Guides for selling your car

Car-selling glossary

Plain-English meanings of the words you’ll come across when you sell a car. Where a rule comes from gov.uk, we say so.

Advisory (MOT advisory)

A problem the MOT tester notes for you to monitor or fix in the future. gov.uk says a car only fails for “dangerous” or “major” problems, so a car with advisories can still pass. Our form asks whether each advisory has been sorted.

Age identifier

The two numbers on a current-style number plate that show when the registration was issued. DVLA’s list changes them every March and September: “76” covers September 2026 to February 2027, and “27” starts in March 2027.

Bank transfer

How we pay: by bank transfer before the car leaves you, into an account in your own name.

Cambelt

A belt that some engines use to keep their moving parts in time; other engines use a chain. Your service book or invoices should show when it was last changed. Our form only asks about it when we know your engine has one.

Cat A and Cat B

Insurance write-off categories for vehicles that can’t be repaired. gov.uk says a Cat A vehicle has to be crushed, and a Cat B vehicle’s body shell has to be crushed, though other parts can be salvaged.

Cat N

An insurance write-off category. gov.uk says the vehicle can be repaired following non-structural damage and used again once it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition.

Cat S

An insurance write-off category. gov.uk says the vehicle can be repaired following structural damage and used again once it’s repaired to a roadworthy condition.

Collection

We offer free collection anywhere in the UK: we come to you for the car, at the address you give us, instead of you bringing it to our Bromsgrove site.

Contract hire (lease)

Renting a car for an agreed time and handing it back at the end; personal contract hire (PCH) is one kind. The car belongs to the leasing company, so it isn’t yours to sell.

Dangerous and major problems

MOT problems that make a car fail its test. gov.uk says you can only drive a car away after a fail if its current MOT is still valid and no dangerous problems were listed.

Document reference number

The 11-digit number on your latest V5C. gov.uk says you need it to tell DVLA online that you’ve sold your car.

Drop-off

Bringing your car to us at 256 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove B61 0EZ. Please call or WhatsApp 07737 531183 before you set off.

DVLA

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which keeps the record of each vehicle’s registered keeper. You tell DVLA when you sell your car.

DVSA

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which runs the MOT scheme.

Executor

A person named in a will to deal with the estate of someone who has died. gov.uk says the executors named in a will can apply for probate, “the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their ‘estate’) when they die”.

Full service history

A record of every service the car should have had, in the service book or as invoices.

HP (hire purchase)

A car finance agreement paid in monthly instalments. If your car has HP on it, we settle it directly with your lender when you sell to us.

HPI check

A common name for a vehicle history check, which looks for records such as outstanding finance or an insurance write-off. If you know of anything on your car’s record, tell us in the “Anything else we should know?” box.

Locking wheel nut key

The adaptor that undoes the locking nuts on your wheels. Please have it ready with all the keys.

MOT

The yearly test that checks a vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards. gov.uk says a vehicle needs its first MOT by the third anniversary of its registration, and that some vehicles need one at a year old.

MOT history

The record of a vehicle’s MOT tests: the results, the mileage at each test, and the problems noted, including advisories. You can check it on gov.uk with the registration number, and our form usually looks it up when you type your reg.

Negative equity

When the finance settlement figure is more than the car’s price. If the settlement is more than our offer, you’ll need to cover the difference before we can complete. That doesn’t stop your instant price: your price page shows the exact figures.

New keeper slip

The green “new keeper” slip in the V5C. When you sell to a motor trader, gov.uk says you give the trader the V5C, including this slip.

Non-runner

A car that won’t start or can’t be driven. One of our buyers prices it and calls you within 30 minutes (9am–6pm Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat). We can arrange collection for non-runners.

Part exchange

Trading your car in with a dealer as part of paying for your next car.

Part service history

A service record with gaps: some services are recorded and some aren’t. Our form asks which you have.

PCP (personal contract purchase)

A car finance agreement with monthly payments and an optional final payment at the end. As with HP, we settle it directly with your lender when you sell to us.

Private number (personalised registration)

A registration number you can move from one vehicle to another. To keep it when you sell, take it off the car with DVLA first: gov.uk says you must have your V778 retention document and the new log book before you sell.

Registered keeper

The person or business named on the V5C. We check photo ID that matches the name on the V5C.

Settlement figure

The amount your finance company says is needed to pay off your agreement on a given date. If there’s finance on the car, have the settlement letter ready.

Shortfall

The difference when the settlement figure is more than our offer. You’ll need to cover it before we can complete, so the finance can be cleared in full. That doesn’t stop your instant price: your price page shows the exact figures.

SORN

Statutory Off Road Notification: telling DVLA a vehicle is off the road. gov.uk says a SORN vehicle can only be driven on a public road to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment, and that the SORN is cancelled automatically when the vehicle is sold.

V5C (vehicle log book)

The document that shows a vehicle’s registered keeper. You need it to sell your car; if it’s lost, the registered keeper can apply to DVLA for a replacement, and DVLA charges a fee.

VAT invoice

The invoice a VAT-registered seller gives us when VAT applies to the sale. HMRC lists what it must show, including your VAT registration number, the price excluding VAT, the VAT rate and the VAT amount.

Vehicle tax

The tax to use a vehicle on the road. gov.uk says DVLA cancels it when you tell them you’ve sold the car, and you may get a refund for any full months left.

Warning light

A light on the instrument panel that warns of a fault or problem. The Highway Code says to make sure you understand the meaning of all warning displays, and your handbook explains each one.

Write-off

A vehicle an insurer has decided to write off after damage. gov.uk lists four categories: A, B, S and N. When a Cat S or Cat N vehicle is kept, gov.uk says DVLA records its category in the log book.

Yellow section of the V5C

The yellow “sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade” section. gov.uk says to destroy it if you tell DVLA online; by post, the trader fills it in and you send its perforated part to DVLA.

Your price

The price we offer for your car. For most cars it appears online in a couple of minutes, and it’s guaranteed for 7 days if the vehicle is as you described it.