Advice on buying a vehicle :Cross Stitch – Motoring

The following advice from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) can help reduce the risk of buying a stolen vehicle. Here are some tips to consider, but the final decision is your responsibility. Find out what you should look out for when you buy a used vehicle.

Make sure you know what questions to ask about the:

  • seller and their background
  • registration certificate (V5C) and its authenticity
  • identity and origin of the vehicle

If in doubt, trust your instincts. Don’t be pressured to buy, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.

Here are some top tips to help you decide. You can print the checklist below and take it with you as a useful reminder of what to look for when buying a vehicle.

Thieves can alter the appearance of a stolen vehicle and its paperwork to make it look genuine (this is known as ‘cloning’). They can also forge documents.

Hold the V5C up to the light – there should be a ‘DVL’ watermark.

Remember, the V5C is not proof of ownership. Make sure the seller has the right to sell the vehicle and the V5C matches the vehicle’s details and all other documentation provided.

Look out for stolen V5Cs. If the seller has a blue V5C with a serial number in the following ranges, don’t go ahead with the sale. Contact the police when it’s safe to do so:

  • BG8229501 to BG9999030
  • BI2305501 to BI2800000

The serial number is in a white circle in the top right hand corner of the V5C.

Don’t buy the vehicle if you think the serial number has been altered, or if part of the V5C is missing.

There have been changes to the V5C. Follow the link below for further information.

Don’t buy the vehicle if the VIN has been tampered with or is missing

Before buying a vehicle, check that the VIN and engine number match those on the V5C. The links at the bottom of this page provide advice on what other important checks to carry out. Don’t make your decision until you have carried out all the relevant checks.

Checklist for buying a used vehicle

Print the checklist below and take it with you as a useful reminder of what to look for when buying a vehicle.

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