Registered keeper vs owner: why they differ
The V5C names the registered keeper, not the legal owner. Here is why the two differ on finance, lease and company cars, and what proof of ownership to ask for.
Updated
The registered keeper is the person DVLA holds responsible for a car: for taxing it, registering it and answering for it. The owner is whoever legally owns it. Often they are the same person, but the V5C logbook only ever names the keeper, and DVLA has said plainly that the V5C is not proof of ownership. When you buy a used car, you need evidence of both.
The practical rule: check that the seller is the keeper on the V5C, then ask for something that shows they own the car and can sell it.
What the registered keeper is
When DVLA issues a V5C, it records the registration number, the keeper's name and address, and details of the vehicle such as the make, the VIN and the number of previous keepers. The keeper is the person who:
- must tax the car, or declare it off the road with a SORN
- receives tax reminders and DVLA letters about it
- must tell DVLA when the car is sold
- is the person a penalty notice for the car is usually sent to
That is a responsibility, not a property right. The keeper does not have to be the owner, and the owner does not have to be the keeper.
What DVLA says about ownership
When DVLA redesigned the V5C in 2010, the government said that buyers often mistakenly believe the V5C to be proof of ownership, and that this is not the case. The new document was designed to make it clear that it is not proof of ownership. The same announcement told buyers to ask for proof of ownership, for example a bill of sale.
When keeper and owner are different people
Cars bought on finance
With hire purchase, the finance company usually owns the car until the final payment is made, even though the buyer is the registered keeper and drives it every day. Other kinds of car finance work differently, but in many cases there is a lender with a claim on the car until the agreement is settled. A keeper who sells a car with finance still owing may not have the right to sell it.
Lease cars
With a lease, the leasing company owns the car and the driver hands it back at the end. Depending on the arrangement, the leasing company or the driver can be the registered keeper. Either way the driver does not own the car and cannot sell it.
Company cars
A company car may be owned by the business, kept by the business, or kept by the employee who drives it. If an individual is selling a car that belongs to a company, ask for written confirmation from the company that it has agreed to the sale.
Family arrangements
A parent may be the keeper of a car a son or daughter paid for, or the other way round. This is common and usually innocent, but the person selling should be able to show that the owner agrees, and the keeper on the V5C has to complete the change of keeper.
What proof of ownership looks like
Ask the seller for one or more of these, and compare the names and details with the V5C:
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Original purchase invoice or receipt | Who bought the car, when and for how much |
| Finance settlement letter | That an agreement on the car has been paid off |
| Bill of sale from the previous owner | The transfer to the seller |
| Service invoices in the seller's name | That the seller has looked after the car over time |
None of these is perfect on its own. Together with a logbook that matches the car and the seller, they build a picture you can rely on. If the seller has none of them, ask why.
Checks that protect you
- Match the seller to the V5C. View the car at the address on the logbook, and ask for identification in the keeper's name.
- Check the logbook itself. The "DVL" watermark, the serial number and the VIN and engine number. Our V5C logbook guide has the detail.
- Run a vehicle history check before you pay, one that includes finance and stolen vehicle records. The V5C cannot show either.
- Ask for proof of ownership as above.
- Get a receipt for your purchase that names you, the seller, the car, the VIN, the price and the date.
- Complete the change of keeper properly, so you become the registered keeper. See our change of keeper guide.
If the seller has no logbook at all, read buying a car without a V5C first.
Finding out about previous keepers
The V5C tells you how many previous keepers a car has had, not who they were. GOV.UK says you must write to DVLA to request information about the current or previous registered keeper, and you need a "reasonable cause", for example finding out who was responsible for an accident. Our guide to how many previous owners is too many covers how to read the keeper count.
Frequently asked questions
Is the registered keeper the legal owner?
Not necessarily. The registered keeper is the person responsible for taxing and registering the car. The legal owner can be someone else, such as a finance or leasing company.
Does the V5C prove ownership?
No. DVLA has said that the V5C is not proof of ownership. Ask for an invoice, receipt, bill of sale or finance settlement letter.
Can the registered keeper sell a car on finance?
If a finance company still owns the car, the keeper may not have the right to sell it. A vehicle history check shows whether finance is recorded, and a settlement letter shows it has been paid off.
Who should sign the V5C when I buy?
The registered keeper named on the V5C completes the change of keeper, either online or by post, and gives you the green new keeper slip.