Cars: previous owners and selling

Last checked: 28 Sep 2026; brand steps checked between 12 Oct and 6 Nov 2026 (each brand page gives its date)

Most new cars are connected to an app that can show where the car is and control some of its functions. When a car changes hands, the previous owner's account can stay linked unless someone removes it. Here's how, for the UK's 13 best-selling brands in 2025, plus Tesla, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo, BYD, Honda, CUPRA, SEAT, Polestar and Renault.

Two steps, not one

Several manufacturers say a factory reset in the car doesn't unlink it from the owner's account. Kia and Toyota say this explicitly, and Volkswagen says a reset alone doesn't end the contract. So a seller needs to remove the car from their app account and reset the car, and a buyer needs to check the car isn't still linked to someone else. Kia's UK FAQ says a previous owner who doesn't disconnect can keep tracking the car.

Emergency calling (eCall) keeps working: the manufacturers that mention it say privacy and offline settings don't switch it off.

If you're selling

Remove the car from your account in the app (or the manufacturer's website) before you hand over the keys. BMW, for example, says only the main user can hand over that role.
Reset or wipe the car's system, to remove your phone pairings, contacts, saved places and profiles.
Delete any digital keys on your phone, and cancel paid subscriptions you don't want to carry on.

If you're buying

Ask the seller to remove the car from their account before you collect it. Several brands don't describe any way for a buyer to do it afterwards (see the table).
Add the car to your own account in the app. Some brands only allow one account per car, so this also shows whether it's still linked to someone else.
Check the car's screen for old phone pairings, profiles or a previous owner's name, and reset it if anything's there.

If the seller didn't unlink it

What each manufacturer says a buyer can do, where it says anything:

Reset it yourself: Kia (reset Kia Connect), Volvo (factory reset, then tell Volvo), BMW (adding the car in the app removes the old link; on newer cars, Reset vehicle data removes everyone), Volkswagen and Skoda (delete the previous primary user on the car's screen), CUPRA and SEAT (become the primary user in the car, or reset it, depending on the model), Renault (reset the system) and Ford (FordPass Connect Reset removes every account linked to the car's modem; a factory reset removes previous owners' data and settings too).
Show proof of ownership: Mercedes-Benz (at an Authorised Repairer, with ID and the V5C logbook), Tesla (claim ownership in the app, with photo ID and the V5C), Polestar (if the seller doesn't respond within seven days) and Nissan (if the car is still paired to the seller, ask them to unlink it or contact Nissan's customer support through the app; Nissan says you may need proof of ownership, but not which document).
Your account replaces theirs: Vauxhall says linking the car to your account ends the previous owner's contracts, and Honda says adding the car to your account moves it out of the seller's.
Not described: Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, MG, BYD and Peugeot don't explain it on their UK sites, so contact the manufacturer. Audi says an Audi Centre can help you become the key user, but not what happens to the previous one. Toyota recommends setting up your own account, but says the previous owner's account may still be active, and doesn't say how to remove it.

Every brand side by side

The steps each manufacturer documents. Select a brand for the menu paths and sources.

Brand and app	Can a buyer remove the previous owner without the seller?	Buying: remove the previous owner	Selling: unlink and wipe
Volkswagen Volkswagen app	Yes: reset it yourself	Become primary user	Remove the car from your Volkswagen ID Primary user reset
BMW My BMW app	Yes: reset it yourself	Main user and co-users Add a used car still linked to the seller Delete all main users and co-users Change main user in the car	Remove the car from your BMW ID Reset vehicle data (OS8, 8.5, 9) Reset vehicle data (OS7) Delete personal data (iDrive 5 and 6)
Ford Ford app (formerly FordPass)	Yes: reset it yourself	FordPass Connect Reset	Remove the vehicle from the Ford app Factory Reset (SYNC 4)
Kia Kia App	Yes: reset it yourself	Reset Kia Connect	Deactivate Kia Connect Deactivate Kia Connect (ccNC) Remove the car and delete your account
Audi myAudi app	Not described in Audi's UK documents	Become the key user	Disengage the car and delete data
Hyundai myHyundai app	Not described in Hyundai's UK documents	Main user transfer (by the seller)	Deactivate Bluelink Delete the vehicle
Toyota MyToyota app (formerly MyT)	Not described in Toyota's UK documents	Set up your own account	Cancel and remove the vehicle Delete personal data (Smart Connect, 2022 on)
Nissan MyNISSAN app	Yes, with proof of ownership	Add the car to your own account Prove you own it	Remove the vehicle or tell Nissan Remove this vehicle from the app
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz App	Yes, with proof of ownership	If the car is still linked to the previous owner	Remove the vehicle Reset the multimedia system
MG MG iSMART	Not described in MG's UK documents	Not described. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact MG.	Log out of the car's account (MGS5) Owner change (IM5, IM6)
Tesla Tesla app	Yes, with proof of ownership	Claim ownership If the car is in Valet Mode	Factory Reset (first) Remove or Transfer Ownership
Jaguar Land Rover InControl (My InControl website	Not described in Jaguar Land Rover's UK documents	Check the overhead console	Remove Vehicle (website) Delete profiles in the car Reset personal data
Skoda MyŠkoda app	Yes: reset it yourself	Delete the previous primary user	Restore factory settings Delete the car from your Škoda ID
Peugeot MyPeugeot app	Not described in Peugeot's UK documents	Not described. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact Peugeot.	Change of Owner Delete profiles and reset (2008, 2025 on)
Vauxhall MyVauxhall app (MyVauxhall 2.0 rolling out)	Yes: your account replaces theirs	Link the car to your own account	Prepare ownership change Change of Owner Restore the factory settings (Astra) Factory Reset (Frontera)
Volvo Volvo Cars app	Yes: reset it yourself	Factory reset a pre-owned car Report the new ownership	Remove car
BYD BYD app	Not described in BYD's UK documents	Not described. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact BYD.	Reset to factory settings
Honda My Honda+ app	Yes: your account replaces theirs	Enrol the car in your own account Factory Data Reset	Remove the car from your Garage Factory Data Reset
CUPRA My CUPRA app	Yes: reset it yourself	Become primary user Remove the previous primary user	Delete user / Restore factory settings Restore factory settings
SEAT My SEAT app	Yes: reset it yourself	Become primary user	Delete user / Restore Factory Settings
Polestar Polestar app	Yes, with proof of ownership	Claim the car on polestar.com Register as owner	Unpair the Polestar app Factory reset Transfer ownership
Renault My Renault app	Yes: reset it yourself	Reset the system and link your account	Delete the car from My Renault Delete your profile and factory reset Factory reset

For a hire car, see hire cars.

Sources

This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing, or report a correction.