Car Selling... VIN, V5 Ref, Issue Date?
Car Selling... VIN, V5 Ref, Issue Date?
Author
Discussion

Bordtea

Original Poster:

362 posts

163 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Hi everyone,

I'm currently trying to sell a cheap diesel around the £2k mark. Have had a chap very keen on it following up (I was on holiday for 10 days and he waited for me to return). Chatted to him on the phone and all seemed OK other than quite a thick indian accent that was difficult to follow. He's booked a viewing for tomorrow but in the meantime has asked for the car's VIN, V5 reference number and the issue date of the V5. I asked him why he needed all that information and he responded saying he's trying to carry out a complete history check. All the HPIs I've ever used only ask for the reg number and sometimes the VIN number if you want to check the reg and VIN match, but the others seem a bit too much info to be giving out to a stranger. Anyone have any experience with this or advice on how to proceed?

Cheers!
Dan

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

125 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
The VIN can tell you a lot about the specification of the vehicle.

justinio

1,180 posts

105 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
That does sound a bit unusual, and something I've never experienced or heard of.

I think it would have got my spidey senses tingling if anyone had asked me for all that when selling a car.

I'd be inclined to just give him the reg number and VIN and leave it at that. I mean it's not like he is buying a quarter of a million quid Ferrari, and is checking its provenance. It's a £2k diesel shed (no offence).

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

125 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Is it aLand Rover?

Bordtea

Original Poster:

362 posts

163 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
SantaBarbara said:
Is it aLand Rover?
No, it's a 2006 Toyota Avensis diesel.

No offence taken, it's by no means my main vehicle!!

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

143 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
It's not exactly giving away state secrets.

On anything vaguely modern, the VIN is visible through the windscreen - everybody can get that as they walk past it parked. Unless... do you cover it up when you park?

V5C doc ref is a sensible one to ask for - because you can easily check if it's the most recently issued V5C on vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk - if it isn't, then the question is why is there a later one? Logbook loan? Already been sold?

Not sure what the V5C issue date adds, but it's really not something that can be used to steal your soul.

steve-5snwi

9,617 posts

110 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
It will be for HPi, the 3 pieces of information mean when he runs the check it will check to make sure the v5 is the current one and also covers him against it being a cloned car. I wouldn't be too concerned.

Bordtea

Original Poster:

362 posts

163 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Hmm fair enough, as long as there's no way he could use those pieces of information to claim he's the owner of the car?


steve-5snwi

9,617 posts

110 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
DVLA will write to you if someone tries to change the registered keeper.