Car documentation may not seem like the most important thing in the world, but it is vital that you keep hold of a few key documents and keep them organised if you buy a car, plan on selling or need to get some work done.
So, what are the main documents that you need for your vehicle or when you make a purchase?
V5C Certificate
Also known as the logbook, the V5C is one of the key documents that you need to make sure that you have when you buy or sell a car. Essentially, this is a record of the previous and current registered keepers of the vehicle along with their addresses (this also means that you need to update this document if you move home).
MOT Certificate
Your vehicle will need an annual MOT certificate, this is an essential document that proves that your automobile is safe and roadworthy for the year. You can look online to check when your MOT is due as you will always want to get this done in advance. Plus, if you have plans to sell, then it might be useful to get a new MOT certificate so that the buyer knows the car is in good condition and unlikely to need any work done soon – this could bump up the value of the car too.
Service Book
The service book simply logs when and where the car has been serviced and what the mileage was at each servicing. This will be helpful when buying/selling because you can see if previous owners have stuck to the service schedule and this can also be a safeguard against clocking which is one of the most common car scams.
Road Tax
You no longer need to display the tax disc on your windshield, but it is still good practice to hold a record of your payments so that you can see when the next is due and if there are any issues.
Insurance
It is also good practice to keep insurance documentation in the car in case of an accident. This will make it much easier to exchange details with another driver in this situation – you might also want to make a note of the claims hotline.
Driving License
Similarly, you should always make sure that you have your driving license with you whenever you drive in case anything happens. Keep in mind that you renew every 10 years or when you move house and after 70 you need to renew every 3 years.
These are the key documents that you need as a motorist. Documentation is particularly important when buying/selling so you need to make sure that you are always getting the right documents as well as keeping everything organised throughout the ownership period.
