You might assume that a car's registered keeper is its owner – but that's not always the case. There's a small but important distinction between the two roles.
The car's owner is the legal owner of that vehicle, and is the one who'll be reimbursed if the car is stolen, for example. A car's registered keeper, however, is the person in charge of that vehicle on the road – they can expect to receive any speeding tickets the car earns, for example.
Often, the owner and the registered keeper are the same person but, in certain cases, they might be two different people. This guide explains all.
What’s the difference between owners and registered keepers?
The owner is the person who paid for the car, or were lucky enough to have it gifted to them. You can prove ownership of a car with a bill of sale or receipt from the company or person you bought it from. Find out how to change the owner of a car.
A car's registered keeper is usually the same person as the owner, but they can be different people. This usually happens with company cars – the company is the car's owner, while the registered keeper is the employee who actually uses the car. The registered keeper is the person listed on the car’s V5C registration document, which is why the document says “This document is not proof of ownership”.
Does the registered keeper have to be the owner?
No – the registered keeper and owner can be two different people. As covered above, this is most common in company cars, where the company owns the vehicle while the employee is its registered keeper.
If you want to give a car you own to someone else to use as their car, while retaining legal ownership yourself, then you can remain the owner, while registering them as the keeper. That way, any police or DVLA-related communications will go to them.
Can a registered keeper sell a car?
A registered keeper can only sell the car they're using if they're also its legal owner. Put more simply, only a car's legal owner is allowed sell it, regardless of who the car's registered keeper is. Being a car's registered keeper doesn't entitle you to sell it, which is why employees aren't allowed to sell their company cars.
Is the registered keeper of a car responsible for speeding tickets?
Yes – a car's registered keeper is responsible for any fines or speeding tickets earned in the vehicle. The police will speak to them first for any enquiries they make concerning a particular car. This is why it's important to make sure the registered keeper info is up to date if someone else is using a car you own.
What else is the registered keeper responsible for?
The registered keeper is responsible for all day-to-day requirements involved in running a car – namely insurance, having a valid MOT test and tax.
What is the owner of a car responsible for?
If you’re the owner of a car then you’re responsible for making sure the registered keeper is insured to drive it. That’s about it. Knowingly allowing someone to drive a car you own while uninsured is against the law and the car's owner will be held responsible.
How do I prove I’m the owner of a car?
To prove you’re the owner of the car you’ll need to be able to show an invoice, receipt or bill of sale from when you bought it – this is why you should write up a receipt even if you purchase a car privately. Or, if you were gifted it, some form of written document to formalise the transfer of ownership.
Do insurance companies check registered keepers?
Insurance companies have the right to check who the registered keeper of a car is. They might decide to do so if they have reason to suspect unusual or fraudulent activity. You don't have to be a car's registered keeper to insure a vehicle by law, although some policy providers might stipulate this in their own rules.
How do I change the registered keeper of a car?
If you want to change the registered keeper of a car (if you’re selling it or gifting it), you’ll need to fill out the ‘change of registered keeper’ part of the V5C and return it to the DVLA – or you can do this online using the DVLA’s website. Read our full guide to transferring vehicle ownership.
