Car paperwork, step by step
Short, practical checklists for the documents that come with owning, buying, selling and driving a car - written to be read on a phone in a car park.
- Paperwork after a minor accident
What to write down at the scene, which photos matter later, and who needs to hear from you and when.
Reviewed 24 October 2026 - Keeping service records that actually help at resale
A simple way to log maintenance so that the next owner - and your warranty claim - can follow it.
Reviewed 22 October 2026 - Selling your car without paperwork headaches
How to hand a car over so that its fines, its insurance and its history stop being your problem the same day.
Reviewed 16 October 2026 - Driving abroad: documents to sort out before the trip
International Driving Permits, insurance that actually covers you across the border, and papers for a car that is not yours.
Reviewed 20 October 2026 - What to keep in the glovebox (and what not to)
The papers worth having in the car, the ones that belong on you, and the one document a thief would love to find.
Reviewed 3 October 2026 - Buying a used car: the paperwork checklist
What to ask for before the viewing, what to compare on the spot and which papers you should leave with.
Reviewed 14 October 2026
How to use these guides
Each guide is a list of questions and documents, not a summary of one country's law. Use it to prepare, then confirm the details with the office that will look at your papers.