V55/5: Application for first vehicle tax and registration of a used motor vehicle
Form V55/5 is how a used vehicle that has never been registered with DVLA gets its first UK registration and its first vehicle tax.
This is the genuine DVLA PDF, unmodified. Source: DVLA official page.
What is V55/5?
Gov.uk describes the V55/5 as the form to register a used vehicle, including used imported vehicles, older vehicles that have never been registered, and vehicles brought back to the UK after being exported. It is the counterpart to the V55/4, which covers brand new vehicles and newly built kit cars.
Because these vehicles arrive with a mixed bag of paperwork, the evidence matters as much as the form. DVLA wants proof of the vehicle itself, evidence of when it was made and where it came from, an MOT where one is due, and insurance. The companion guide V355/5 sets out how to complete the boxes and which documents to enclose for each situation.
Who files V55/5?
- People who have personally imported a used vehicle into the UK
- Owners of older vehicles that were never entered on the DVLA record
- Anyone bringing a vehicle back into the UK after it was exported
- Restorers registering a vehicle that has no surviving registration
How to fill out V55/5
- Download the V55/5 along with the V355/5 guide before filling anything in.
- Complete the vehicle description, VIN or chassis number and the date the vehicle was first used.
- Enter the keeper details and the tax class you are applying for.
- Assemble the supporting evidence: proof of origin such as foreign registration papers or a customs entry, an MOT if one is required, and insurance.
- Post the form, the fee and the evidence to DVLA, Swansea, at the address given in the V355/5 guidance.
Get V55/5
DVLA publishes V55/5 as a flat PDF with no built-in form fields, so there is no quick-fill form here. Open it in the editor to type directly onto the pages, tick boxes and sign, or download the official blank and complete it in your PDF reader or by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from a V62?
V55/5 gives a vehicle a UK registration for the first time. V62 applies for a replacement or updated vehicle registration certificate (V5C) for a vehicle DVLA already knows about.
Can I get the vehicle's original number back?
Sometimes. If the vehicle previously carried a registration number and you can evidence it, form V765 is the route to reclaim that original number rather than accepting an age related one.
Does the vehicle need an MOT first?
If the vehicle is old enough to need one, yes, DVLA expects a valid MOT with the application. Some historic vehicles are exempt, and form V112 is used to declare that exemption.