Changing the registered Keeper of a car

[TheAnimus]

Hey more knowledgeable people!

I am looking to have a second car at my parents place, this is some 300+ miles from where I live, so it makes sense to have my dad as the registered keeper and maybe have my parents use it as their only car too.

This means changing the registered keeper. How long does that take? Is it best to do this before my current insurance runs out? Do we just post off the V5C? If my insurance runs out on the 10th of Aug, can I do the paperwork on the 9th, let my dad get some insurance and let him drive the car down from my place?

It is a minefield trying to find info on the gov site....

[jimbouk]

Simplest thing to do would be imagine you are selling him the car.

He turns up on the 9th/10th with insurance ready, he gets the new keeper slip from the V5C and the rest goes in the post. That little slip of paper is his proof until the real form turns up in the post, so it is in effect instant when you both sign and date the form. Just make sure your insurance isn't due to auto-renew

I've never had trouble with the DVLA, things turn around in about a week, but do use some form of registered post just in case.

Ownership and registered keeper are not the same thing though. For the sake of ease of insurance (you usually have to declare both) it is probably worth 'giving' the car to him as well as just registering him as the keeper.

[DanceswithUnix]

I think you are worrying too much

Insurers seem more interested in main driver than any precise timing of registered keeper. When you buy a car, it takes a few weeks to get the paperwork back saying you are now the registered keeper, but you have applied and the intention is there so everyone seems happy.

Only caveat I can think of: If the car is worth decent money, then that will appear as a change of owner and that can impact the value of the car.

[TheAnimus]

Car will be worth about £30k, but my parents will be the keepers of it for 3+ years at least. Plus the name is the same, so hopefully further buyers wouldn't be put off.

Basically I'm just doing it this way to get the delivery insurance. Once I'm happy with it, I'll then let my parents be the registered keepers, but the sale contract is with me, because they can't be trusted to buy a car, and as I'm buying the vast majority of it, well, its my car, they are just keeping it.

Amazing difference in insurance premiums too, £200 for them with me as named. £800 for me with them as named. Me thinks it might be time to get an IAM thing or similar.