What is a V5C?

A V5C is the vehicle's registration certificate, often called the "logbook". It records the registered keeper's details, along with information about the vehicle itself - make, model, colour, engine size, and its registration date.

It's worth knowing the V5C shows the registered keeper, not necessarily the legal owner - they're not always the same person, for example with a car on finance. It's also not proof of ownership on its own, so it shouldn't be the only thing you check before buying.

When buying a used car, it's worth checking the V5C's details genuinely match the car in front of you (VIN, engine number, colour), and that the seller's name and address match who you're actually dealing with - a mismatch is worth asking harder questions about.