Documentation

Before you make a final decision on whether or not to buy a particular used car, there are a number of documents you should ask to see. The key pieces of paper you need are: the V5 (or logbook), a current MOT, a current tax disc and servicing history.

1. Registration Certificate (V5C)

The registration certificate (also known as the logbook) is the most important document to check when purchasing a car. You should never even consider buying unless the seller can produce this document, even if they say it has been sent to the DVLA for changes. In fact, it is now illegal to sell a car without a valid V5C. You must make sure that you see the original document; do not accept a photocopy.

The registration certificate shows the basic details of a car's history, such as the number of previous owners and the name of the person it is currently registered to. Do bear in mind however that the registered keeper of the vehicle is not necessarily the legal owner of the car, and so the V5C is not proof of ownership.

• Examine the V5C registration document by holding it up to the light; you should be able to see the DVLA watermark contained within the layers of paper. Make sure that a fake watermark has not simply been printed on to the surface of the paper.
• Check that the person selling the car is the recorded keeper on the V5C, if they're not, ask them why. You must be able to assure yourself that the person selling the vehicle has the right to do so.
• Make sure that the registration number, VIN, engine numbers and colour tally with the car.
• Make a note of the previous keeper's details; it is a good idea to contact them to confirm details of their old car, such as mileage, condition and any damage.

2. MOT Certificate

If the car is over 3 years old, then you will also need to see the MOT certificate. Check the date of expiry; if the certificate isn't valid, you won't be able to tax or insure the car. The MOT system is fully computerised, which means that certificates are logged centrally and can be looked up instantly. You can check the validity of a certificate either online or by phone (check out the Useful Resources section for contact details).

To access this information, you will need to know:

• the vehicle's registration mark from the number plate

and either

• the test number from the MOT Certificate or VT30 Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate (failure notice), or
• the reference number from the vehicle's registration certificate (V5C)

If the owner is able to show you previous MOT certificates, this will help to give you a better idea of the car's history, and how well it has been cared for.

3. Tax Disc

Check that the car has a genuine tax disc; make sure it's not a photocopy by looking for the metallic strips in the paper. If the tax is about to expire, you should bear this in mind when negotiating the price.

4. Service History

Ask to see the car's service history to see if the car has been regularly serviced and maintained. See if the seller also has copies of invoices for any other work that has been carried out on the car. Although a service book full of dealer stamps may look impressive, do bear in mind that they can be fraudulently added, so it's worth contacting the garage to make sure that they have carried out the work.