V55/5 Form PDF Download | UK First Vehicle Registration

What is the V55/5 Form?

The V55/5 form is issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and serves one specific purpose: establishing a vehicle in the UK registration system for the first time. When your application is approved, DVLA assigns a registration number and issues a V5C logbook in your name. You are applying for both vehicle registration and first vehicle tax in a single submission.

The form is two pages. Page one captures vehicle identity and technical data. Page two covers keeper details, the declaration, and goods vehicle questions where applicable. DVLA’s companion leaflet V355/5 is the official completion guide and the primary reference used throughout this page.

Do You Need the V55/5? Quick Decision Check

Before you start, confirm this is the right form for your situation:

If YES: You do not need the V55/5. Use the V62 to replace a lost logbook, or the V5C/2 for an ownership transfer.

If YES: Use the V55/5. You will also need a NOVA reference before submitting.

If YES: Use the V55/5. Common for barn finds and long-stored vehicles where the original registration no longer exists on the DVLA system.

If YES: Use the V55/5, plus an IVA certificate and build documentation.

If YES: Use the V55/5, plus a V765 form countersigned by a recognised owners club if you want to retain the original registration number.

Stop here. DVLA will not register Category A or B write-offs. If your vehicle is not in this category, check with the foreign registration authority and obtain evidence before applying.

Situations Where This Form Is Required

The V55/5 covers a wider range of vehicles than most people expect:

Situation	Description
Imported used vehicles:	Title, first name, surname, business name if applicable, current address including house number and postcode. Use capital letters throughout.
Barn finds and long-stored vehicles:	A vehicle off the road for years with no active V5C on the DVLA system.
Kit cars and self-builds:	Assembled from components, requiring an IVA certificate and build documentation.
Reconstructed or radically altered vehicles:	Where the vehicle identity has changed to the point that a new registration is needed.
Classic and historic vehicles:	Older vehicles seeking first UK registration, often needing a V765 form countersigned by a recognised owners’ club.
Ex-military vehicles:	Entering civilian use for the first time, requiring a Ministry of Defence disposal certificate.
Returning exports:	Previously registered in the UK, then exported and deregistered, now returning.
Category C or D write-offs:	Repaired insurance write-offs returning to the road, requiring a DVSA Vehicle Identity Check certificate.
Q-plate applications:	Vehicles of indeterminate age or identity that cannot be assigned a standard age-related plate.

If your vehicle already has a registration number and a V5C exists on the DVLA system, you do not need this form. Use the V62 to replace a lost logbook, or the V5C/2 for an ownership transfer.

V55/5 or V62: Which Form Do You Need?

The deciding factor is whether a registration record already exists on the DVLA system:

Your situation	Correct form
Vehicle never registered in the UK	V55/5
Vehicle registered but V5C is lost	V62
Used imported vehicle	V55/5
Ownership transfer on a registered vehicle	V5C/2
Vehicle off-road, no registration record at DVLA	V55/5
Replacement logbook for a registered vehicle	V62

V55/4 vs V55/5: New Vehicle or Used?

If you are registering a brand-new vehicle, the dealer handles the registration using the V55/4. You never see that process. The V55/5 application is for used vehicles only: imported, rebuilt, historic, or otherwise unregistered. If in doubt, call DVLA on 0300 790 6802.

Documents Required for a V55/5 Application

DVLA is strict. A missing item means your entire pack is returned unprocessed, adding weeks to your timeline. Gather everything before you post.

Mandatory Documents, All Applicants

Completed V55/5 form: black ink, capital letters throughout, signed and dated.
Proof of identity: photocard driving licence (preferred), or passport, birth certificate, or marriage certificate.
Proof of address: utility bill, bank statement, or council tax bill dated within the last 3 months.
MOT certificate: required if the vehicle is over 3 years old (over 4 years in Northern Ireland). Must be valid when DVLA processes the application, not just when you post it.
Insurance certificate or cover note: mandatory for Northern Ireland applications; recommended for all.
Vehicle photographs: front, rear, both sides, VIN plate, and engine bay. Recent, in focus, full vehicle visible. Printed 6×4 inches or supplied digitally on a CD or USB drive.
Payment: one cheque or postal order for the £55 registration fee plus your vehicle tax period. Payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea’. No cash.

