Vehicle collection

Before booking vehicle collection

There are a few things you'll need to think about and do.

Find your V5

You'll need to give your V5 document (also known as a logbook) back when you hand your car back. We can't collect your vehicle without a V5.

If you've lost or misplaced it, you'll need to get a new one before we can collect your vehicle.

Apply to the DVLA for a duplicate logbook online or call the DVLA Helpline.

It takes 5-7 days to arrive. 

You can still send the VT form back to us, but we can’t collect your vehicle until you have a new logbook.
 

Roadworthy vehicle

Your vehicle needs to be roadworthy so our agents can drive it away. 

If it's not roadworthy, we’ll need to arrange a special collection. It will cost you £250.  

A vehicle may not be roadworthy if: 

  • you have any warning lights showing on your dashboard 
  • your tyres don't have legal tread depth - the legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central three quarters of the tread around the whole tyre.  
  • your windscreen is chipped or cracked.

It must have a valid MOT certificate. 

You can check on vehicle roadworthiness on GOV.UK.

If you have any concerns about your vehicle's MOT or roadworthiness after you’ve sent back your VT form, please call us on 0800 151 2454. 


Remove personalised number plates

If your vehicle has a personalised number plate (also know as cherished plate), you must remove it before you can complete the V5 process.  

Visit GOV.UK Taking a private number off a vehicle.

Follow the DVLA instructions on GOV.UK.  

Once DVLA confirms they’ve removed the plate, you need to:  

  • replace the number plates on your vehicle.  
  • wait for the new V5 document to arrive by post. This usually takes a few days but can take up to 6 weeks.  
  • let your insurance company know about the new registration number

Make sure you give yourself time to get the new V5 documents by post before your vehicle collection. 

 

Pay any outstanding liabilities

When you end your agreement early, you'll need to pay any outstanding liability on your account.

This could include:

  • Any remaining finance balance you need to pay
  • The remaining cost of any insurance products or optional extras included in your agreement
  • Any part exchange shortfall included in your finance agreement

If the part exchange shortfall was added to your finance agreement, you will have borrowed more overall and paid interest on that amount throughout your agreement. Any outstanding part exchange shortfall will remain payable in full if you end your agreement through voluntary termination.

 

Getting your vehicle ready for collection

Follow this simple checklist to get your vehicle and documents ready for our agent to collect the vehicle.  

  • Check your mileage and vehicle condition 
  • Leave the paperwork we’ll need in the glovebox 
  • Make sure you provide a service history 
  • Return any other items that came with the vehicle 
  • Take all your personal belongings and delete personal data

 

Book vehicle collection

Once we've received your completed and signed VT form we'll ask British Car Auctions Logistics (BCA), or one of our other agents, to call or send you a text to arrange collection of your vehicle.  

Our agents collect vehicles between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. 

It can take up to 10 working days from when we get your completed VT form to arrange collection.

 

Tell the DVLA you're returning your vehicle to us

On the day you return the vehicle to us, you need to tell the DVLA you’re no longer the owner of the vehicle.

You can do this online, or you can fill in the paper V5 document and return it by post. 

If you had a personal plate on your vehicle, only complete this step after you get the new V5 from the DVLA.

Online

Go to DVLA’s website and complete these questions:

Question 1 - are you a motor trader?

Answer - no

Screenshot of question asking if you're a motor trader in the online DVLA form to tell them you've sold, transferred, or bought a vehicle.

Question 2 - what have you done with your vehicle?

Answer - Sold it 

Screenshot of question asking what you've done with your vehicle in the online DVLA form to tell them you've sold, transferred, or bought a vehicle.

Question 3 - did you sell the vehicle privately, or to a motor trader?

Answer - Sold to a motor trader

Screenshot of question asking if you sold the vehicle privately or to a motor trader in the online DVLA form to tell them you've sold, transferred, or bought a vehicle.

Question 4 - Provide trader details

Answer - Black Horse Ltd

Screenshot of where to add the trader details in the online DVLA form to tell them you've sold, transferred, or bought a vehicle.

Next you must add the address

Ettrick House
37 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh 
EH12 9EB

Then add the vehicke registration, and the V5 document number.

You will also need to add the date of sale and the mileage of the vehicle. 

By post

Complete all the parts of section 4 of your V5. It's the yellow part.

Image of Section 3 of the hard copy of a V5

Tear along the red perforated line and send the yellow Section 4 to:

DVLA 
Swansea
SA99 1BA

Final steps 

Give Section 6 of the V5 (it's green) to the person picking up the vehicle, along with both sets of keys.

You're responsible to update the DVLA

As the registered keeper, you must update DVLA.  If you don’t, you might have to pay for vehicle tax, speeding fines, or other penalties. 

 

Still need help?

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