How many characters is a VIN?

Seventeen. Modern VINs do not use the letters I, O or Q, so they cannot be confused with 1 and 0.

Is checking the last five characters enough?

It is a strong check, because the end of the VIN is the car's own serial number. Use it together with the full VIN on the logbook: every character on the car should match the logbook, and the last five should match the report.

What if the VIN does not match the logbook?

Do not buy the car. A mismatch can mean the car is stolen, cloned or built from more than one vehicle. Walk away, and consider telling the police.

Can I check a car by VIN instead of registration?

Our checks work from the registration. Once you have the report, compare the VIN on the car and the logbook with it.

Where is the VIN on the V5C?

It is listed in the vehicle details as the VIN or chassis number. Our V5C logbook guide explains what else to check on the document.

VIN Check: Match the Chassis Number

VIN check

The VIN is the car's fingerprint: a 17-character code that should match on the car, the logbook and the records. The full history check shows the last five characters of the VIN and the engine number, so you can confirm the car is the one it claims to be.

Part of the full history check, £4.49, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10.

Why the VIN matters

A registration plate can be swapped in minutes. The VIN (vehicle identification number) is stamped into the car's body and printed on the V5C logbook, so it is much harder to fake. If the VIN on the car does not match the logbook, do not buy the car.

Matching the VIN is the best defence against cloning, where a stolen car wears the plates of a genuine one. The plates and logbook might look right, but the VIN on the car will belong to a different vehicle.

It is also how you spot a car built from more than one vehicle, where a damaged car has been rebuilt using the identity of another. The VIN plate, the stamped VIN and the logbook should all agree.

Where to find it

The VIN has 17 characters. You can usually see it through the base of the windscreen, on a plate on a door pillar, under the bonnet, and printed on the V5C. Check at least two places on the car and make sure they agree with each other and with the logbook.

Look for signs of tampering: scratched or re-stamped characters, stickers over the windscreen VIN, or a VIN plate held on with fresh rivets or glue. Our guide to finding and checking a VIN has more detail.

Take a photo of each VIN location on the car and of the logbook page, so you can compare them calmly afterwards rather than squinting at them on the driveway.

How to use the report

The full report shows the last five characters of the VIN and the engine number on record for that registration. Compare them with the car and the logbook. If they match, the car in front of you is the one the records describe. If they do not, walk away, however good the deal.

Compare the whole VIN on the car with the logbook too, character by character, because a cloned car can have a VIN that differs by only one or two characters. The engine number is usually stamped on the engine itself, which can be harder to find, so ask the seller to show you. A mismatch can mean a replacement engine, which should be documented, or something more serious.

Part of the full history check

VIN and engine number details come with every full history check, alongside the stolen check and finance, write-off and keeper checks. It costs £4.49, or £3.00 a check in a pack of 10. The free check covers MOT, tax and mileage, and is the best first step: it confirms the make, model, colour and engine size before you pay for anything.