1.The payment

Never wire money abroad – it is almost always a ‘fraudulent’ seller.  Pay for the vehicle when you are collecting it from the seller. 

2.Vehicle check

If you do one piece of research, do this. A vehicle data check is the smartest investment you will make when buying a car. 

3.See the car

You should never buy a car without seeing or driving it first! 

4.Vehicle Valuation

Check the market value of the vehicle. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

View more essential checks:

5.The visit

Always visit the seller at their home address. Don’t arrange to meet them at a motorway service station, a lay-by or any other address aside from the one where they live. Check the address is the same as the one listed on the V5C document.

6. Beware of cloned vehicles

A clone is a vehicle which has been stolen and given a false identity, to appear legitimate.

This is usually done by giving the vehicle a false set of number plates, an illegal copy of the V5C document (or ‘log book’) and a different VIN number.

Criminals may attempt to sell a clone privately. If you buy a cloned car you won’t legally own it and you may lose your money.

7. The paperwork

You must see the V5C document, the service history, the MOT. Everything must be present and correct, or you should walk away from the deal.

Make sure all the documents are original – don't accept photocopies.

Examine the logbook (V5C) carefully. Check the seller is the recorded keeper in the V5C. If not, they're not legally entitled to sell you the car.The DVLA has released stolen V5C document reference numbers:

BG9167501 to BG9190500
BG9190501 to BG9214000
BG8407501 to BG8431000
BG9282001 to BG9305000

8.Check the car

Look under the bonnet and check the vehicle identification number (VIN) is the same as that on the V5C. The VIN number is commonly found on the chassis, on the windscreen or on the floor by the driver's seat.

For more information visit our safety and security centre.