Vehicle Crime Reduction Initiatives

What's the best way to protect against less obvious vehicle crimes such as ringing or buying a stolen car? DVLA has put several measures in place to protect motorists.

The Vehicle Registration Certificate

Whenever a vehicle is sold DVLA is notified of the sale.

The seller of a vehicle must hand the correct section of the registration certificate to the buyer and inform DVLA of the change.

Buyers of vehicles should always check the registration document of any vehicle they are looking to buy, and check the details against the details on the vehicle and online.

Certificates of Destruction

A certificate of destruction (COD) is issued to the last owner of a vehicle when a vehicle is taken to an authorised treatment facility (ATF) for destruction.

The COD updates the DVLA database and releases the keeper of any obligations.

Number Plate Suppliers

This is a scheme managed by DVLA to ensure number plates are only sold by registered suppliers. The most important part of this is that the purchaser is required to show entitlement to have a number plate made up with a particular registration mark. The purchaser must give proof of identity.

Number plate suppliers are required to keep records of sales, and these records are open to inspection by the police, trading standards, and DVLA.

Continuous Registration

Continuous registration ensures that the vehicle is always someone's responsibility. It encourages motorists to keep their details and the vehicle's details up to date.