The short answer
Do three things before you travel and three when you arrive. Before: get the registration, make, model and MOT test number from the seller, run the registration through the free DVLA vehicle enquiry and MOT history services, and check the details match what you were told. On the day: inspect the V5C log book for the DVL watermark and the serial number ranges GOV.UK warns about, then match the vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number on the car to the log book. A seller who will not let you do the last step has told you everything you need to know.
None of the free checks reads the police stolen marker. For that you need a paid vehicle history check that includes it, and it is worth running on any car you are about to pay for. If anything points to theft, do not buy, do not confront, and call the police.
The six checks and what each one shows
The table follows the order on GOV.UK, checks when buying a used car. The first three can be done from your sofa.
| Check | Where | What it tells you | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DVLA vehicle enquiry | GOV.UK | Tax, SORN, MOT expiry, first registered, last V5C issue date, year, engine size, fuel type | Free |
| MOT history | GOV.UK | Every test since 2005: pass or fail, mileage, parts failed, minor problems, next due date | Free |
| Safety recall | GOV.UK | Recalls not yet checked or fixed | Free |
| V5C inspection | At the car | DVL watermark present; serial number outside the stolen-stock ranges | Free |
| VIN and engine number | At the car | Both match the log book exactly | Free |
| Police stolen marker | Paid history check | Whether the car is recorded as stolen | Paid |
The free DVLA and MOT checks are the ones the box at the foot of this page runs for you. They will not tell you a car is stolen. What they do is catch the mismatch: a seller who says 2015 when DVLA says 2013, a log book issued last month on a car that has supposedly had one owner for years, a mileage that drops between tests. Mismatches are how cloned and stolen cars give themselves away.
Reading the V5C like the police do
GOV.UK gives two tests for the log book itself. First, hold it to the light and look for the DVL watermark. Second, read the serial number: if it falls between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000, the document may be from a stolen batch of blank certificates, and GOV.UK's instruction is to call the police as soon as it is safe to.
Then compare the log book with the car. The VIN is stamped on the body, usually visible through the bottom of the windscreen and on a plate in the door shut or engine bay. The engine number is on the engine block. Both must match the V5C character for character. A VIN plate that looks newer than the car, sits proud, or shows fresh rivets is a reason to walk away. Check that the colour and the make and model on the log book match the car in front of you, and that the keeper's name and address match the person and the place you are standing.
What to do if something does not add up
- Do not buy, and do not say why. You are not an investigator. Thank the seller and leave.
- Call the police. GOV.UK's guidance is 101 for non-emergencies and 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger (GOV.UK, contact the police). Give them the registration, the VIN you saw and the seller's details.
- Keep the adverts and messages. Screenshots of the listing and the conversation are what the police and your bank will ask for. If you have been tricked into paying, report it to Action Fraud, the national fraud reporting centre, as well as your bank.
- Never pay a deposit to hold a car you have not seen. A stolen or cloned car is often sold at a distance for exactly that reason.
If you have already paid and the car turns out to be stolen, it will be returned to its owner or their insurer and you will be the one out of pocket. That is why the checks come before the money, every time.
What this does not mean
Passing every check here does not prove a car is honest; a careful criminal can get a long way. Failing to match on one detail does not prove theft either; log books carry errors and colours get changed. The checks reduce your risk and give you the questions to ask. This article is general information, not legal advice. GOV.UK's pages linked above are the official text and were read on 26 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Partly. The free GOV.UK services show DVLA's record and the full MOT history, which catch most mismatches, and the V5C and VIN checks at the car cost nothing. The police stolen marker itself is only available through a paid vehicle history check.
A DVL watermark, a serial number outside the ranges BG8229501 to BG9999030 and BI2305501 to BI2800000, and details that match both the car and the seller. GOV.UK says to call the police if the serial number is in those ranges.
Usually at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, on a plate in a door shut or under the bonnet, and sometimes stamped in the floor under a carpet flap. All of them should carry the same number, and it should match the V5C exactly.
The police: 101 for a non-emergency, 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in danger. Do not challenge the seller yourself.
Sources and method
This article contains no MOT statistics. The checks, serial number ranges and telephone numbers are quoted from the GOV.UK pages listed under Sources, as they read on 26 October 2026. The MOT reliance notice below applies to the MOT history check this article recommends.
- GOV.UK: Checks when buying a used car
- GOV.UK: Get vehicle information from DVLA
- GOV.UK: Check the MOT history of a vehicle
- GOV.UK: Check if a vehicle has been recalled
- GOV.UK: Contact the police
About these figures. GOV.UK content reproduced in summary under the Open Government Licence v3.0. SortedCars is not the police or DVLA; the links above go to the official services. Where MOT statistics appear on this site they are computed from the DVSA anonymised MOT results dataset. No figure is shown for any group with fewer than 500 tests. Test class 4 only, first tests only; retests are excluded. Pass rates describe fleets, not individual machines: they reflect how cars were driven, maintained and used as well as how they were built, and beyond recorded mileage none of that is in the data. A well-kept example of a model with a weak average can still pass; a neglected example of a strong one can still fail. Alias spellings of a make are counted under one make name and all trims of a model under one model name, using SortedCars' grouping tables.
This article is general information drawn from published test records. It is not professional, mechanical or legal advice, and an MOT pass or a clean MOT history does not guarantee that a car is roadworthy today. If you are unsure about a car, have it inspected by a qualified mechanic. You can check any vehicle's MOT history free on the official GOV.UK MOT history service.
Check a car's MOT history free
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