Vehicle Sale Agreement (Private Sale)
A written agreement and receipt for the private sale of a car, van or motorbike between individuals in England and Wales, recording the vehicle, the price and what the seller confirms.
Applies in England and Wales. General information, not legal advice — talk to a lawyer about your situation.
This document isn't on sale in the United Kingdom yet.
When you sell or buy a vehicle privately, a short written agreement protects both sides: it records what was sold, for how much and what the seller said about it. It also gives the buyer a receipt.
This template is for private sales between individuals in England and Wales, not sales by a motor trader — a trader’s customers have wider rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
When to use it
- Selling your own car, van or motorbike privately.
- Buying privately and wanting the seller’s statements in writing.
How it works
- Enter the vehicle details — Copy the make, model and registration from the V5C logbook, and record the mileage on the day.
- List known faults — A seller who describes the vehicle accurately is protected; one who hides a fault is not.
- Record the price and payment — Bank transfer leaves the clearest record.
- Sign two copies — Seller and buyer each sign and keep a copy.
Making it valid
- Both the seller and the buyer sign. No witness is needed.
- “Sold as seen” does not let a private seller misdescribe the vehicle: it must match its description, and the seller must have the right to sell it.
After signing
- Tell the DVLA — The seller must tell the DVLA of the sale straight away, online or by post, and give the buyer the new keeper slip from the V5C.
- Tax and insurance — Vehicle tax does not transfer with the vehicle — the buyer must tax it before driving away, and must be insured.
Common mistakes
- Handing over the vehicle before the payment has cleared.
- Not telling the DVLA, which leaves the seller liable for the buyer’s fines.
- Buying without checking for outstanding finance.
Questions
- What rights does a buyer have in a private sale?
- Fewer than when buying from a dealer. The vehicle must match its description and the seller must have the right to sell it, but there is no general right to a vehicle of satisfactory quality in a private sale.
- Does “sold as seen” protect the seller?
- Only partly. It does not protect a seller who has misdescribed the vehicle or who did not have the right to sell it.
- Does vehicle tax transfer to the buyer?
- No. The seller gets a refund of any full months left, and the buyer must tax the vehicle before driving it.