Article: published on 11 May 2026

Some of our viewers have been in touch recently because they received fines and even letters from bailiffs for offences committed after they sold their vehicles.

This typically arises because there's a difference between the owner of a vehicle, and what's known as the 'registered keeper'.

The registered keeper is who the DVLA keeps on its database, and if you sell or scrap your car, it's your responsibility as the registered keeper to inform the DVLA of the change. Failure to do this can result in a £1000 fine. And it might result in you receiving fines and letters from bailiffs - because someone new is driving the vehicle around, but it's still your name on the DVLA's database.

To do this, you'll need your V5C form, which looks like this:

There are various processes depending on whether you've sold the car privately, sold it into the motor trade, or scrapped the car.

The easiest way to find out which process you should follow is by using the government's online tool which you can find here, external.

This tool also provides a link to tell the DVLA of the change in registered keeper, for which you'll need your 11-digit reference number, which you can find here:

Gary would also suggests you make a copy of any completed forms before you send them off.

Keep evidence and details of who you've sold your car to.

Don't take cash if you're selling your car - it's much much easier to trace everything if you've gone through your bank.

If you're scrapping your car, it's actually illegal for the Authorised Treatment Facility to pay in cash in England and Wales.

Finally, when it comes to keeping your documents up to date you're meant to update your driving licence whenever you change your address.

It's a legal offence not to update the address on your driving licence and failure to do so can result in a £1000 fine.