2pm.
If you need to change your name or vehicle details, you’ll need to apply by post instead.
Apply for a replacement log book by post:
To replace a lost log book by post, you’ll need to download and fill in a V62 form via the DVLA website.
Send the completed form with a cheque or postal order for £25, made payable to ‘DVLA Swansea’, to the following address:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DD
Can you find your V5C online?
No, because a V5C is a paper record, you won’t be able to find your lost log book online. However, you can use the DVLA’s website to register any changes to your personal details or vehicle information and to apply for a replacement log book.
How much does a new log book cost?
A new V5C costs £25.
How long does a new log book take to come?
If you apply for your replacement V5C online or over the phone, you should only be waiting up to five working days for it to arrive. If you haven’t received it within two weeks, contact the DVLA.
If you replace your lost log book by post, it typically takes around four weeks to arrive. Contact the DVLA if you haven’t received it after six weeks.
How to change the address on a log book
You can – and should – update the address on your log book if you move house. You can do so online or by post.
Updating your address online
The easiest way to update the address on your V5C is online via the GOV.UK website. You’ll need the following details to do so:
- Your vehicle’s registration number
- Your log book reference number
- A valid UK address.
You’ll also need to check if your car is due to be taxed in the next four weeks. If it is, you’ll need to tax your vehicle online before you change your address details.
Updating your address by post
The process for updating the address on your V5C by post will vary depending on which type of log book you have.
If your log book is the new style, with a red front cover, you can update your address with the DVLA by:
- Writing your new address – not a PO Box address – in section 3 of your log book
- Sending the whole log book to the DVLA address in section 3
If your log book is the older style, with a blue cover, you’ll need to:
- Write your new address – again, not a PO Box address – in section 6 of the log book
- Send back the whole log book, signed, to the DVLA address in section 8.
With the older style of log book, don’t tick the ‘new keeper’ box or fill in your name.
How to change vehicle details on a log book
If your vehicle’s details have changed, for example, if you’ve modified your car in any way, you’ll need to update the V5C by post.
Details the DVLA need to be aware of include changes to your vehicle’s:
- Colour
- Engine
- Fuel type
- Cylinder capacity (cc)
- Chassis or body
- Seating capacity
- Weight, if it’s a large vehicle – for example, a campervan or goods vehicle.
You’ll also need to update your log book if there are any changes that might need to be inspected. These include:
- The car’s wheel plan
- The vehicle’s body type – for example, you convert a van to a campervan
- The vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Chassis number.
To notify DVLA of these changes by post, fill in section 1 if you have a new style log book, or section 7 if you have the older style V5C.
You’ll need to provide evidence if you’ve made changes to the engine number or cylinder. This could be a receipt for a replacement engine, a letter from the manufacturer or an inspection report.
The DVLA will also need proof of any changes to fuel type if your existing engine is converted. This should come on headed paper from the garage that carried out the work.
For changes specifically related to fuel or engine type, post to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DZ
For all other changes, send your V5C to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA
How to change your name on a log book
If you’ve recently changed your name, you’ll need to inform the DVLA by post.
To do this, complete section 3 on a new style V5C – or section 8 on the older style log book – with your new name, then send the registration certificate to:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BA
If you don’t inform the DVLA of changes to your address, vehicle or name, you could be fined up to £1,000, so it’s important that you do.
What if I buy a car and there’s no V5C log book?
The DVLA strongly advises against buying a car without a V5C log book. This is because there’s a chance that the car could have been stolen. You should also check that the log book supplied with any used car you’re about to buy has a ‘DVL’ watermark and that its serial number isn’t between:
- BG8229501 to BG9999030
- BI2305501 to BI2800000.
If the car’s serial number is within these ranges or if there’s no serial number, contact the DVLA. This is another sign that the car may have been stolen.
A lost log book might be genuine, though. So, if the seller can’t provide a V5C and you still decide to buy the car, you can apply for a new log book from the DVLA.
You’ll need to do this by post by downloading a V62 form and sending it to the DVLA, together with the green ‘new keeper’ slip you were given when you bought the car. You won’t be charged for this.
If you don’t have the green ‘new keeper’ slip, you’ll need to pay a fee of £25 and explain this on the V62.
For more tips, use our handy checklist for buying a used car.
Do I need my log book to get car insurance?
It depends on the insurance provider. Most providers won’t ask you for your V5C when you get a quote. You’ll just need to explain that your new or replacement log book is on its way.
Other insurance providers might not be so keen to offer you car insurance until your new log book has arrived. You’ll need to check this with the insurance provider in question.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need to get a new V5C if I wrap my car?
Yes, if you’ve vinyl wrapped your car and it changes the colour, you’ll need to update your V5C to reflect this. Any changes made to your car’s colour, even if they’re not permanent, need to be registered with the DVLA.
How to tax a car without a log book
If you’ve taxed your car before, you should be able to renew your tax while you’re waiting for your replacement V5C.
You can also apply for your new V5C at the same time as re-taxing your car, by taking a completed V62 application form and a £25 cheque or postal order to the Post Office.
However, if you’re the car’s new owner, you can’t tax it without a new ‘keeper slip’. To get this, you’ll need to apply for a V5C by post.
If you apply by post, it can take up to four weeks for your new log book to arrive. If you’re unable to tax your vehicle until the replacement V5C arrives, you’ll need to take it off the road and make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
What does a log book look like?
A V5C is a red four-page paper document – if it was issued after 2012. Those issued before 2012 are blue. The DVLA recommends that drivers with a blue V5C update it to the newer red version.
How to find a V5C number without a log book
Unfortunately, unless you’ve written it down, you can’t find a V5C number without your log book. This means that you’ll need to apply for a new V5C by post, by completing a V62 form and paying £25.
Looking for a car insurance quote?
Compare car insurance quotes with us today and see if you could start saving.
Get a quote
Rory Reid - car and technology expert
Rory Reid is a car and technology expert. He serves as the main presenter on Auto Trader’s YouTube channel and was previously a host on BBC Top Gear and its sister show Extra Gear. He is also a presenter on Fifth Gear. Previously, he hosted Sky TV’s Gadget Geeks, CNET’s Car Tech channel, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition and on the YouTube channel Fast, Furious & Funny.