Stolen V5C certificate warning

The DVLA has warned motorists to look out for stolen V5C vehicle registration certificates when buying a used car.

Stolen documents are used by criminals to accompany other stolen vehicles, altered to appear legitimate. This activity is called cloning.

Cloned vehicles are then sold to unsuspecting car buyers who may suffer significant losses when the vehicle is proved stolen. The DVLA can only be made aware of these incidents after victims of the crime submit the stolen documents.

The DVLA is working closely with the police to help protect the public by preventing criminal abuse of the vehicle registration system.

Things to watch out for

Avoid making a deal with a seller if:

• The V5C serial number is not present
• The vehicle is only accompanied by part of the V5C document
• The V5C document looks like it’s been altered or tampered with
• The serial number falls within the following ranges:

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

If a document’s serial number falls within the ranges listed above, customers are advised not to buy the vehicle, but to report the matter to the police.

You can find the serial number in the top right corner of a V5C certificate.

Stolen certificates also have a different background colour on the Notification of Permanent Export (V5C/4) tear off slip. This can be found on the second page of the V5C document, and will be mauve on the front and pink on the reverse. 

Legitimate documents should be mauve on both sides.

To check the validity of a registration certificate prior to a vehicle purchase, call the DVLA hotline on 0870 241 1878.

For more information on car fraud, visit our car crime advice centre.