Vehicle Identity Check

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The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) was introduced in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2003, and was created to prevent the illegal practice of vehicle cloning. It is a joint effort run by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

At present the VIC is only applicable to cars. When a car is written off by an insurance company as category C or higher than it will require checking. Category D vehicles do not require inspection. The test, carried out by VOSA, determines whether or not a car presented is the same one that is listed against DVLA records. It is not a check on any repairs carried out to the car. To apply for a check a VIC1 form needs to be completed and submitted to VOSA.

A car is bought with no V5 is in danger of it requiring a VIC the same as one which has been part of an accident which led to an insurance claim, even if there was no claim by the driver of the car.

The VIC is necessary to ensure an accident damaged car is not a stolen or cloned vehicle. The VIC does not determine the roadworthiness or mechanical safety of the vehicle. This function is part of the MOT.