What documents do I need to part exchange my car?
Find out what you need to part exchange your car
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Part exchange allows you to trade in your car to use towards the cost of your next model.
There are a few documents that you'll need to part exchange your car – it's a good idea to have these ready ahead of time.
Find out what you need to part exchange your car in our guide, and learn what inspections are carried out on your vehicle before it can be traded in.
What will you need to part exchange your car?
V5C logbook
Car’s service history
Driving licence
MOT certificate
Spare keys
Finance settlement letter (if needed)
Locking wheel nut key
Proof of address
V5C logbook
Your V5C logbook is the most important document when it comes to part-exchanging (or selling) your car.
It’s an official certificate of registration that is your proof of being the registered keeper of the vehicle.
Without your V5C, you’ll find it very hard to sell or part exchange as the other party will not be able to confirm the description of your car.
It also confirms details about your car, including how many owners the vehicle has had, any modifications, engine size, colour, and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
You’ll also use this to let the DVLA know that the car has been sold and has a new owner.
Can I part exchange my car without the V5C logbook?
It is possible and legal to part exchange or sell your car without your logbook, but this is down to the buyer.
Most independent and professional car buyers won't want to take this risk and will require you to get a new V5C before they take the car.
If you’ve lost your V5C or it’s damaged, you can get a new one by going to the UK Government website and filling out a V62 application.
Driving licence
A driving licence shows you’re legally able to drive, and you’ll need to supply the licence that matches the details on your V5C to be able to part exchange your car.
Details such as your address and name will need to match the V5C document to avoid any issues when part exchanging.
You can also use a passport instead of a driving license for ID in most cases, but check with the dealer or organisation that you’re part-exchanging with.
Can I part exchange my car without a driving licence?
You can usually part exchange your car without a driving licence as long as you have another form of ID that matches your V5C.
You might be able to use a bank statement, household utility bill, council tax statement or credit card statement that’s dated from within the past three months.
As long as you have identification that shows your name and address to match your V5C logbook, you’ll usually have no issues.
MOT certificate
An MOT certificate is a document that shows your car has passed its most recent MOT and is fit for the road.
Once your car has hit the three-year mark, you’ll need to keep up with your annual MOTs to keep it legal to drive on UK roads.
If you’re planning to part exchange your car, having the MOT certificate handy will save you a lot of bother.
Can I part exchange my car without an MOT certificate?
You might be able to part exchange your car without a physical MOT certificate as all of the MOT information is available online.
As long as the information is available to prove that your car has a valid MOT, you might not need to produce a physical copy. It’s best to check with the part exchanger that you’re using to see what they require.
If your car is new enough that it doesn’t require an MOT, you also won't need an MOT certificate to part exchange.
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Service history
Car servicing is not a legal requirement in the UK (unlike MOTs), but it does show that you’ve been keeping on top of car maintenance. This can make your car more attractive when it’s time to part exchange.
Keeping your car's original service book with stamps from an approved garage or dealer is the best way to show its service history.
Sometimes service history is also stored digitally, but this depends on the vehicle.
You may also want to keep hold of receipts of other maintenance and work carried out on the car.
Can I part exchange my car without a service history?
You can still part exchange your car without a service history, but having this documentation does make your car appear more attractive.
You’ll usually find that the price offered for your car is based on the vehicle’s condition, regardless of the service history that’s supplied.
As always, you’ll need to check with the organisation that your part exchanging with to ensure that they still take cars without a service history.
Spare keys
You’ll need to hand over all the keys to your car – if you have any spare keys alongside your main key, you’ll need to provide these as well.
Can I part exchange my car without the spare keys?
If you don’t have any spare keys for your car then you don’t need to hand these in when you part exchange, but you can’t keep hold of any keys if you no longer own the vehicle.
It will likely come down to the organisation that you’re part-exchanging your car with, but there are sometimes fees in place if you can’t offer a spare key. It’s best to check this beforehand as you might be able to arrange a replacement key for a smaller cost.
Finance settlement letter (if needed)
If your car is on a finance deal like Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Hire Purchase (HP) and you still have some balance left to pay, you’ll need to provide a settlement letter from your lender when it’s time to part exchange.
This settlement letter will show how much is left on your finance agreement so that you can pay off your balance once your car is traded in.
These letters are usually valid for 14 days after you receive them.
Can I part exchange my car without a finance settlement letter?
If your car has been completely paid off or was bought using cash or a bank loan, you don’t need to show a settlement letter when you part exchange.
Bank loans are generally not secured against your car so you can sell or trade it in before you’ve paid the full amount, meaning you don’t need a settlement letter.
Locking wheel nut key
Locking wheel nut keys are an important tool for keeping your wheels secure on your car. These keys are unique to certain models of cars, so you must keep your vehicle’s key safe.
If you lose your locking wheel nut key, you can buy a replacement, and there are DIY tools available that might be able to help in a pinch.
When it’s time to part exchange your car, you’ll need to include the locking wheel nut key so the new owner can remove the wheels easily.
Can I part exchange my car without the locking wheel nut?
You might be able to part exchange your car without the locking wheel nut key, but this will depend on your individual agreement.
These keys are easy to replace and aren’t usually too expensive, so you can get your hands on one if needed.
A local garage or dealership can help you out if you need advice on where to buy one and the type you need.
Proof of address
You’ll need to provide proof of address that matches the rest of your documents. This can be something like a household bill, a local authority tax bill, a bank statement, a rental agreement or a driving licence.
Can I part exchange my car without proof of address
Whether you need to provide proof of address – and what is an acceptable form of proof of address – depends on your individual agreement, so it’s worth speaking to the organisation you’re planning to part exchange with to see what they will accept.
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I want to part exchange my car: what do they check?
Your car will be inspected by the dealer to decide its value.
Factors such as the make and model of your car, mileage, age and any additional features will affect the part exchange value, but so will the condition of your vehicle.
The inspection will look for things such as:
Scratches or scuffs
Dents to the bodywork
Kerbed wheels
Interior signs of wear and tear
They may also want to test drive your car or inspect and listen to the engine. The specific checks and the level of detail will depend on the individual dealer.
Part exchange your car the faff-free way
Part-exchanging your car can be a great way to pay towards your next vehicle and might mean that you can settle PCP or HP finance early.
The process can be easily done online and is straightforward as long as you have all of those documents ready to go.