A Category S (formerly Cat C) vehicle has suffered structural damage and has been written off by an insurance company. It can be repaired and put back on the road, but it must pass an MOT and be re-registered with the DVLA.

A Category N (formerly Cat D) vehicle has suffered non-structural damage and was deemed uneconomical to repair by the insurer. It can be legally repaired and driven again without needing a structural inspection.

The V5C, often called the logbook, is the official document issued by the DVLA that registers a vehicle and identifies its registered keeper. It is not proof of legal ownership.

A unique 17-character alphanumeric code assigned to every vehicle by its manufacturer. It acts as the vehicle's fingerprint, allowing history and specifications to be tracked globally.

When a vehicle has outstanding finance, it means the current owner has not finished paying off the loan (like HP or PCP). The lender still legally owns the car and can repossess it if sold illegally.

A type of loan secured against a vehicle. The borrower hands over their V5C logbook to the lender until the loan is repaid. Buying a car with an active logbook loan means the lender could repossess it from you.

The illegal practice of rolling back or altering a vehicle's odometer to show fewer miles than it has actually traveled, artificially inflating the vehicle's resale value.

A Q registration plate is issued by the DVLA when a vehicle's age or identity is in doubt. This is common with radically altered vehicles, kit cars, or vehicles without a verifiable VIN.

A Category A write-off is a vehicle that is so severely damaged it must be crushed in its entirety. It can never be legally returned to the road and no parts can be salvaged.

A Category B write-off has suffered severe structural damage. The body shell must be crushed, but usable non-structural parts can be salvaged and sold.

An annual test of vehicle safety, roadworthiness, and exhaust emissions required in the United Kingdom for most vehicles over three years old.

A SORN is a declaration made to the DVLA that a vehicle is being taken off the public roads. A SORNed vehicle does not need to be taxed or insured.

A comprehensive vehicle history check that reveals if a car has outstanding finance, is stolen, written off, or has mileage discrepancies.

Vehicle cloning is the illegal practice of stealing the identity of a legally registered car (via its number plate and VIN) and applying it to a stolen vehicle of the same make and model.

A grey import is a vehicle legally imported from another country (like Japan) that was not officially sold in the UK market by the manufacturer.