10 November 2025
What Car History Reports Don't Tell You
A car history report is essential, but it's not magic. Here's what even the best reports can't show you — and why you still need to use your eyes.
Car cloning is when criminals steal a vehicle's identity - using its registration number and VIN on a different car (usually stolen or written-off). It's more common than you think, and innocent buyers often lose everything.
🚨 Critical Warning
If you buy a cloned car, police will seize it, you'll lose all your money, and you may face legal complications proving you weren't involved in the crime. This is not a risk you can afford to take.
🎭 What is Car Cloning?
Criminals take the identity of a legitimate car (often finding details from online listings) and apply those details to a stolen or damaged car of the same make, model, and color. The cloned car appears legitimate on basic checks because it's using real vehicle details.
"I lost £12,000 when police seized my \'new\' car. Turned out the seller had cloned the identity from a car in Scotland. I had absolutely no idea—until the police knocked on my door."
🚩 Warning Signs of a Cloned Car
🔍 5 Red Flags to Watch For
- Price too good to be true: Significantly below market value
- VIN discrepancies: Numbers don't match across locations
- Fresh documentation: New V5C or multiple recent entries
- MOT history issues: Records don't align with the vehicle
- Evasive seller: Won't meet at home, pressures quick sale
🔢 Check VIN in Multiple Locations
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) should be identical in all these places:
⚠️ Signs of Tampering
Look for scratched or re-stamped numbers, mismatched fonts, rivets that have been removed and replaced, glue residue around VIN plates, or grinding marks on numbers. Any of these is a massive red flag.
📄 Documentation Red Flags
❌ Warning Signs
- V5C logbook looks brand new
- Multiple keeper changes quickly
- Seller isn't registered keeper
- Service history doesn't match VIN
- MOT locations jump around UK
✓ Good Signs
- Original V5C with consistent history
- Seller is registered keeper
- All documents match VIN
- MOT history is logical and consistent
- Seller welcomes verification
🛡️ How to Protect Yourself
✅ Your Protection Checklist
- Run a comprehensive Carpeep vehicle check
- Physically inspect VIN plates for tampering
- Cross-reference VIN with V5C and MOT records
- Check online MOT history for inconsistencies
- Meet seller at their registered address
- Take photos of all VIN locations
- Ask detailed questions about vehicle history
💡 Pro Tip
A Carpeep check will reveal if the car has been reported stolen, whether it's been written off, complete MOT history to verify authenticity, and finance records. This is your first and most important line of defense.
🚔 What to Do if You Suspect Cloning
If something doesn't feel right, follow these steps immediately:
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Car cloning is serious—innocent buyers lose thousands every year
- Always check VIN in multiple locations (they should match exactly)
- Run a comprehensive vehicle check before buying (always)
- If the price seems too good to be true, it probably involves crime
- Trust your gut—if something feels dodgy, it probably is
- Report suspicions to help protect other buyers
