How you can avoid buying a cloned car

Cloning a car is the automotive equivalent of identity theft. Criminals will steal a car, then give it a new set of ID numbers. These are copied from a similar vehicle of the same make and model that is already registered on the road.

Thieves disguise the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (also known as the VIN number, or chassis number) on the cloned car. They can then use a stolen V5 document (car log book) to legitimise its identity.

With help with vehicle history specialist Cap HPI, here are four straightforward ways to avoid buying a cloned car. 

Check the history file

Always check through the car’s service and MOT history before you buy. Examine any bills and receipts supplied, and use the government’s online MOT check tool to see if the car’s mileage tallies with that displayed on the dashboard.

Also, make sure you view the car at the registered keeper’s address, as shown on the V5. Don’t be talked into meeting somebody in a petrol station or layby.

Buyers should ensure all the VIN numbers on the vehicle match each other. A Cap HPI history check will ensure they tally with the details recorded with the DVLA, too.

Market value

Look at classified advert listings to get a feel for your chosen car’s market value. The Auto Trader website ranks cars into categories such as Good Price, Fair Price and Lower Price to give you some guidance. 

If the seller is asking less than 70 percent of the typical market price for a vehicle, be on your guard. There is rarely such a thing as a bargain, and certainly not if the car turns out to be a clone. 

Don’t pay with cash

Don’t make payment with cash, particularly if the car is costing you more than about £3,000. Some cloners will take a banker’s draft as part-payment, because the cash part is sufficient profit without ever cashing the draft.

Most crooks selling cloned cars would rather walk away from a sale than take a payment that could be traced back to them. If it doesn’t feel right, walk away.

Check the V5 document

Check the vehicle’s V5, commonly known as the log book. Stolen V5 documents are still being used to accompany cloned vehicles. 

Is the vehicle advertised saying the owner has mislaid or lost the V5? Then buyer beware! This is a red flag you should check very, very carefully.