In short
- Get the number plate before you travel and read the car’s MOT history, as GOV.UK advises[1]. Your questions will then come from the record.
- The V5C (the logbook) names the registered keeper. It is not proof of who owns the car, so ask for a signed receipt too[4].
- A straight answer is specific: a date, an invoice, a name. If an answer is vague, it’s fine to say “Can you show me?”
- Ask about the MOT record as well: fails, advisories that keep coming back, a mileage that drops, and gaps between tests.
- If the answers don’t add up, pause and ask for proof. Nothing here needs a quick decision.
On this page
A short call or message saves a wasted trip. Ask the questions below first, and write down the answers. For the whole process, from advert to handover, see our used car buying checklist.
GOV.UK’s advice to used-car buyers is to have the registration number ready, check the MOT history, and check for safety recalls[1]. The MOT is the yearly check that a car is safe and fit for the road. Our guide on how to check a car’s MOT history shows how.
- Can I have the number plate? It lets you read the MOT history before you travel[1].
- Are you selling this car privately, or for a business? The law treats dealers and private sellers differently. See your rights when buying a used car.
- Are you the registered keeper, and do you have the V5C? The V5C is the car’s registration document, often called the logbook. We cover the paperwork below.
- Is any money still owed on the car? Ask it straight out. A private history check costs up to £20 (as of 10 October 2026)[3]. It can show finance owed, theft reports, serious accidents, write-offs and the mileage. Our guide on what an MOT history can’t tell you explains why the MOT record doesn’t.
- Can I see the car at your home address, in daylight? Citizens Advice suggests meeting a private seller at their house, so you have their address if something goes wrong. Daylight, ideally dry, makes damage easier to spot[2].
- Can I take it for a test drive? Ask early, and ask who is insured. Our test drive checklist covers what to check.
Paperwork is where a straight seller has the easiest answers. Ask to see the originals, not photocopies[2].
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can I see the V5C? | DVLA advises against buying a vehicle that does not have one[1]. A straight answer: You see the original, and its details match the car in front of you. |
| Are the name and address on it yours? | For a private sale, the keeper’s name and address should match the seller and the place of sale. If they don’t, ask why[5]. A straight answer: Yes. Or a clear reason that you can check. |
| Who owns the car, not just who is the keeper? | The V5C names the registered keeper. It is not proof of ownership[4]. A straight answer: They sign a receipt with the make, model, year, VIN (the car’s identification number), price and date[5]. |
| Can I see the service history? | “Full service history” is a trade phrase, not a legal one. AA Cars says to always ask to see it[6]. A straight answer: A stamped book, invoices or a digital record, with dates and mileages that fit the MOT history. |
| Is there a current MOT certificate? | A certificate is only as good as the test behind it. DVSA prosecuted a tester who issued passes for 223 vehicles he never saw; those certificates were cancelled[7]. A straight answer: You check the online record yourself, and the seller can say where the test was done. |
| Will you give me the green “new keeper” slip? | In a normal private sale, the seller tells DVLA about the sale and gives you the slip[1]. A straight answer: Yes, as part of the handover. |
Tax doesn’t come with the car. You must tax a used vehicle before using it on the road[1], and the seller cannot transfer the tax they paid[2].
Read the car’s MOT history before you ask anything else. It gives you better questions than any list, because each one starts from something the record shows.
| If the record shows… | You could ask… |
|---|---|
| A fail, then a pass soon after | What was repaired, and can I see the invoice? |
| The same advisory at several tests | Was this ever repaired? An advisory is something the tester noticed that may need work soon. Our guide to MOT advisories explains the common ones. |
| A mileage that drops or barely moves | Can you explain the reading at the test on that date? See how to spot mileage clocking. |
| No test for a year or more | Was the car off the road? That is called SORN, when the keeper tells DVLA the car is kept off the road. See gaps in an MOT history. |
| A fault graded dangerous | What was done about it, and can I see the paperwork? See minor, major and dangerous MOT faults. |
| Rust (the MOT says corrosion) on the body, sills or brake pipes | Has it been repaired or treated, and who did the work? |
A few advisories on an older vehicle are common (MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025). At 10 years old, the middle figure is one advisory, and three in four vehicles had two or fewer. At 15, the middle figure is two, and three in four had three or fewer.
