Change your address on your vehicle log book (V5C)

Printable version

1. Change your address

You must update your vehicle log book (V5C) if you change your address. It’s usually free to update it.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You must also:

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your address changes.

Who cannot use this service

You need to update your details in a different way if:

You also cannot use this service if:

  • you’ve already sent your log book to the DVLA
  • you’ve lost your log book - you need to apply for a new log book instead
  • your vehicle is registered as part of the DVLA fleet scheme
  • your new address is abroad, including the channel islands (Jersey and Guernsey), Isle of Man or Ireland

Change your address online

Use this service to change the address in your log book to a new UK address.

This service is available from 7am to 8pm.

To use this service, you must be the vehicle’s ‘registered keeper’.

Start now

Before you start

You need:

  • the registration number of your vehicle
  • your log book reference number
  • a UK address
  • to check if your vehicle needs taxing in the next 4 weeks

If your vehicle needs taxing in the next 4 weeks you’ll need to tax your vehicle online using your current V5C before changing your address.

Other ways to apply

You can also apply by post to change your address. How you do this depends on which style log book you have.

If you have the new style log book with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover, you need to:

  • write the new address in section 3 - do not use a PO Box address
  • send the whole log book to the DVLA address in section 3

If you have the older style log book you need to:

  • write the new address in section 6 - do not use a PO Box address
  • sign and send the whole log book to the DVLA address in section 8

Do not tick the ‘new keeper’ box or fill in your name on the older style form.

If your vehicle needs taxing in the next 4 weeks

Either:

  • tax your vehicle online before sending your log book to DVLA
  • take your log book to a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax, to change your details and tax your vehicle at the same time

Take your latest MOT test certificate if your vehicle has to have an MOT every year. The certificate must be valid when the vehicle tax starts.

If you’re moving to an address outside of the UK

If you’re taking your vehicle, take the log book and register the vehicle in the country you’re moving to.

If you have a trailer, you may need to register it to take it abroad.

If your new log book does not arrive

Contact DVLA if the new log book has not arrived after 4 weeks.

If you have not received your log book after 6 weeks and you have not notified DVLA, you’ll have to pay £25 to get a replacement.

2. Change your name and address at the same time

You must update your vehicle log book (V5C) if you change your name or address. It’s usually free to update it.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your name or address changes.

If you want to change your name and address at the same time, you can only do this by post.

You need to fill in the relevant sections of the log book and send it to DVLA.

You need to update your details in a different way if:

What to do with your log book

When you fill in your log book and send it off, make sure that:

  • it only has one person’s name in it
  • you include proof of your name change, for example a marriage certificate or deed poll

If the vehicle’s registered keeper is a business, you must include proof of its name change (such as a certificate of incorporation from Companies House).

For new style log books with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front

To change your name and address if you have the new style log book, you need to:

  • write the new name and address in section 3 - do not use a PO Box address
  • send the whole log book to the DVLA address in section 3
  • include proof of your change of name, for example a marriage certificate or deed poll

For old style log books

If you have the older style log book without the multi-coloured numbered blocks on the cover, you need to:

  • write the new name address in section 6 - do not use a PO Box address
  • sign and send the whole log book to the DVLA address in section 8
  • include proof of your change of name, for example a marriage certificate or deed poll

Do not tick the ‘new keeper’ box or fill in your name on the older style form.

If your vehicle needs taxing in the next 4 weeks

Either:

  • tax your vehicle online before sending your log book to DVLA
  • take your log book to a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax, to change your details and tax your vehicle at the same time

Take your latest MOT test certificate if your vehicle has to have an MOT every year. The certificate must be valid when the vehicle tax starts.

Update your driving licence and vehicle tax

You must also change the address on your driving licence and vehicle tax Direct Debit (if that’s how you pay).

Moving outside the UK

If you’re taking your vehicle, take the log book and register the vehicle in the country you’re moving to.

If you have a trailer, you may need to register it to take it abroad.

If you’ve lost your log book and need to change your name and address

  1. Download and fill in an application for a log book (V62).

  2. Send it to DVLA with a cheque or postal order for £25 made payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea’. Damaged or altered cheques will not be accepted.

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1DD

You must have a UK address to apply for a replacement log book. If you’re moving abroad apply before you take your vehicle out of the UK.

If your new log book does not arrive

Contact DVLA if the new log book has not arrived after 4 weeks.

If you have not received your log book after 6 weeks and you have not notified DVLA, you’ll have to pay £25 to get a replacement.