United Kingdom
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency(UK), better known as the DVLA, are an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport
(DfT). The Agency is accountable to the Secretary of State and Ministers and, through them, to Parliament and the public, for efficient and effective management of the Agency and its responsibilities. Their primary aims are to facilitate road safety and general law enforcement
by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles, and to collect vehicle excise duty
(car tax).
Vehicle identity check
The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) was introduced to help reduce vehicle crime. It is intended to deter criminals from disguising stolen cars with the identity of written off or scrapped vehicles.When an insurance company writes off a car, the registration document (V5 logbook
) is surrendered to them and destroyed. The insurance company will then notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that the vehicle has been written off. This notification will set a 'VIC marker' on the vehicle record on the DVLA database. If the vehicle is then repaired with the intention of returning it to the road, the DVLA will not issue a new registration document or vehicle excise duty licence until the car passes a vehicle identity check (VIC). The VIC is designed to help confirm that the vehicle being returned to the road has been repaired following any accident damage and has not been stolen.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
(VOSA) will carry out the VIC. This will involve comparing the vehicle presented to VOSA against the information held by DVLA, such as the Vehicle Identification Number
VIN, make, model, colour and engine number. The VIC compares the record of previous accident damage with evidence of damage repair as well as checking other components to confirm the age and identity of the vehicle.
The fact that a VIC Check has been performed is recommended to be checked by any individual looking to privately purcahse a used car. This is typically completed using services such as those provided by Experian
Group or a more affordable solution such as iCarCheck
https://www.icarcheck.net. In the case that a VIC Check cannot be confirmed the purchaser would need to contact VOSA in order to manually confirm this.
Vehicle check
The DVLA provides information on the registration of vehicles to certain vehicle check companies http://www.carcheckonline.co.uk for consumer protectionand anti-fraud
purposes. Please be assured that no individual name or address details are provided. The information may be added to by companies with details from the police
, finance and insurance companies.
MIAFTR Data
MIAFTR data is provided by the UK insurance industry and states whether the vehicle has been “written off” by an insurer. Insurers make an economic decision n whether to write off a vehicle in the case of a claim depending upon the current value of the vehicle against the cost of repairs in the claim. Should the cost be deemed too large to make repairing the vehicle uneconomical, a category will be assigned to the vehicle indicating the level of damage that the vehicle suffered in the incident which triggered the claim.mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'>
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What
does this category mean?
The
vehicle has not been repaired following extreme damage.
It
was deemed too damaged to be repairable with little or no salvageable parts.
The vehicle has not been
repaired following significant damage.
however did have salvageable parts.
This vehicle was repairable, but the repair costs
exceeded the vehicle value. The insurer chose not to repair for economic
reasons.
This vehicle was repairable, but the repair costs
were significant compared to the vehicle value. The insurer chose not to
repair for economic reasons.
Why may
the insurer not have repaired the vehicle?
The inspecting engineer considered the vehicle
extensively damaged and therefore un-repairable. It has little or no
salvageable parts.
The inspecting engineer considered the vehicle
too damaged to be repaired, however there is value
in its spare parts.
The inspecting engineer
considered the vehicle repairable, however the costs
exceeded the Pre Accident Value of the vehicle.
This marker is not an
indication that a vehicle is un-roadworthy, but that the insurance company
involved in the claim has made the decision not to repair it purely for
economic reasons.
The inspecting engineer considered the vehicle
repairable, however the costs were fairly significant (i.e. greater than 50%
of the Pre Accident Value).
This marker is not an indication that a vehicle
is un-roadworthy, but that the insurance company involved in the claim has
made the decision not to repair it purely for economic reasons
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color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>What scale of damage may the vehicle
have had?
This vehicle would have had extreme
damage e.g. burnt out, completely destroyed, extreme chassis or
insurer considered this vehicle to have NIL value.
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This vehicle would have had
significant damage e.g. extensively damaged, bent chassis or
considered this vehicle to have some value as salvageable parts (e.g. greater
than £50).
The damage level varies
greatly for a Cat C vehicle. The damage may be quite extensive (but not
structural) on a fairly new car, however in contrast the damage may be very
light on an old car. This vehicle may have been submerged in water up to the
floor level.
This category is purely an
economically constructed total loss. It simply states that the insurer chose
to not repair the vehicle for economic reasons.
The damage level varies
greatly for a Cat D vehicle. The damage may be quite significant on a fairly
new car, however in contrast the damage may be very
light on an old car. This category is purely an economically constructed
total loss. It simply states that the insurer chose to not repair the vehicle
for economic reasons.
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color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>What should I do before buying a car?