That counts advisory notes and faults fixed during the test, on each vehicle’s latest 2025 MOT. The count can’t tell you what the advisories are about, so read each one.
There is no single right answer to these. You are listening for a clear, steady story that fits the record.
- Why are you selling it, and how long have you had it? Specific answers are easy to follow up. A story that changes between your first message and the viewing is worth a second question.
- Has it been in an accident, and is there repair paperwork? Ask what was done and who did the work. A repair invoice is better evidence than a promise.
- Has the maker ever recalled it? A recall is when the maker finds a safety fault in a model and usually fixes it without charge[9]. GOV.UK’s recall check takes the number plate[9]. Ask the seller, then check it yourself. See vehicle recalls explained.
- Where has it been driven, and what for? Which? suggests asking, because town miles and motorway miles wear a car differently[10].
- Are there any warning lights, noises or faults at the moment? Ask before you drive it. The answer should match what you find.
Myth
“The V5C proves who owns the car.”
What's true
It names the registered keeper, who is responsible for registering and taxing the car. Ask for a signed receipt as well.
Myth
“The advert says full service history, so it has one.”
What's true
Ask to see it. Even a complete record shows past work, not the car’s condition today.
Myth
“It has a valid MOT, so it’s in good shape.”
What's true
A test record covers only the testable items on the day of the test. It isn’t evidence of general mechanical condition[8].
Myth
“I can pay cash because the seller seems trustworthy.”
What's true
Cash has no fees but limited protection. A debit card may allow a chargeback. A credit card can give Section 75 cover for goods costing £100 to £30,000 (as of 10 October 2026)[2].
A vague answer isn’t proof of anything. It is a reason to ask for more.
Ask for proof
A date, an invoice, a name. Ask for at least one of them.
Check it yourself
Match what you are told to the MOT history and the V5C. If the V5C doesn’t match DVLA’s records for the car, Citizens Advice says to report it to the police[3].
Keep a record
Keep a copy of the advert and your messages. If the seller promises something, ask them to put it in writing.
Take your time
You can leave, think it over and call back when you are ready.
If you have already paid and something is wrong, see your rights when buying a used car. This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions to ask, tick as you go
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Common questions
What should I ask a private seller?
Start with the number plate, whether they are the registered keeper, and whether they have the V5C. Then ask why they are selling, how long they have had the car, and whether any money is still owed on it. Check the answers against the car’s MOT history.
What documents should a seller give me?
The seller shows you the original V5C logbook and gives you its green “new keeper” slip. They tell DVLA about the sale, and DVLA posts a new V5C to you. You should also get a signed receipt, any service history, and the MOT certificate if there is a paper one. You then tax the car yourself, because tax doesn’t pass to you with the car.
Is the V5C proof of ownership?
No. It names the registered keeper, who is responsible for registering and taxing the car. It is not proof of ownership, so ask for a signed receipt as well.
What is the difference between a registered keeper and an owner?
The registered keeper is the person DVLA has on record as responsible for the car. The owner is whoever legally owns it, which can be someone else, such as a finance company. That is why a receipt and a finance check matter.
Should I see the car at the seller’s home?
Citizens Advice suggests it for private sales, because you then have the seller’s address if something goes wrong. The keeper’s address on the V5C should also match where the car is being sold.
Sources
- Vehicle registration: new and used vehicles. GOV.UK (DVLA).
- Buying a used car. Citizens Advice.
- Buying a used car. Citizens Advice.
- The re-designed vehicle registration certificate and ‘buyer beware’ consumer protection initiative. Department for Transport, 2010.
- Buying a Used Car: The Ultimate Checklist. RAC Drive, 2025.
- What is a full service history and why do you need one?. AA Cars.
- MOT fraudsters handed suspended sentences for untested vehicles. DVSA, 2026.
- MOT testing guide for test stations: introduction. DVSA, 2026.
- Check if a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- Seven questions you need to ask before buying a used car. Which?, 2024.
