V5C logbook explained: what to check when buying

The V5C, usually called the logbook, is the vehicle registration certificate DVLA issues for every UK-registered car. It tells you who is responsible for the car and what the car should be. It does not tell you who owns it. At a viewing, the logbook is your quickest way to spot a car that is not what the seller says it is, so read it slowly and compare it with the car in front of you.

The short version: see the original document, not a photo. Check the "DVL" watermark, check the serial number against the stolen ranges below, and check that the VIN and engine number on the car match the page. If anything does not match, walk away.

What the V5C shows

GOV.UK lists the main contents as the registration number, the registered keeper's name and address, and details about the vehicle, including the make, the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the number of previous keepers. In practice you will also find:

• the date of first registration
• the colour, body type and fuel type
• the engine number, where one is recorded, and the engine size
• the date the current V5C was issued
• the green "new keeper" slip (V5C/2), which the seller fills in and hands to you when you buy

The registered keeper is the person responsible for taxing and registering the car. That is often the owner, but not always. A finance company, a leasing company or a business can own a car that someone else keeps. Our guide to registered keeper vs owner explains why that matters.

What the V5C does not prove

When DVLA redesigned the V5C in 2010, the government said that buyers often mistakenly believe the V5C is proof of ownership, and that this is not the case. The new design was meant to make that clear.

So a clean logbook does not mean the seller can legally sell you the car. Ask for proof of ownership alongside it, such as the original purchase invoice or receipt, or a settlement letter if the car was bought on finance. A history check that includes finance and stolen vehicle records can show those markers, which the logbook cannot.

The checks to make at a viewing

GOV.UK sets out a short list of checks for when you go to see a vehicle. Here they are with a little more detail.

1. Check the watermark

Hold the V5C up to the light. A genuine certificate has a "DVL" watermark. No watermark means you should not go any further.

2. Check the serial number

Each V5C carries a serial number. Blank certificates were stolen in 2006 and later used to sell stolen and cloned cars. GOV.UK says that if the serial number falls in either of these ranges, the V5C might be stolen and you should call the police as soon as it is safe to:

Check the ranges on the GOV.UK page on the day you view, in case the guidance changes.

3. Match the VIN and engine number

Find the VIN on the car and compare it, character by character, with the VIN on the V5C. Do the same with the engine number. GOV.UK asks buyers to make sure both match the logbook. Our guide to VIN numbers shows where to look.

4. Match the description

Check that the make, model, colour, fuel type and engine size on the V5C fit the car you are looking at. A colour change is not always sinister, but GOV.UK says the keeper must update the V5C when the colour changes, and the seller should be able to explain it.

5. Match the name and address

View the car at the address printed on the V5C, and ask to see some identification in the keeper's name. A seller who wants to meet in a car park, or whose name is not on the logbook, needs a good explanation.

6. Check the details you were given

Before the viewing, GOV.UK suggests asking the seller for the registration number, make, model and MOT test number, then checking they match DVLA's records and the MOT history. At the viewing, make sure the logbook agrees with all of it.

Previous keepers and the issue date

The V5C shows the number of previous keepers. A high count is a reason to ask questions, not a verdict. Lease and fleet cars often change hands more often on paper. Read our guide on how many previous owners is too many.

Look at the issue date as well. A logbook issued only days or weeks ago is not proof of anything bad, but ask why. A recent change of keeper, a lost logbook or a change of details can all explain it.

What happens to the logbook when you buy

If the seller tells DVLA online, they register the car to you, give you the green new keeper slip and destroy the old V5C. If they do it by post, they fill in the right section, give you the slip and send the V5C to DVLA. Either way, you keep the slip and wait for a new V5C in your name.

Vehicle tax does not move with the car. You need to tax it before you drive it, and the slip has the reference you need. Our step-by-step guide to changing the keeper on a V5C covers the timings, and you can see what a car costs to tax with the car tax calculator.

If there is no logbook

DVLA advises that you should not buy a vehicle that does not have a V5C. There are honest reasons a logbook goes missing, but there are dishonest ones too. Read buying a car without a V5C before you agree to anything.

Frequently asked questions

Is the V5C proof of ownership?

No. It names the registered keeper, who is responsible for taxing and registering the car. Ask for an invoice, receipt or finance settlement letter as proof of ownership.

What should the watermark on a V5C say?

A genuine V5C has a "DVL" watermark that you can see when you hold it up to the light.

Which V5C serial numbers are stolen?

GOV.UK lists BG8229501 to BG9999030 and BI2305501 to BI2800000. If the serial number on the logbook is in either range, do not buy the car and contact the police when it is safe to.

How much does a replacement V5C cost?

At the time of writing, GOV.UK says a replacement usually costs £25. Only the registered keeper can apply for one online or by phone.

Can I check a V5C before I see the car?

You can ask the seller for the registration number and MOT test number and compare them with DVLA's records and the MOT history first. The watermark, serial number and VIN checks need the original document and the car in front of you.