Additional Documents by Vehicle Type

Vehicle type	Additional documents needed
Imported used vehicle	NOVA reference, foreign registration document, C384 customs form (if applicable), conformity certificate
Kit car or self-build	IVA certificate, component receipts, build documentation, donor vehicle paperwork
Historic or age-related	V765 countersigned by recognised owners club, original logbook if available, heritage certificate
Q-plate application	Points calculation worksheet, engineering report, IVA certificate
Ex-military vehicle	MOD disposal certificate, military registration document, commercial sale invoice
Category C/D write-off repair	DVSA VIC certificate, engineer’s report, repair invoices, before and after photographs

How to Complete the DVLA V55/5 Form Online?

Sections	Descriptions
Box 1	Leave blank if no registration number has been pre-assigned.
Box 2	Tax class. Enter Historic for vehicles 40 or more years old. Enter PLG for standard private cars.
Box 3	Tick 6 months or 12 months for the tax period.
Box 4	Enter the £55 registration fee and the tax amount. Leave the tax payable field blank if the vehicle is historic (tax-exempt).
5 to 10	Manufacturer, make, model, body type, wheelplan, and colour. Use official manufacturer names. For motorcycles, enter 2 wheel in Box 9.
Box 11	Type approval number. Required for vehicles under 10 years old only. Enter N/A or leave blank for older vehicles.
Box 24	Date of original registration in the country of origin. Use the date of manufacture if unknown.
Box 25	Year of manufacture.
Box 26	Date of previous UK registration, if any. Leave blank if never registered in the UK.
Box 30	The date vehicle tax starts. Must be the first of a month.
31 to 34	Fuel type, VIN or chassis number (copy character-for-character from the vehicle plate), engine number, and engine capacity in cc.
74 to 76	Goods vehicles over 3,500kg only. Leave blank for cars and motorcycles.

Page 2: Keeper Details and Declaration

Sections	Descriptions
Box 70	Full name and address exactly as shown on your ID documents. Include postcode. DVLA warns that a missing postcode delays your V5C.
Box 71	The date of birth is optional but helps DVLA verify identity.
Box 72	Type approval exemption. For vehicles over 10 years old, enter Age.
Box 73	Current mileage in miles, not kilometres.
Sign	Sign in ink and date with the submission date. Making a false declaration is a criminal offence.

Before sealing your envelope, photocopy the entire application pack. If the DVLA returns it with an issue, you resubmit your copy.

Where to Send Your V55/5?

The V55/5 has one submission method: post. There is no online route, no in-person option, and no drop-off point.

Post your application to:

DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR

Use a padded envelope. Royal Mail Recorded Delivery or Special Delivery is strongly recommended.

Note: SA99 1ZZ is the address for V765 age-related registration applications. That is a different process. Use SA99 1AR for all V55/5 submissions.

Can You Submit the V55/5 at a Post Office?

No. Post office counters handle vehicle tax renewals and V5C keeper transfers, not first registrations. You can post your sealed, addressed envelope from a post office and pay for tracked delivery there, but staff cannot accept, check, or process the application.

V55/5 Fees, Payment Methods and Processing Time 2026

Payment	Amount	Notes
Registration fee	£55	Fixed for all vehicle types
Vehicle tax, historic (40+ years)	£0	Tax-exempt. Pay £55 only
Vehicle tax, zero emission	£0	Electric vehicles
Vehicle tax, standard petrol or diesel	Varies by CO2 band	Check gov.uk/vehicle-tax-rate-tables
Recorded Delivery (Royal Mail)	From £3.95	Recommended, not mandatory

Write one cheque or postal order for the combined total. Do not send separate payments. Make it payable to ‘DVLA, Swansea‘. DVLA does not accept card payments by post.

Processing Timeline: What to Expect After You Post

Weeks 1 to 2: DVLA receives and logs the application. Initial document check. Applications missing items are returned at this stage.
Weeks 2 to 4: Vehicle identity verification. The DVLA may request a physical inspection in complex cases, particularly for imports with incomplete documentation.
Weeks 4 to 6: V5C issued and posted to the Box 70 address. Registration number assigned. Identity documents returned separately.
After 6 weeks: If no V5C has arrived, call DVLA on 0300 790 6802 with your application reference.

