V5C & Vehicle Logbooks

HPI checks cover finance, write-offs and theft. Vehicle provenance records cover what HPI doesn't — keeper history, originality, restoration evidence and reputation. The gap matters most on cars over £10,000.

A UK used car buyer's guide to mileage verification — using MOT history, service records, wear-pattern inspection and HPI to detect clocking before you pay.

How to verify a UK used car's service history in 30 minutes — checking stamps, calling garages, cross-referencing MOT records, and the questions that catch sellers out.

Free HPI checks tell you the basics. Paid HPI catches the £30,000-of-mistakes risks — finance, write-offs, theft markers. The 2026 comparison of what each actually covers.

Find your V5C document reference number on the top-right corner of the front page. The 11-digit code, what it does, and why it's different on every new logbook DVLA issues.

A UK used-car buyer's guide to partial service history — what gaps in the service book actually mean for value and reliability, plus the right discount to negotiate.

A UK competitor's checklist for scrutineering — race licence, logbook, HANS, Motorsport UK entry, plus circuit-specific paperwork.

How to build a classic car provenance file that adds value at sale — the original V5C, build sheets, keeper history, MOT records, restoration log, and marque authentication.

What UK drivers should record about every track day — circuit letters, insurance proof, timing, photos — and why insurers ask for it.

How the DVLA handles historic vehicle registration in the UK — age-related plates, Q plates, dating letters, and the records you'll need to supply.

A UK competitor's guide to the Motorsport UK race car logbook — what's inside, inspection process, and how to get one for a new build.

The full UK car import paperwork path — NOVA, IVA/MOT, first registration on V55/5, DVLA age evidence requirements, and what to keep afterwards.