When buying a used vehicle, it’s just as important to check the seller as it is to check the car. Understanding who you’re dealing with can help you avoid scams, cloned vehicles, or cars being sold under false details.
Confirm Exactly Who You Are Buying the Vehicle From
Before agreeing to anything, make sure you know the seller’s full name, address, and relationship to the vehicle. Ask to see a form of ID (such as a driving licence) and ensure it matches the details on the V5C logbook.
Never Meet on Neutral or Random Ground
Fraudsters often suggest meeting in car parks, petrol stations, or roadside locations. Although it may seem convenient, this is one of the biggest red flags in used car fraud.
Always ask to view the vehicle at the seller’s home or business address — and make sure that’s the same address shown on the logbook.
Always Enter the Premises
Don’t complete a deal on the pavement or outside a gate. Legitimate sellers will have no issue inviting you onto the property. Being inside the premises makes it harder for a criminal using a fake address to disappear once the sale is complete.
When buying from a motor dealer, you should expect professionalism, transparency, and a clear paper trail. Taking a few simple steps can help you avoid dishonest traders or unregulated sellers pretending to be dealers.
Visit the Dealer’s Premises
Always visit the dealer in person. A genuine motor trader will have commercial premises, a forecourt, or a unit where multiple vehicles are stored.
Avoid dealers who operate from a public car park, lay by, or temporary location — this is a common tactic used by unlicensed sellers.
Check They Have Multiple Vehicles for Sale
Most legitimate dealers will have several vehicles on site. A single car for sale, especially in an informal setting, could indicate a private seller posing as a trader to avoid their legal responsibilities.
Ask for a Proper Invoice With Full Company Details
A professional dealer should provide a printed invoice that includes:
If they hesitate or cannot provide these details, treat it as a warning sign.
Never Allow the Dealer to Deliver the Vehicle to You
A reputable dealer will expect you to visit their premises to view and collect the vehicle. Avoid situations where a trader insists on bringing the vehicle to you, no matter how far away they claim to be or how convenient it may seem.
This tactic is often used to avoid you seeing where the business actually operates from.
Buying privately can often be cheaper, but it also comes with fewer legal protections than buying from a dealer. For that reason, it’s essential to take a few sensible precautions to make sure the seller is genuine and the vehicle is legitimate.
Visit the Address Shown on the V5C Logbook
Always view the vehicle at the exact address listed on the V5C registration document. This helps confirm that the seller is genuinely connected to the vehicle and not acting fraudulently.
Avoid meeting in car parks, lay bys or halfway locations — a genuine private seller should have no issue showing the car at their home address.
Check the Seller’s Identity
Politely ask the seller to show a form of ID, such as:
These details should match the registered keeper information on the V5C. If the names don’t match, make sure you get a clear and honest explanation — and be cautious.
Confirm How Long They’ve Owned the Vehicle
A private seller should know the vehicle’s history, how it’s been maintained, and why they’re selling it. Be wary of someone who:
These can be signs of a “back street trader” posing as a private seller.
Inspect All Documents Carefully
Ask to see:
Check that the VIN on the vehicle matches the VIN printed on the V5C and any service documents.
Buying a second hand vehicle can save you money, but it also carries certain risks. While cases of fraud do exist in the used car market, you can significantly reduce those risks by taking a few simple precautions. Follow these core principles to protect yourself and ensure the vehicle — and the seller — are genuine.
Always Visit the Seller in Person
Never let the seller bring the vehicle to you, and avoid meeting in car parks, roadside locations, or “halfway” points.
Fraudsters often avoid showing their real address.
Viewing the vehicle at the seller’s home or business allows you to confirm:
Check the Seller’s Identity
Ask politely to see proof of identity such as:
Make sure the details match the V5C document and any information provided by the seller.
If something doesn’t add up, walk away.
Run an AutoCheck Vehicle History Report
A vehicle history check is one of the most effective ways to avoid fraud.
