What Car? Q&A - Can my retailer keep my V5C?

Q: I am thinking of buying a new car from a company I found on the internet. They say the car will be pre-registered and that the V5C registered keeper document will be kept with them for six months. Is this normal?
Paul Ashman

A: This is not uncommon, and many companies retain the V5C registration document, although it's usually for three, rather than six months.

This is to do with how some dealers negotiate discounts with manufacturers, and this procedure is now one of the most popular ways of offering a big discount. When you finally get the V5C, you should be down as the second registered keeper.

If you have a sales invoice for the car and the supporting paperwork, there should be no problem with proving your ownership. The V5C is not a title of ownership document, but simply records the registered keeper.

Withholding the V5C not illegal, but it could cause an issue if you get a speeding fine or driving penalty and the garage holding the V5C doesn't pass it on to you.