Can I sell a car without a V5C?

GOV.UK says that if you sell or transfer a vehicle without a log book, you must write to DVLA with your name and address, the registration, make and model, exact sale date and the new keeper's name and address.

For a normal private sale, having an up-to-date V5C is much cleaner because the buyer can receive the new-keeper slip and the change can usually be notified online.

If your V5C is merely lost, replacing it before advertising can make buyers more confident. Never create or alter documents yourself; use the official DVLA replacement process.

For 'Can I sell a car without a V5C?', keep a written record of the exact vehicle, seller details and checks you relied on before payment. That evidence is far more useful later than relying on memory or verbal promises.