With an AutoCheck report, you can confirm whether the vehicle has:
This step alone can stop you buying a car that isn’t what it appears to be.
Don’t Be Tempted by a “Too Good to Be True” Bargain
Fraudsters often lure buyers in with prices far below market value.
If a vehicle is significantly cheaper than similar models, ask yourself why.
A suspicious price can indicate:
Genuine sellers do not rush or pressure you.
Get an Independent Mechanical Inspection
Even if the vehicle’s history is clean, a mechanical inspection provides extra reassurance.
A qualified mechanic can uncover:
This is especially important for private sales where there is no warranty.
Proper documentation is essential when purchasing a second hand vehicle. Checking these documents carefully can help you confirm the car’s identity, spot potential fraud, and ensure the vehicle is legally fit for the road.
Ensure the Vehicle Has a Genuine V5C Registration Document
The vehicle must come with a valid DVLA Vehicle Registration Document (V5C).
This document lists the registered keeper, the vehicle’s details, and its official history.
Be aware of stolen V5C documents
The DVLA has confirmed that some V5C forms have been stolen and may be used fraudulently.
If you want to verify a V5C before buying, you can:
A seller who refuses to show the V5C or claims “it’s been lost” should be treated with caution.
Check the MOT Certificate
If the vehicle is over three years old, it must have a valid MOT certificate.
You can confirm the MOT status, history with an Experian AutoCheck report.
Look out for patterns of advisories, repeated failures, or sudden mileage drops.
Compare the AutoCheck Data With the Vehicle and Documents
Make sure the details in your AutoCheck report match:
Pay particular attention to mileage, recorded keeper changes, colour changes, and any history of write-offs or finance.
Discrepancies can indicate cloning, identity changes, or administrative errors — all of which need careful investigation.
Verify the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
Every car has a unique VIN, usually found:
This can also be verified on your AutoCheck report.
All VINs must match exactly
If they don’t, walk away immediately — mismatched VINs can indicate a stolen, cloned, or rebuilt vehicle.
Check the Service History and Warranty
Review the service book and any accompanying receipts. Look for:
If a warranty is claimed to be still active, ask for written confirmation or check directly with the manufacturer or warranty provider.
Important Information About the Vehicle
If a vehicle is being advertised for significantly less than the current market value, it’s essential to question why. A so called “quick sale” could indicate an issue that isn’t immediately obvious.
What AutoCheck Cannot Confirm
While AutoCheck provides a comprehensive data check, there are certain things no vehicle history report can fully guarantee:
Paying for the Vehicle
Where possible, avoid paying in cash. Cash transactions are difficult to trace and offer little protection if something goes wrong. For a safer, more secure purchase, always choose a traceable payment method such as electronic bank transfer, cheque, or banker’s draft.
Please note: The Data Guarantee does not cover cash payments that exceed £1,000 or 10% of the vehicle’s purchase price — whichever amount is lower.
Warranty
If you believe the vehicle is still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, it’s important to confirm this before completing your purchase. Always contact a franchised dealer or the vehicle manufacturer directly to check the warranty status and any remaining cover.
Be aware that:
Checking the warranty in advance helps ensure you know exactly what level of protection you can rely on.
Understanding a vehicle’s fuel economy is essential when choosing a used car. Good fuel efficiency doesn’t just save you money at the pump — it can also indicate how well the vehicle has been maintained and how economically it will perform over time.
AutoCheck helps you make an informed decision by highlighting a vehicle’s official fuel economy rating and providing insight into how efficiently it’s likely to run in real world conditions. Whether you’re comparing petrol, diesel, hybrid or fully electric models, your report gives you the clarity you need to choose a vehicle that fits both your lifestyle and your budget.
With a clearer view of fuel consumption, you can:
Fuel economy is a key part of any smart car buying decision — and AutoCheck ensures you have the facts before you commit.
Your AutoCheck report shows how many previous keepers the vehicle has had, along with the dates each keeper change was recorded.
For example, 0 previous keepers means the vehicle is still with its original registered keeper, so you would become the second. If there are four previous keepers, the current keeper is the fifth, and you would be the sixth.
