V5C log book checks when buying a used car
The V5C, usually called the log book, is the vehicle registration certificate issued by DVLA. It records the registered keeper and the vehicle's key details. It is not proof of legal ownership, but it is the document that ties a car to the official record. Faked or stolen log books are one of the main ways stolen and cloned cars get sold. Five minutes with the document can save you the car and your money.
Do not buy without it
Citizens Advice says to make sure you get the original, not a photocopy, of the log book and the valid MOT test document, and says never to buy a car without the log book. "It's in the post" and "I'll send it on" are reasons to wait, not reasons to pay.
What GOV.UK says to check
GOV.UK's Check a used vehicle you're buying page sets out the official checks when you go to see a vehicle. Ask to see the V5C, then:
1. Look for the 'DVL' watermark
Hold the document up to the light. GOV.UK says to make sure it has a 'DVL' watermark.
2. Check the serial number
GOV.UK says the serial number must not be between BG8229501 to BG9999030, or BI2305501 to BI2800000. If it is, the V5C might be stolen, and GOV.UK says to call the police as soon as it is safe to do so. Write the serial number down before you go to the car, so you are not reading it with the seller at your shoulder.
3. Make sure the details match
GOV.UK says to make sure the details in the log book match the details you have been given. That means the registration, make, model, colour and the keeper's name and address. Citizens Advice suggests meeting a private seller at their home, which also lets you check that the address matches.
4. Check the VIN and engine number
GOV.UK says to check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number, and make sure they match the log book. The VIN is usually found on a plate in the engine bay or door shut, and often visible through the windscreen on the Passenger Side or Driver's Side, depending on the make. The owner's handbook will tell you where to look. Check it in more than one place if you can.
Check the official record too
Before you travel, GOV.UK says to check that the details you have been given match the information held by DVLA, using the vehicle check, and to check the MOT history. When you are with the car, the V5C should agree with both. Citizens Advice says you should report the seller to the police if the log book does not match the car on the DVLA records.
A note on the keeper
The person selling the car should normally be the registered keeper on the V5C. If they are not, ask why. Selling for a relative can be genuine, but you want a clear answer and you want to see the keeper's details match. Remember that the V5C does not show outstanding finance. For that, Citizens Advice recommends a private history check, which it says costs up to £20.
If you buy the car
GOV.UK says to tax the vehicle immediately, using the green 'new keeper' slip from the log book. The rest of the V5C goes to DVLA so the change of keeper is recorded. GOV.UK also states that you must tax a vehicle you have bought before you drive it, or declare it off the road (SORN), and that the tax is not transferred to you when you buy it (Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle). Do not assume a car with tax still left on it is taxed for you.
You must also have insurance before you use the car on the road, as GOV.UK's Buy a vehicle: step by step guide sets out.
If there is no log book
GOV.UK says that if you buy a vehicle without a log book, you need to apply for a vehicle registration certificate using form V62. That is a route for genuine cases, but in the trade we treat a missing log book as a reason to slow right down. Combine it with any other doubt and walk away.
The trade view
Paperwork is boring, and that is exactly why people skip it. Do it every time. If you are new to this, start with our list of questions to ask a private seller, read up on how to spot a clocked car, or go back to the BangerWise home page.
Facts in this guide are taken from GOV.UK and Citizens Advice, linked above, and were checked on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so always check the official source before you buy. This is general information, not legal advice.