Website of the UK government

Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.

Public services all in one place

Main menu

Motoring

Vehicle Identity Check

Vehicle crime is a serious problem. It costs the economy an estimated £3 billion a year and it affects motorists directly by raising insurance premiums. One aspect of vehicle crime is car ‘ringing’. This is a practice which involves passing off stolen cars as repaired, accident damaged cars.

The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) scheme has been introduced as a deterrent to ringing. Since 7 April 2003, insurers must notify Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of all cars ‘written off’ within salvage categories A, B or C. This notification will set a ‘VIC marker’ against the DVLA vehicle record. Whilst a VIC marker remains set, DVLA will not issue a registration certificate V5C, or vehicle licence reminder V11. The VIC marker will only be removed, when the car passes a VIC.

The VIC, is carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). It is designed to confirm the car’s identity and helps ensure that the genuine car is returned to the road. It takes around 20 minutes to complete and involves comparing the details on the DVLA vehicle record, against the car presented. The VIC is a check of identity, it does not formally assess the quality of the repair or confirm roadworthiness. If you have any concerns regarding these aspects, you should seek the opinion of an independent expert.

Once a car has passed a VIC the V5C issued will be annotated to show "substantially repaired and or accident damaged; identity checked on dd/mm/ccyy".

Confirming if a VIC marker is set

  • to check if a VIC marker is set contact VOSA on 08706 060 440
  • VOSA can only conduct a VIC on a car which has a VIC marker set against the DVLA vehicle record

Applying for a VIC

  • a VIC is available at 56 VOSA locations
  • complete a VIC1 application form and submit it to VOSA, together with the correct fee
  • full instructions and the ‘Terms and Conditions’ are provided on the VIC1 application form
  • you will be notified of an appointment once VOSA has processed your application
Test Type Normal Out of Hours
Vehicle Identity Check £36.00 £43.50
Appeals £36.00 £43.50

Taking the car for a VIC

  • repairs must be conducted and the car must be roadworthy and capable of being driven under its own power
  • if over 3 years old, the car must be covered by a valid MOT if it is to be driven to the VIC
  • the person driving the car must be insured to do so
  • the car must display front and rear number plates if it is to be driven to the VIC. For assistance in obtaining number plates, contact VOSA on 08706 060 440
  • a car can be driven directly to and from a pre-arranged VIC without road tax

Following a VIC

If VOSA is satisfied with the identity of your car, you will be given a VIC20, pass certificate. DVLA will be electronically notified of the pass result. You can apply to DVLA for a V5C using vehicle registration certificate application form V62. If your car was a category c ‘write off’ you should declare this when completing form V62 as you are exempt from paying the V62 application form fee. If you submitted a V62 application form to DVLA prior to taking your car for a VIC, you will have received a VIC notification letter from DVLA. This letter should now be returned to DVLA, with the declaration completed.

If VOSA is unable to confirm the identity of your car, you will be issued with a VIC failure notice, VIC21, which will give the reason/s for failure. VOSA will refer the case either to the Police or DVLA for further investigation. VOSA will monitor its progress and inform you of the outcome once complete. This may take several weeks. If following investigation, the car’s identity can be satisfactorily confirmed as being the original, VOSA will issue a pass result. However if the car’s identity cannot be confirmed, the VIC marker will remain set against the DVLA record and a V5C will not be issued.

VIC Appeals

If you do not agree with the result of the VIC, you can make an appeal to VOSA. Appeals must be submitted on form VIC17, together with the correct fee.

In this section...

Additional links

Access keys