It’s worth paying attention to multiple keeper changes in a short period of time. This can sometimes indicate potential issues with the vehicle, although it could also reflect the type of vehicle or how it is commonly used.
Because of Data Protection rules, the DVLA does not share the names of previous keepers with AutoCheck. However, the names and addresses of the last two registered keepers are printed on the vehicle’s V5C (Vehicle Registration Certificate), allowing you to contact them directly if you want more information.
Please note that a keeper is not always the legal owner. For example, the vehicle may be leased, company owned, or registered to a third party.
A vehicle’s MOT history is one of the most important indicators of its condition, reliability, and how well it’s been maintained. By reviewing past MOT results, you can spot patterns that help you understand whether the car has been cared for — or if it may come with hidden problems.
With AutoCheck, you get a clear view of the vehicle’s official MOT record, including:
Checking MOT history before you buy gives you confidence in the vehicle’s roadworthiness. It can also highlight issues the seller may not mention, such as repeated brake faults, excessive corrosion warnings, or tyre wear problems.
A transparent MOT history helps you:
AutoCheck brings MOT history together in one simple, easy to understand report — so you know exactly what you’re buying before you commit.
Vehicles recorded as stolen and not recovered legally remain the property of the insurer who paid out the total loss claim. If the vehicle is identified at any point — even if you purchased it in good faith — the insurer has the right to repossess it immediately.
AutoCheck checks whether a vehicle has been recorded as written off or declared a total loss by an insurance company following a damage related or theft related insurance claim.
Damage-related write-off:
This means the insurer has decided the vehicle is uneconomical to repair. If you are considering buying a previously written off vehicle, you should only proceed once you are confident that all repairs have been completed to a high standard and that the vehicle is safe and roadworthy.
Theft-related write-off:
This indicates the vehicle was stolen and the insurer paid out a claim, making the insurance company the legal owner at that point. The vehicle may later have been recovered intact, recovered damaged, or returned to the road after repairs.
If you need more information about a vehicle’s theft status, please contact our Service Support Team, who can verify the vehicle’s current position for you.
Categories of Write-Off
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| A | This vehicle is beyond repair and must be crushed in its entirety. No parts can be reused. |
| B | The vehicle is beyond repair. The shell must be destroyed, but usable parts may be recycled. |
| C | A vehicle with extensive damage that the insurer has chosen no to repair, but could be repaired and safely returned to the road. (Older category - now replaced by S/N but still appears for historical records.) |
| D | A damaged vehicle the insurer has chosen not to repair, despite repair being possible. (Also an older category now replaced by S/N.) |
| F | A vehicle damaged by fire, that the insurer has decided not to repair. |
| S | A structurally damaged repairable vehicle where the insurer or owner has chosen not to complete the repair. The vehicle HAS sustained structural damage. |
| N | A non-structurally damaged repairable vehicle. The vehicle HAS NOT sustained structural or chassis damage, but may still require significant mechanical or cosmetic repairs. |
If a vehicle is recorded as scrapped by the DVLA, this will be shown in your AutoCheck report.
You should not proceed with the purchase of any vehicle that has been officially marked as scrapped, as it is not permitted to be returned to the road.
For further guidance, please contact our Service Support Team.
Most vehicle colour changes happen simply because an owner wants to personalise their car. Whenever a colour change is made, the owner must inform the DVLA so the update can be recorded on the vehicle’s V5C (Vehicle Registration Certificate).
If a colour change has been recorded, your AutoCheck report will show the vehicle’s original colour, the number of colour changes, and the current DVLA registered colour. This helps you confirm the vehicle’s identity and ensures the history matches what the seller tells you.
It’s common for vehicles to have one or more registration plate changes, often because a previous owner added a private or personalised plate. In most cases, this is completely normal and nothing to worry about. When a private plate is removed, the vehicle simply returns to its original age related registration.
