There's more to buying or selling a vehicle than exchanging the keys and money. This section will talk you through the process of purchasing a new vehicle or selling your old one, as well as the DVLA registration requirements you will have to negotiate. Below you will find a summary of the contents contained in this section. If you would like more information, click on the links in the left-hand side of the page.

If you are buying a vehicle privately and it is later identified as having been stolen you may have no right to its ownership. You could lose both the vehicle and the money you paid for it. If you purchase a new pre-registered vehicle the dealer must return the Registration Certificate (V5c) immediately so that the vehicle can be registered in your name. This is an example of a problem that can arise when buying a vehicle privately. Learn in this section what the warning signs are and how you can protect yourself. You can also learn in this section some of the problems that can arise in selling your vehicle and what your general obligations and documents needed for getting your car on the road.

Sometimes the need arises for an individual to import or export a vehicle for any number of given reasons. It could be, for example, that you are moving to another country and want to take your car with you on a permanent basis. It could be that you want to own a foreign car that you can't buy in United Kingdom and need to go through the process of importing that vehicle. On the other hand, it could be that you are a visitor to the United Kingdom and want to bring your car with you on a temporary basis. In any event, you must follow a certain procedure in importing or exporting a vehicle for the process to be legal. Learn what these procedures are in this section, who you need to notify, and what registration you may need to obtain.

To have a number plate made up for your vehicle, you will need to go to a registered number plate supplier. You will be required to produce proof of entitlement to the number and documentation to prove your identity before the number plate can be made up. Learn what the procedures are when you obtain a number plate for your car as well as how to transfer a registration mark from one vehicle to another.

When you buy a new vehicle, it is important that you notify the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) and obtain the proper registration required. Learn how to notify the DVLA if you have recently purchased a vehicle and learn how to register a vehicle. This section also contains information on how to register a number of special types of vehicles, including an old vehicle, an imported vehicle, or a rebuilt or radically altered vehicle.