Buying or selling a used connected car
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026
Most newer cars are linked to the owner's account in the manufacturer's app, which can show where the car is and control things like locking or heating. When the car is sold, that link doesn't always end by itself. Several manufacturers say a reset in the car isn't enough on its own.
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).
- Show proof of ownership: Mercedes-Benz (at an Authorised Repairer, with ID and the V5C logbook) and Tesla (claim ownership in the app, with photo ID and the V5C).
- Your account replaces theirs: Vauxhall says linking the car to your account ends the previous owner's contracts.
- Not described: Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, MG and BYD 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.
Emergency calling (eCall) keeps working: the manufacturers that mention it say privacy and offline settings don't switch it off.
Each brand's steps
The steps each manufacturer documents. Select a brand for the menu paths and sources.
| Brand and app | Buying: remove the previous owner | Selling: unlink and wipe |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Volkswagen app | ||
| BMW My BMW app | ||
| Ford Ford app (formerly FordPass) | ||
| Kia Kia App | ||
| Audi myAudi app | ||
| Hyundai myHyundai app | ||
| Toyota MyToyota app (formerly MyT) | ||
| Nissan MyNISSAN app | ||
| Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz App | ||
| MG MG iSMART | Not described in MG's UK documents. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact MG. | |
| Tesla Tesla app | ||
| Jaguar Land Rover InControl (My InControl website | ||
| Skoda MyŠkoda app | ||
| Peugeot MyPeugeot app | Not described in Peugeot's UK documents. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact Peugeot. | |
| Vauxhall MyVauxhall app (MyVauxhall 2.0 rolling out) | ||
| Volvo Volvo Cars app | ||
| BYD BYD app | Not described in BYD's UK documents. Ask the seller to unlink it, or contact BYD. |
Sources
- Volkswagen: Become primary user
- Volkswagen: Primary user reset
- BMW: Main user and co-users
- BMW: Add a used car still linked to the seller
- BMW: Delete all main users and co-users
- BMW: Change main user in the car
- BMW: Remove the car from your BMW ID
- BMW: Delete personal data (iDrive 5 and 6)
- Ford: FordPass Connect Reset
- Ford: Factory Reset (SYNC 4)
- Ford: Remove the vehicle from your account
- Kia: Reset Kia Connect
- Kia: Deactivate Kia Connect
- Kia: Deactivate Kia Connect (ccNC)
- Kia: Remove the car and delete your account
- Audi: Become the key user
- Audi: Disengage the car and delete data
- Hyundai: Delete the vehicle
- Hyundai: Deactivate Bluelink
- Toyota: Set up your own account
- Toyota: Cancel and remove the vehicle
- Toyota: Delete personal data (Smart Connect, 2022 on)
- Nissan: Remove the vehicle or tell Nissan
- Mercedes-Benz: If the car is still linked to the previous owner
- Mercedes-Benz: Remove the vehicle
- Mercedes-Benz: Reset the multimedia system
- MG: Log out of the car's account (MGS5)
- MG: Owner change (IM5, IM6)
- Tesla: Remove or Transfer Ownership
- Tesla: Factory Reset (first)
- Jaguar Land Rover: Remove Vehicle (website)
- Jaguar Land Rover: Delete profiles in the car
- Jaguar Land Rover: Reset personal data
- Skoda: Restore factory settings
- Skoda: Delete the car from your Škoda ID
- Peugeot: Change of Owner
- Peugeot: Delete profiles and reset (2008, 2025 on)
- Vauxhall: Prepare ownership change
- Vauxhall: Change of Owner
- Vauxhall: Restore the factory settings (Astra)
- Vauxhall: Factory Reset (Frontera)
- Volvo: Report the new ownership
- Volvo: Remove car
- BYD: Reset to factory settings
This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing to report a correction.