Vehicle Identity Check (VIC)

The Vehicle Identity Check Scheme (VIC) is a new initiative launched by the Department for Transport to help reduce vehicle crime. It has been developed to deter criminals from disguising stolen cars with the identity of scrapped or written off vehicles.

If your car is written off in an accident, you are required to surrender the registration document (V5C) to the insurance company, who then destroys the document and notifies the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). The DVLA then adds a 'VIC marker' to their database against the vehicle record. If, at a later date, the vehicle is repaired, the DVLA will not issue a new registration document until the car passes a vehicle identity check (VIC). This check is designed to ensure that the vehicle is what it declares to be and not a substitute vehicle, such as a stolen car.

The vehicle is inspected by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to compare the vehicle against the information held by DVLA; this will include checking the vehicle identification number (VIN), engine number, make, model and colour. Other sources of information are also used to enable a positive identification, such as comparing the record of the accident damage with evidence of the repairs that have been carried out, and checking other components to confirm the age and identity of the vehicle.

If the inspector passes the vehicle based on the apparent authenticity of the VIN and other supporting evidence, then a new registration document will be issued.

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