The V5C, usually called the logbook, is the first document to ask for when you view a used car. It tells you who is responsible for the car, what the car is supposed to be, and how many people have kept it before. It does not prove that the seller owns it, and that distinction is where most paperwork fraud lives.
What the V5C is and is not
The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate issued by DVLA. It records the registered keeper, which is the person responsible for taxing and using the car. The document itself states that it is not proof of ownership.
In most private sales the keeper and the owner are the same person. They can differ when the car is on finance, belongs to a company, or has been stolen. So treat the V5C as one piece of evidence, and use a history check to cover what it cannot show.
How to tell a genuine V5C
GOV.UK gives two checks that take a few seconds:
- The watermark. Hold the document up to the light. A genuine V5C shows a "DVL" watermark.
- The serial number. It is printed in the top right corner. If it falls between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000, the document may be one of a batch of blank certificates that were stolen. Do not buy the car, and call the police when it is safe to do so.
Also look for signs of tampering. Spelling mistakes, altered print, a missing section or a photocopy are all reasons to stop.
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What to match against the car
Work through the document with the car in front of you.
- Registration number. It should match the plates, front and rear.
- VIN. The vehicle identification number on the V5C should match the one on the car. You will usually find it at the base of the windscreen, on a plate or sticker in a door opening, and stamped into the body. Check more than one location, and look for scratches or fresh rivets around the plate.
- Engine number and engine size. A different engine is not always a problem, but the seller should be able to explain it.
- Colour. A colour change should have been reported to DVLA. If it has not, ask why.
- Make, model and date of first registration. These should agree with the advert and with the MOT history.
What to match against the seller
- Name and address. The keeper's details should match the person selling and the place you are viewing the car. Ask to see photo ID if you are unsure. Be wary of a seller who wants to meet in a car park or a lay-by.
- Number of former keepers. Compare it with what the advert says. One more keeper than you were told is a question worth asking.
- Date the keeper acquired the car. Someone who has owned the car for a few weeks and is already selling may be a trader presenting as a private seller.
If there is no V5C
Sellers lose logbooks, and a keeper can order a replacement from DVLA for £25. That means there is rarely a good reason to buy without one. If the seller says it is "in the post", wait until it arrives. A car without a V5C is harder to tax, harder to sell on, and far more likely to have something wrong with its history.
What happens to the V5C when you buy
The seller tells DVLA that the car has changed hands, either online or by posting the relevant section. You should leave with the green "new keeper" slip, which you need in order to tax the car before you drive it away. Vehicle tax does not transfer with the car.
A new V5C in your name normally arrives by post. If it has not turned up after four weeks, contact DVLA.
What the V5C cannot tell you
The logbook says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, a stolen marker or mileage. Those sit on separate databases. Run the registration through a full history check before you travel, and then use the V5C at the viewing to confirm that the car in front of you is the car that was checked.
Common questions
Is the V5C proof of ownership?
No. It shows the registered keeper, who is responsible for the car. Ownership is shown by a receipt or invoice, and a history check can reveal whether a finance company still owns it.
Should I buy a car without a V5C?
It is safer not to. A genuine keeper can get a replacement for £25, so ask the seller to do that first.
What does a recently issued V5C mean?
It can simply mean a change of address or a lost document. It can also mean a duplicate was ordered by someone who is not the real keeper. Ask the seller why it was reissued.
Do I keep the whole V5C when I buy?
No. You keep the green new keeper slip, and DVLA sends you a new V5C once the seller has reported the sale.
Written by James Parry. Last reviewed 11 November 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.