By Eoghan Flynn · Updated
Start with the registration certificate and your identification
Have the Vehicle Registration Certificate, often called the logbook, available for the sale. Check that the registration and vehicle details match. When selling to Give Me The Reg, also have photo identification ready so we can verify the person completing the transaction.
You do not need to send a photograph of your identification or logbook through the first valuation form. If the registered keeper’s details differ from your own, explain why before arranging the appointment. A family relationship alone does not establish authority to sell someone else’s car.
- Vehicle Registration Certificate
- Photo identification for the seller
- Any documents needed to confirm authority to sell
- All keys or key cards included in the sale
Bring the records that explain the car’s history
Gather the service book, digital service records you can access and relevant maintenance invoices. A partial history is still useful: say what is available rather than selecting full history when records are missing.
Have the NCT information and any recent test report or repair estimate ready. These help explain the vehicle’s condition; they are not a substitute for a buyer’s inspection. For an import, keep any existing import or history documents with the service records.
Finance, company vehicles and estate sales
Where HP or PCP finance is involved, we will need verified settlement information if you decide to proceed. That comes after the initial valuation. A company vehicle also needs an authorised seller, and any VAT treatment should be clarified before accepting a figure.
For a deceased owner’s vehicle, contact us before arranging a handover. The executor or other authorised representative must establish the authority to sell. The Department of Transport provides guidance on the documents for estate transfers; the exact requirements depend on the circumstances.
If you cannot find the logbook
You can still ask us for an initial valuation, but tell us that the certificate is missing before the appointment. The Department of Transport directs owners to their local motor tax office for a replacement VRC using form RF134. Allow for the replacement process before committing to a handover date.
Keep your own record of the sale
At completion, keep a receipt showing the vehicle, agreed amount, buyer and sale date, along with confirmation of the ownership transfer. Give Me The Reg completes the dealer transfer through Motortrans and emails the receipt and transfer confirmation. A private sale follows a different transfer process, so do not assume the paperwork is identical.
Check payment through your own bank account before releasing the car and keys. If finance is settled, retain the lender’s confirmation too. The car-sale receipt alone does not confirm that the finance agreement has been closed.
Useful next steps
Official guidance
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