Vehicle checks

Free V5C logbook check

Type in a registration and the free check shows the date the DVLA last issued a V5C logbook for the vehicle. Then use the steps below to check the paper logbook the seller hands you against the record and against the car.

How do I check a V5C logbook?

Check the logbook against the DVLA record and against the car. The free check shows the date the latest V5C was issued, which should match the date on the logbook you are shown. At the viewing, look for the DVL watermark and match the VIN and engine number on the V5C to the car.

What the logbook check shows

The DVLA record carries the date it last issued a V5C for the vehicle. The free check shows that date next to the make, colour, engine and date of first registration. Use it in two ways.

If the seller’s logbook carries an older date than the record, a newer V5C exists and the one in your hand is out of date.
If the V5C was issued in the last few weeks, the keeper has just changed or a replacement was ordered. Ask which.

GOV.UK: Get vehicle information from DVLA

How to check a V5C at the viewing

Hold the logbook up to the light and look for the DVL watermark.
Read the serial number. If it falls between BG8229501 and BG9999030 or between BI2305501 and BI2800000, the logbook might be stolen. Call the police as soon as it is safe to.
Match the VIN and the engine number on the V5C to the numbers on the car.
Match the make, colour and engine size on the V5C to the free check.
Check that the issue date on the V5C is the date the record shows.

GOV.UK: Check a used vehicle you’re buying

A V5C names the keeper, not the owner

The logbook shows who is registered as responsible for the vehicle. It doesn’t prove that person owns it. A car with finance still owing belongs to the lender whatever the V5C says, so run a finance check before you pay.

Outstanding finance check Previous owners check

What happens to the V5C when you buy

The seller tells the DVLA about the sale and gives you the green new keeper slip. You can tax the car straight away with the reference number on that slip.

A new V5C in your name follows by post, usually within five to seven working days if the seller told the DVLA online. If nothing has arrived after four weeks, contact the DVLA.

The DVLA advises against buying a vehicle that has no logbook. The registered keeper can order a replacement, so ask the seller to do that before you hand over any money.

GOV.UK: If you buy or sell a vehicle GOV.UK: Get a vehicle log book (V5C)

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is the V5C check free?

Yes. The date the V5C was last issued is part of the free check, with no account needed.

Can I check a V5C online?

You can check the date the latest V5C was issued, here or through the official enquiry on GOV.UK. Nobody outside the DVLA can view the document itself, so the paper checks at the viewing still matter.

Does a V5C prove who owns the car?

No. It names the registered keeper, the person responsible for the vehicle. Ask for a receipt or a bill of sale as proof of who owns it.

Should I buy a car without a V5C?

The DVLA advises against it. Without the logbook you can’t check the keeper, the VIN or the number of previous keepers against the document. Ask the seller to order a replacement first.

How long does a new V5C take to arrive?

Usually five to seven working days if the seller told the DVLA online. By post it usually takes up to four weeks. Contact the DVLA if it hasn’t come after four weeks.

Guides

Questions to ask the sellerThe questions to put to a seller, with why each one matters and what to listen for.Buying a car What to check when buying a used carA checklist in the order you’d use it: before you travel, at the viewing, before you pay.Buying a car Where to buy a used carThe main UK used car websites, who sells on each and what they say you get.Finding a car

DVLA vehicle checkWhat the DVLA holds on any registration, with the MOT history beside it.Free Previous owners checkHow many keepers a car has had, before you become the next one.In the CAR Confidence Score Stolen car checkWhether the car has been reported stolen, plus how to spot a clone.In the CAR Confidence Score

Free car check

Check it before you go and see it

DVLA details, tax and MOT status, mileage and the full MOT history, free for any UK registration.