How Long Does a V5C Take to Arrive? Every Scenario + What to Do If It's Late (UK)
Five days or six weeks? Every V5C timescale (new keeper, replacement, name change) and the exact point at which you should chase DVLA.
By Jamie Dawson · Editor
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Updated 17 Aug 2026
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1 min read
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.
Prefer to watch? The 40-second version, from our YouTube channel.
Not sure which application route you need? See every way to apply for a V5C logbook: 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), insure and MOT the car as normal. The one thing you can’t easily do is sell it cleanly, see selling without a 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 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
- How to apply for a V5C
- Lost your V5C? What to do
- The V62 form explained
Sources
gov.ukGet a vehicle log book (V5C)gov.ukGet vehicle information from DVLA