A missing, damaged or never-received V5C causes problems the moment you try to sell, tax or finance a car. This guide explains what the V5C actually is, when you need to replace it, and the quickest way to apply.
Continue to CarForms.co.uk to Apply → You'll leave V5C Logbook and complete your application on carforms.co.uk (opens in a new tab) · £49.95 all-in, includes the £25 DVLA fee.The V5C, commonly called the "logbook", is the official DVLA document that records who is the registered keeper of a vehicle in the UK. It shows the car's registration number, make, model, engine size, colour, and the name and address of the keeper – it does not prove legal ownership on its own, but it's the document the DVLA, dealers, insurers and buyers all rely on.
You'll be asked for your V5C when you sell a car, apply for certain finance, register a change of address or keeper, or declare a vehicle off the road (SORN). Without it, straightforward tasks like selling your car to a private buyer become far harder.
The most common reason – logbooks go missing during a move, a clear-out, or simply get filed somewhere and forgotten. Read the full lost logbook guide →
Water damage, fading or tearing can make a V5C unusable even though you still have it.
If a private seller doesn't hand over a valid V5C, you'll need to apply for one in your name.
If your logbook was stolen along with other documents, it should be replaced as soon as possible.
You can apply for a V62 form directly with the DVLA by post, or use our partner CarForms.co.uk to complete and check the paperwork online - you're redirected to their site to fill in and submit the actual application.
Enter your registration, vehicle and keeper details in a short online form on our partner's site – takes about 5 minutes.
Incomplete or incorrect V62 forms are the top reason applications get rejected and delayed by the DVLA.
Your completed form and the £25 DVLA fee are sent to DVLA Swansea on your behalf, tracked.
The DVLA charges £25 for a replacement V5C (the V62 application). Our partner CarForms.co.uk handles the whole application for £49.95, which includes the £25 DVLA fee, form completion and postage – so there's nothing else to pay.
Applying directly with the DVLA by post currently averages around 19 days, though DVLA's own guidance quotes up to 4-6 weeks. CarForms.co.uk checks your form for errors before it's posted, which is the single biggest cause of delay, so most applications aren't bounced back and rejected. See the full processing time breakdown →
Yes – you can still drive, tax and insure your vehicle without holding a V5C, as long as you're the registered keeper on DVLA's system. But you'll need a valid V5C to sell the car, get certain finance, or prove ownership, so it's worth replacing promptly if it's lost.
The V5C is the logbook itself – the document that shows who is the registered keeper of a vehicle. The V62 is the application form you submit to the DVLA to request a new or replacement V5C. Read the full breakdown →
If the previous keeper didn't leave you a V5C (or the seller can't produce one), you'll need to apply for a new logbook in your name using a V62 form, along with proof of the vehicle details. Check how registered keeper status works →
The DVLA's own V62 process is still paper-based and posted, but our partner CarForms.co.uk lets you fill in your details online in a few minutes – they print, check and post the physical V62 form to the DVLA for you.
Losing your log book (the V5C) doesn't stop you driving, taxing or insuring the car, but you'll need a replacement before you can sell it, get certain finance, or confirm your keeper details. Apply with a V62 form by post to DVLA Swansea with the £25 fee, or use our partner CarForms.co.uk to fill in and submit it online – they check it for errors first so it's less likely to be rejected and delayed.
Yes – a duplicate V5C is requested the same way as any other replacement, by submitting a V62 form to DVLA with your registration, vehicle and current keeper details and the £25 fee. There's no separate "duplicate" process, DVLA simply issues a fresh V5C once the V62 is processed, usually in around 19 days.
Apply online in minutes via our partner CarForms.co.uk – they'll check, print and post your V62 form for you.
Continue to CarForms.co.uk to Apply →