What to Prepare Before Posting, Full Checklist

You cannot submit the V55/5 at a post office counter, but you can post from one and get tracked delivery. Run through this before you leave home:

Sealed envelope addressed to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.
Single cheque or postal order inside, for the combined total of the registration fee and vehicle tax.
Application pack in order: form, photographs, ID documents, MOT, insurance, any additional certificates.
Your own photocopy of the complete pack retained at home.
Ask for Royal Mail Recorded Delivery or Special Delivery at the counter.
Keep the “Proof of Postage” receipt until your V5C arrives.

Top 5 Reasons V55/5 Applications Are Returned

DVLA returns the entire pack unprocessed when something is missing or wrong. Each return adds weeks. These are the issues that come up most often in practice:

VIN or chassis number mismatch

This is the single most common reason for rejection. Copy the number exactly from the plate on the vehicle, character for character, including any leading zeros or letters. A single transposed digit fails the application outright.

Outdated form version

DVLA updates the form periodically. The version number appears in the top-right corner on page 1. The current version is 9/23. Forms downloaded from unofficial sources are frequently out of date.

Payment made out incorrectly

The cheque or postal order must read ‘DVLA, Swansea’ in full, not just ‘DVLA’. An incorrect payee name means DVLA cannot bank the payment, and the entire application comes back.

MOT expires between posting and processing

The MOT must be valid at the point DVLA processes the application, not just when you post it. If your MOT is close to expiry, renew it first before submitting.

Missing NOVA for imported vehicles

Vehicles imported from abroad require a Notification of Vehicle Arrival (NOVA) reference before DVLA will register them. Apply at gov.uk/register-a-vehicle before you post the V55/5.

Practical tip: lay out all the documents side by side before you seal the envelope. Check the VIN on the form against the VIN plate on the vehicle one final time.

Historic Vehicle Exemptions and Tax Relief

Vehicles 40 or more years old qualify for historic vehicle tax exemption. The threshold rolls forward each year on 1 April.

Vehicle tax: £0. Enter ‘Historic’ in Box 2 and leave the tax payable field blank. The £55 registration fee still applies.
MOT exemption: Vehicles over 40 years old are exempt from the annual MOT test, though DVLA still recommends keeping the vehicle roadworthy.
Retaining the original registration number: Complete form V765, have it countersigned by a recognised vehicle owners club, and send it with your V55/5. The V765 address is DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1ZZ, which is different from the V55/5 address (SA99 1AR).
Tax class reference: see DVLA leaflet V355/1 for a full list of tax classes and guidance on selecting the correct one for your vehicle type.

Frequently Asked Questions

The V55/5 is the DVLA form for applying for first vehicle tax and registration of a used motor vehicle. You use it when a vehicle has no existing registration record on the DVLA system. Imported vehicles, barn finds, kit cars, and historic vehicles are the most common cases.

DVLA typically processes applications within 2 to 6 weeks of receiving them. Applications returned for missing documents restart the clock. If no V5C has arrived after 6 weeks, call DVLA on 0300 790 6802.

No. There is no online submission route for this form. The completed paper form, supporting documents, and payment must be posted to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.

The process is identical to a car. In Box 9, enter 2 wheel. In Box 8, enter the body type, for example, solo motorcycle. Boxes 74 to 76 (goods vehicle questions) do not apply; leave them blank.

Complete the form using your foreign registration document and VIN plate. You need a NOVA reference number before submitting. Apply at gov.uk/register-a-vehicle. Include your customs paperwork, MOT, insurance, proof of identity, proof of address, and payment. Post everything to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.

The fixed registration fee is £55. You also pay vehicle tax for 6 or 12 months. Historic vehicles 40 or more years old pay £55 only as they are exempt from vehicle tax. Send one combined cheque or postal order made payable to DVLA, Swansea.

No. Post offices do not stock the V55/5. Download and print it from GOV.UK or this page. You can post your completed application from a post office using a tracked service, but staff cannot supply the form or assist with completion.

V55/5 Form PDF Download | UK First Vehicle Registration

What is the V55/5 Form?

Do You Need the V55/5? Quick Decision Check

Does the vehicle have a registration number AND a V5C on the DVLA system?

Is the vehicle imported and never registered in the UK?

Has the vehicle been off the road for years with no active DVLA record?

Is it a kit car, reconstruction, or radically altered vehicle?

Is it a historic or classic vehicle seeking first UK registration?

Is it a Category A or B insurance write-off?