You should satisfy yourself that
a vehicle you are purchasing is in roadworthy legal condition.
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You may choose to use a
professional engineer to provide an inspection if you wish.
You should satisfy yourself
that a vehicle you are purchasing is in roadworthy legal condition.
EN-AU'>
You may choose to use a
professional engineer to provide an inspection if you wish.
EN-AU'>
You should satisfy yourself
that a vehicle you are purchasing is in roadworthy legal condition.
EN-AU'>
You may choose to use a professional
engineer to provide an inspection if you wish.
You should satisfy yourself
that a vehicle you are purchasing is in roadworthy legal condition.
EN-AU'>
You may choose to use a
professional engineer to provide an inspection if you wish.
EN-AU'>
What would
the insurer do?
The insurer categorised this
vehicle an A.
The Insurer would make best
endeavours to put this vehicle through salvage process with the aim of not
allowing
the
is not bound by law to do this. The owner may have retained the vehicle.
EN-AU'>
The insurer categorised this vehicle a B.
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The Insurer would make best endeavours to put
this vehicle through salvage process with the aim of not allowing
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color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>the
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color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'> car back on the road. Note that the
insurer is not bound by law to do this. The owner may have retained the
vehicle.
The insurer categorised this vehicle a C.
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The Insurer would make best endeavours to put
this vehicle through the salvage process. They would have the view that this
vehicle can return to the road following repair.
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The insurer categorised this vehicle a D.
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The Insurer would make best endeavours to put
this vehicle through the salvage process. They would have the view that this vehicle
can return to the road following repair.
What
would be the salvage process if applicable?
If the vehicle is put
through a licensed or authorised salvage operator all parts should be
destroyed with the intent
not
EN-AU'>
If the vehicle is put
through a licensed or authorised salvage operator all parts may be sold,
however the damaged chassis
or
should be destroyed. The intent is to not return the car back to the road.
EN-AU'>
The vehicle may be put
through a licensed or authorised salvage operator either for re-sale or for
breaking for parts.
The vehicle may be put
through a licensed or authorised salvage operator either for re-sale or for
breaking for parts.
What if the
vehicle has been retained by the owner or returned to the road?
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If the vehicle is retained
by the keeper it can be returned to the road following repair. It is
recommended to have an independent inspection of the repairs.
EN-AU'>
If the vehicle is retained
by the keeper it can be returned to the road following repair. It is
recommended to have an independent inspection of the repairs.
EN-AU'>
If the vehicle is retained
by the keeper it can be returned to the road following repair. It is
recommended to have an independent inspection of the repairs. Note that on
older cars the damage may be fairly light and not impact its roadworthiness.
EN-AU'>
If the vehicle is retained
by the keeper it can be returned to the road following repair. It is
recommended to have an independent inspection of the repairs. Note that on
older cars the damage may be fairly light and not impact its roadworthiness.
EN-AU'>
What
does the DVLA/VOSA get informed of?
DVLA have
received notification of categorisation under the Road Vehicles (Registration
and Licensing) Regulations 2002.
DVLA have
received notification of categorisation under the Road Vehicles (Registration
and Licensing) Regulations 2002
DVLA have received
notification of categorisation under the Road Vehicles (Registration and
Licensing) Regulations 2002
No notifications
are made to the DVLA/VOSA.
Is the
vehicle subject to a Vehicle Identity Check (VIC)?
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The vehicle is subject to a VIC should a new V5C be
re-issued (i.e. change of owner or a change of registered keeper address).
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Check the VIC status at
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/
The vehicle is subject to a VIC should a new V5C
be re-issued (i.e. change of owner or a change of registered keeper address).
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Check the VIC status at
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color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/
The vehicle is subject to a VIC should a new V5C
be re-issued (i.e. change of owner or a change of registered keeper address).
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Check the VIC status at
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color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>
http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/
This vehicle is not subject to a VIC.
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What is
a VIC?
The Vehicle
Identity Check (VIC) scheme has been introduced as a deterrent to ringing.
EN-AU'>
Insurers must
notify Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of all cars "written
off" within salvage categories A, B or C. This notification will set a
"VIC marker" against the DVLA vehicle record.
EN-AU'>
Whilst a VIC
marker remains set, DVLA will not issue a registration certificate V5C, or
vehicle licence reminder V11. The VIC marker will only be removed, when the
car passes a VIC.
The
Agency (VOSA).
For further
information about VIC contact:
Vehicle
Inspectorate Enquiries: 0870 6060 440
Vehicle
Inspectorate website: www.via.gov.uk
DVLA Customer
Enquiries: 0870 607 6688
DVLA website:
www.dvla.gov.uk