As part of your AutoCheck report, we list every registration plate previously assigned to the vehicle, along with the exact dates each plate was applied. This helps you confirm the vehicle’s identity and ensure the history is consistent with what the seller tells you.
Your AutoCheck report includes a detailed mileage history, gathered from trusted industry sources. Each entry is shown in date order and includes the recorded mileage, the date, and the source of the reading.
You should compare these readings with the vehicle’s MOT certificates and service history to make sure the mileage progression is consistent. AutoCheck will highlight any mileage discrepancies, which may indicate that the vehicle has been ‘clocked’—where the odometer has been tampered with to show a lower mileage than the vehicle has actually traveled. If needed, you can contact previous keepers listed on the vehicle’s V5C for more information.
Mileage data is sourced from:
Some records may be incomplete or unverified, and a small number of imported vehicles may show readings in kilometres rather than miles.
If a vehicle has an outstanding loan or hire purchase agreement, the finance company legally retains an interest in the vehicle until the debt is fully repaid. If you purchase the vehicle before that happens, the finance company may still have the right to repossess it, even if you were not aware of the agreement.
Many buyers assume that, as an innocent purchaser, they would automatically obtain good title to the vehicle. In reality, you would need to prove your status as an innocent purchaser to the finance company — a process that is often complex, time consuming, and difficult to resolve.
What to Do if Finance is Recorded
If outstanding finance is shown on the AutoCheck report, the details of the agreement and the finance company will be listed. Follow these steps before considering the purchase:
Contact the finance company
Ask whether the agreement has been fully repaid.
If finance is still outstanding
Ask the seller to obtain a settlement figure from the finance company.
(Finance providers will not disclose this to you directly, as you are not the account holder.)
Verify the settlement figure
Once the seller provides it, you can confirm the amount with the finance company.
Make payments safely
Removal of finance records
Once the agreement is fully settled, the finance company should automatically notify Experian so the record can be removed from the vehicle's history.
Understanding a vehicle’s salvage history is essential when buying a used car. A vehicle that has been through the salvage process (a salvage auction) may have been damaged, repaired, or even declared beyond economical repair — and this can significantly affect its safety, value, and long term reliability.
AutoCheck searches industry recognised databases to uncover whether a vehicle has ever been recorded as salvaged, giving you full visibility into any past damage that could influence your buying decision.
Your report helps you identify:
Knowing a vehicle’s salvage history protects you from overpaying for a car that may have hidden structural or mechanical issues. It also gives you the confidence to question the seller, request repair documentation, or walk away if the risks outweigh the value.
With AutoCheck, you get a clear, independent view of a vehicle’s past — ensuring you make a safer, more informed choice before you buy.
Import status information is provided directly by the DVLA.
If a vehicle is recorded as imported, AutoCheck cannot supply history for the period when the vehicle was outside the UK. You should therefore obtain as much additional information as possible and check all vehicle documents carefully.
Please note that vehicles purchased in another European Union country and brought into the UK—whether new or used—are not classed as imported for DVLA purposes, reflecting the rules of the single European market.
If you are unsure about the vehicle’s origin or warranty status, we recommend speaking with a franchised dealer.
Export status is provided directly by the DVLA.
If a vehicle is recorded as exported, AutoCheck cannot supply information for the period when the vehicle was outside the UK. You should gather as much additional history as possible and check all documents thoroughly.
Only proceed with the purchase if the vehicle has a current V5C, dated after the export date shown in your AutoCheck report.
If a vehicle is recorded as “High Risk”, it usually means that a third party has a legal interest in the vehicle and is monitoring its movement within the market. This is typically due to:
A High Risk marker relates only to legal title, not to the physical or mechanical condition of the vehicle.
You must not proceed with the purchase until you have contacted our Service Support Team. We can liaise with the organisation that placed the High Risk marker and confirm the vehicle’s current status.
Contact UsThe Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — sometimes called the chassis number — is a unique 17 character code made up of letters and numbers. Every vehicle has its own VIN assigned at manufacture.
