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# How Long Does a V5C Take to Arrive? Every Scenario + What to Do If It's Late (UK)
- URL: https://www.logbook.co.uk/how-long-does-v5c-take-uk/
- Published: 2026-07-15T17:59:30.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-09T10:17:59.000Z
- Description: Five days or six weeks? Every V5C timescale (new keeper, replacement, name change) and the exact point at which you should chase DVLA.
- Author: Jamie Dawson
- Tags: V5C & Vehicle Logbooks

> **Quick answer:** If the process happened **online** (seller notified the sale online, or you used DVLA’s online replacement service), expect the V5C in about **5 working days**. Anything done **by post** (paper notifications, V62 applications, name changes) takes **2 to 6 weeks**. The chase point: **6 weeks**. After that, contact DVLA, and if a V62 application went missing, the replacement is reissued rather than re-charged.

🚗 **Selling a car?** The complete change-of-ownership process — online service, green slip, automatic tax refund — is in [telling DVLA you've sold your car](https://www.logbook.co.uk/tell-dvla-sold-car-change-of-ownership-uk/).

*Prefer to watch? 40 seconds, from our YouTube channel.*

*Not sure which application route you need? See* [*every way to apply for a V5C logbook*](https://www.logbook.co.uk/apply-for-v5c-logbook-uk/)*: new keeper, replacement and V62.*

## Timescales by scenario

| Scenario                                           | Typical wait       |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ |
| Bought a car, seller notified DVLA **online**      | \~5 working days   |
| Bought a car, seller posted the V5C section        | up to 4 to 6 weeks |
| Replacement via DVLA’s **online** service (£25)    | \~5 working days   |
| Replacement by post / V62 at the Post Office (£25) | up to 6 weeks      |
| Name change (post only, free)                      | 2 to 4 weeks       |
| Address change (online, free)                      | \~5 working days   |

## While you wait

You can drive, tax (see [taxing without the logbook](https://www.logbook.co.uk/tax-car-without-logbook-v5c/)), insure and MOT the car as normal. The one thing you can’t easily do is *sell* it cleanly, see [selling without a V5C](https://www.logbook.co.uk/sell-car-without-logbook-v5c/).

## When and how to chase

- **Under 6 weeks:** wait, DVLA won’t act early.
- **Over 6 weeks:** contact DVLA (webchat or 0300 790 6802) with the reg and your details. If a notified new-keeper V5C never arrived, DVLA sends a replacement free; if your V62 went astray, chase rather than paying again.

## FAQs

**Can I check the status online?**  
There’s no public V5C tracker, but [DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service](https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla?ref=logbook.co.uk) shows when the keeper record changed, which tells you the sale was processed.

**Does a missing V5C mean the car isn't mine?**  
No, the keeper record at DVLA is what counts; the paper simply confirms it.

## Related guides

- [The V5C decoded: every section explained](https://www.logbook.co.uk/what-is-a-v5c-logbook/)
- [How to apply for a V5C](https://www.logbook.co.uk/how-to-apply-for-a-v5c-uk-guide/)
- [Lost your V5C? What to do](https://www.logbook.co.uk/lost-v5c-logbook-what-to-do/)
- [The V62 form explained](https://www.logbook.co.uk/v62-form-replacement-logbook-2/)
- [Can I View My Logbook (V5C) Online? What DVLA Lets You Check Free](https://www.logbook.co.uk/can-i-view-my-logbook-online/)

### Sources

[**gov.uk**Get a vehicle log book (V5C)](https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book?ref=logbook.co.uk)[**gov.uk**Get vehicle information from DVLA](https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla?ref=logbook.co.uk)