Press release 12: Motorists conned out of millions for not spotting the difference

More than half of motorists (53%) cannot tell a genuine vehicle registration certificate (V5C) from a fake, and a fifth of motorists don’t know what a V5C certificate is for, according to a DVLA survey of 1300 drivers. The results are a massive concern to DVLA and the police, as fake and stolen V5Cs are being used increasingly by criminals to disguise the identity of a stolen vehicle to fool motorists into buying ‘ringed’ or cloned vehicles.

 

In recent years, DVLA has detected over a thousand fake or stolen V5Cs featuring characteristics such as forged watermarks and illegitimate serial numbers. Presently, fake documents with a ‘BG916 to 919’ prefix are circulating, and due to increasingly sophisticated methods used by criminals, many motorists are being duped into thinking that these documents, and the cars they are buying, are genuine.

DVLA is warning it’s a trend that looks set to rise, and so The Agency commissioned research amongst UK drivers in a bid to get a better understanding of why so many innocent motorists are being duped. As well as the research revealing that more than half of drivers cannot spot the difference between a real and fake V5C, the survey also revealed that 11% of motorists have, in the past, bought a second hand car without checking the paperwork.

 

Figures from the British Crime Survey also indicate there are an estimated 30,000 – 40,000 vehicles being ‘ringed’ or cloned each year, and according to the latest police data, an estimated 33,000 number plates were stolen during 2005.

 

John Moore, from DVLA’s Crime Reduction Unit, advises: "When purchasing a car, always check the serial number of the registration certificate. If the serial number begins with a prefix between BG916 and BG919 contact DVLA or the police as there are currently stolen documents with this prefix in circulation."

 

DCI Stuart Dark, Metropolitan Police Stolen Vehicle Squad, also warns motorists to be careful not to let the excitement of buying a vehicle compromise the safety of them and their money: "We want to hamper the criminals determined to exploit innocent motorists by ensuring that people understand what to look out for when buying a vehicle. It is crucial that the public arm themselves against this type of car crime by carrying out a range of checks to ensure their purchase is legitimate."

 

Many of the vehicles sold using illegal V5s are second-hand luxury cars that cost tens of thousands of pounds, and unsuspecting motorists may find that without the correct documents, their car ownership is not worth the paper it is written on. For example, vehicles purchased with fake or stolen V5s could be recovered and returned to the rightful owner.

 

Parents and young people may be concerned that those aged between 17 and 24 are least likely to ask to see registration certificates before they buy a car - 14% surveyed said they would not ask to see a V5C – compared to just 4% of 25-34 year olds. The survey also shows that younger drivers aged between 17 and 24 wrongly believed that their insurance company would be liable to cover the cost if a car bought with fake documents was confiscated. Nearly 9% of young people believed this was true, as opposed to just 1% of over 55s. The survey also highlighted regional differences, with 1 in 5 motorists from the Midlands unsure who would cover the costs of a stolen vehicle, compared to just 12% of Welsh motorists not knowing.

 

So how can motorists protect themselves from being conned by car criminals?

 

John Moore, from DVLA’s Crime Reduction Unit, gives the following advice:

 

Never buy a vehicle without a registration document/certificate, even if the seller says it has been sent to DVLA.

 

Check the serial number of the certificate – if the serial number begins with a prefix between BG916 and BG919 be alert and contact the police as there are stolen documents with this prefix in circulation.

 

You can check whether a V5C is genuine prior to purchasing a vehicle by ringing DVLA’s V5 helpline on 0870 241 1878, or by visiting www.dvla.gov.uk/pressreleases

 

Check that the 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), normally found on a metal plate in the engine compartment, matches the VIN on the registration certificate. Be suspicious if it shows signs of having been tampered with such as rivets having been disturbed.

 

Consider contacting one of several private companies that hold information on vehicles, whether it has been reported as stolen, seriously damaged or is still subject to finance.

 

DVLA has a vehicle-checking service that can check a vehicle’s date of registration, engine capacity and colour and year of manufacture.

 

Visit DVLA’s website for more advice on buying and selling a car – www.dvla.gov.uk.

 

Notes to editors:

 

Survey Sample Base: 1295

Survey conducted 23/02/07-27/02/07 on behalf of DVLA by tickbox.net

 

Further Information:

Regional Statistics

 

East Anglia

 

22% of motorists in East Anglia do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

90% of motorists from East Anglia would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

56% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

17% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 13% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

London

 

21% of motorists in London do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

94% of motorists from London would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

45% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

17% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 17% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

Midlands

 

20% of motorists in the Midlands do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

97% of motorists from the Midlands would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

57% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

22% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 14% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

North East

 

23% of motorists in the North East do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

Just 85% of motorists from the North East would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

41% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

9% in the North East think their insurance company would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

An impressive 23% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

North West

 

26% of motorists in the North West do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

94% of motorists from the North West would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

60% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

16% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 15% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

Northern Ireland

 

29% of motorists in Northern Ireland do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

100% of motorists surveyed from Northern Ireland would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

60% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

14% in Northern Ireland think their insurance company would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 14% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

Scotland

 

21% of motorists in Scotland do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

94% of motorists from Scotland would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

51% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

17% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 16% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

South East

 

17% of motorists in the South East do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

94% of motorists from the South East would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

49% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

17% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 14% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

South West

 

18% of motorists in the South West do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

92% of motorists from South West would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

51% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

16% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 16% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

Wales

 

23% of motorists in Wales do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

96% of motorists from Wales would always ask to see a V5C when buying a car.

50% would not know how to check if a V5C is genuine.

12% don’t know who would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

An impressive 23% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

 

Yorkshire

 

21% of motorists in Yorkshire do not know what a vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is for.

92% of motorists from Yorkshire would always ask to see a V5 when buying a car.

59% would not know how to check if a V5 is genuine.

10% think their insurance company would be liable to cover the cost if a car turned out to be stolen or was taken away.

Just 16% have used a car checking service when buying a second had car.

For further information regarding this press notice, please contact Alex or Fiona at MGB PR on 01792 460200, or on e-mail at alex@mgbpr.com. For general press queries please ring DVLA Press Office on 01792 782318.