Volvo: previous owners, selling, and privacy settings
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026
Volvo's connected services: Volvo Cars app. Sellers remove the car in the Volvo Cars app, which starts a factory reset. If a seller didn't, Volvo says buyers can reset the car themselves and report the new ownership.
Bought it used: remove the previous owner
- Factory reset a pre-owned carGoogle built-in
Notification centre (swipe down) → Profile icon → Owner profile → Settings → System → Reset options → Factory resetVolvo UK says that if the previous owner hasn't removed their profiles and connected phones, a factory reset is needed, and you can do it yourself on the centre display. It removes all paired phones and all data and settings stored in the car.
For cars with Google built-in except the EX30 and EX90. EX30: Settings → System → Reset options → Reset car (EX90: Erase all data). Sensus cars (e.g. XC40 2018–2024): Settings → System → Factory reset. V40, V70, XC70, S80 (2012–2019) and S60, V60, XC60 (2012–2018): MY CAR → OK/MENU → Settings → Reset to factory settings. Volvo recommends asking the previous owner to remove the car in the app first.
- Report the new ownershipBuyer
Volvo support or a Volvo dealerVolvo UK says to contact Volvo support or a dealer to report the new ownership, so you're registered as the owner and get the full range of services.
Selling: unlink and wipe
- Remove carIn the app
Volvo Cars app → Profile tab → Your cars → Your car → Remove carVolvo UK says removing the car from an owner or admin profile deletes all related data from the app and the car, including other drivers' data, and starts a factory reset automatically.
Do this before you uninstall the app. If the reset doesn't start, use Factory reset guide on the same screen (on Sensus cars, press Remove car and then Factory reset guide).
Good to know
- Volvo's UK manual for the EX30 says the current owner must remove the link between the app and the car, and the new owner then links their own app.
Not found in Volvo's public UK documents: Privacy settings (not checked for this page), and change-of-ownership steps for older cars with Volvo On Call. Menu paths can differ by model and software version; each one here is for the version its source names.
Sources
- volvocars.com/uk/support/topic/283c754e1dbdc5f7c0a801512be53de7/
- volvocars.com/uk/support/topic/a6228d0cf69703a3c0a801513c08ff7c/
This page describes your options and how organisations say they handle requests. It isn't legal advice. See About & sourcing to report a correction.