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How to notify DVA if you sell your vehicle

You must notify Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) immediately of the exact date of sale or transfer of your vehicle using the registration certificate. You and the buyer should follow the procedures correctly or you will remain liable for the vehicle until DVA records have been updated.

What you and the buyer need to do

You should notify DVA immediately using the appropriate section of the registration certificate. You should also keep a separate note of the buyer's name and address details. If you are selling to a motor trader you can find more information using the link below.

Registration certificate V5C(NI)

If you have a registration certificate you must complete section 6 'new keeper or new name/new address details' of the V5C(NI). Both you and the buyer must sign section 8 and send the V5C(NI) immediately to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA. You must also give the buyer the properly completed V5C/2(NI) green section.

If you sell the vehicle to a 'motor trader' (see notes on back of the V5C/3(NI) for definition) you must complete the V5C/3 (NI) yellow section.

You must also obtain the details and signature of the motor trader and post it to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA. Don't rely on anyone else to send it in. Both the V5C(NI) and the V5C/2(NI) (blue and green) sections (uncompleted) should then be passed to the trader. The registration certificate has accompanying guidance notes INS160(NI). These notes are available for download below.

Remove your tax disc from the vehicle and you can also apply for a refund of vehicle tax for complete calendar months remaining on the tax disc. DVA cannot pay your refund until notification that you have sold/transferred your vehicle has been received.

If you no longer have your registration certificate V5C(NI)

If you don't have the registration certificate you can still tell DVA that you no longer have the vehicle.

To do this you will need to write to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA giving the:

  • vehicle registration mark
  • make and model
  • exact date of sale
  • name and address of the new keeper

However, note that DVA records won't be complete until the new keeper tells DVA in writing. Until they do, the police may need to contact you if they have to make enquiries about the vehicle.

What happens next?

Once you have informed DVA, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter, within four weeks, confirming the discharge of liability for your vehicle. Please allow four weeks to receive the letter before contacting DVA.

Personalised registration on your vehicle

You'll need to transfer your personalised registration before you sell the vehicle. If you don't, you'll lose your entitlement to the registration number.

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