Unlike a registration number, which can be changed and reused on different vehicles, the VIN stays with the vehicle for its entire lifetime. It is the most reliable way to confirm a vehicle’s true identity.
While we don't display the VIN in an AutoCheck report, we do allow you to enter the VIN you have been given and we will confirm if it is correct.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is printed on your V5C registration certificate issued by the DVLA and is usually recorded in the vehicle’s service book. You can also find the VIN in several locations on the vehicle itself:
Under the bonnet on a metal plate:
The VIN is often engraved on a metal plate inside the engine compartment. Be cautious if the plate shows signs of tampering — such as disturbed or mismatched rivets, scraping, or evidence it has been removed or replaced.
Stamped directly onto the chassis:
The VIN is also stamped into the vehicle’s chassis, commonly under the bonnet or in the floor panel on the driver’s side. The characters should be evenly spaced and uniform in appearance. If the stamped VIN is missing, unclear, or appears altered, contact a franchised dealer for advice.
Important formatting note:
The VIN recorded on the V5C and in our data never uses the letters I or O. These characters are always shown as the numbers 1 and 0 to avoid confusion.
Checking the VIN in all available locations helps confirm the vehicle’s true identity and protects you from potential fraud.
The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) scheme was originally introduced to help prevent vehicle ringing (the cloning of a vehicle’s identity). The scheme ended in October 2015, but VIC markers may still appear on historic DVLA records.
When a VIC marker is set on a vehicle’s DVLA record:
The marker could only be removed once the vehicle had passed a VIC, which was previously carried out by theVehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). Although the scheme has ended, older vehicles may still show VIC history.
AutoCheck provides one of the most comprehensive vehicle history checks available, but there are limitations to the data any provider can access. A vehicle may not appear as a write-off if:
In these cases, the damage would not be recorded by insurers, meaning it will not appear on any database. As a result, the AutoCheck Data Guarantee does not cover this type of risk.
AutoCheck data relates only to vehicles that are registered in the United Kingdom. This means we cannot identify — and the AutoCheck Data Guarantee does not cover — any events that took place while the vehicle was:
As a result, incidents such as accidents, thefts, insurance claims, or other vehicle related events that occurred abroad may not appear in any UK database.
The vehicle specification shown in your AutoCheck report is based on the details recorded by the DVLA and displayed on the V5C registration document.
If the information on the V5C does not match the data in your report, please contact our Service Support Team for assistance. Differences or missing information may indicate that the DVLA has updated the vehicle’s record since it was first registered.
A missing make or model on the V5C may suggest that the vehicle was not originally purchased from a UK franchised dealer. You can confirm this with your local franchised dealer or the manufacturer’s customer service team.
If the vehicle itself does not match the details on the V5C, you should contact theDVLA directly. Please note that only the registered keeper can request changes to any DVLA records.
The Police National Computer (PNC) is updated by police whenever a vehicle is reported as stolen. If the vehicle you are checking appears on this database, AutoCheck is legally required to notify the police. Our Service Support Team will then contact you with any information we are permitted to share.
Do not proceed with the purchase until you have received written confirmation from our Service Support Team that the vehicle has been recovered and is no longer listed as stolen.
If you buy a stolen vehicle, it legally remains the property of the rightful owner or their insurance company, who may repossess it at any time — meaning you could lose both the vehicle and your money.
Cloned or Ringed Vehicles
A “clone” or “ringer” is a stolen vehicle that has been given a false registration number (VRM) and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to disguise its true identity. When this happens, any data returned in an AutoCheck report will relate to a different vehicle with the genuine identity, even if it appears identical.
Please note that cloned or ringed vehicles are not covered by the AutoCheck Data Guarantee.
Not all vehicles are registered with the DVLA immediately when new. Some may have been used in another country before being brought to the UK, while others may have been operated privately within the UK, such as on a private estate, before formal registration.
Your AutoCheck report will highlight if the vehicle was used prior to its first UK registration, helping you understand its history and confirm the information provided by the seller.