Missing years in V5

[riceice]

I am looking at buying a car which was registered in 2009. The V5 says 1 previous owner, but that said previous owner acquired the car in April 2017. I have asked the dealer, and he doesn't know why this is the case. I have got a HPI check done and the information is the same. Is there a reasonable explanation for this or should I steer clear?

[sixor8]

It could be as simple as one previous owner registered in the UK and therefore on the DVLA database. It may be as close as from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or perhaps elsewhere. An enquiry here with the registration number will tell you when the car was manufactured / first registered:

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.10466...

[Nickp82]

One previous owner = two owners so could it be the first owner had it from new to 2017?

[riceice]

Yeah I've checked that, it was registered in the UK. HPI check didn't contain any import/export history either.

[riceice]

Person who is selling it now only got it a couple of months ago (from the supposed first owner), so he's the second.

[Nickp82]

If it’s a legit dealer they will have registered the car to trade rather than registering as another owner?

[Chris32345]

Registed in ROI?

[Dimebars]

1 previous owner is 2 owners total. The current (as per V5) and previous