A used car sale is a legal transaction. The right documents must change hands at the point of sale not promised for later, not sent in the post eventually, but present on the day.
Here is the complete list for a used EV purchase.
The V5C
The registration document must be present. Check the VIN matches the vehicle, the details match the listing, and the seller's name matches the registered keeper.
For a private sale, both parties complete the relevant sections and the seller notifies the DVLA. For a dealer sale, the dealer processes the transfer confirm this in writing.
Written receipt of sale
Every sale private or dealer should be confirmed with a written receipt: date, both parties' details, vehicle registration and VIN, agreed price, and condition as sold.
Both parties sign and retain a copy. This is your evidence of the transaction and the represented condition.
Full service history
All service records must be handed over at point of sale. Not promised. Not to follow. On the day. For a used EV, this includes any battery health reports that have been carried out.
MOT certificate, owner's manual, and all keys
Present at sale. Missing keys are expensive to replace on a modern EV reflect it in the price.
Warranty documentation
Any remaining manufacturer warranty or dealer warranty in writing terms, coverage, and claims process.
Charging cables
All cables present, inspected, and confirmed before money changes hands.
What to do if something is missing
Do not complete the sale without the V5C or a credible explanation and written confirmation of the transfer process.
Service history that is genuinely unavailable lost, digital only with access issues is a negotiating point, not a reason to walk away automatically. But it must be reflected in the price and acknowledged in the written receipt.
