What the Vehicle Status Report icons mean

A tick in a green box indicates that the Vehicle Status Report found no problems in that category at the time the VSR was purchased.

A question mark in an amber box indicates that the Vehicle Status Report found further information registered in that category. You should investigate this further with the seller.

An exclamation mark in a red box indicates that that the Vehicle Status Report has identified a problem in that category. You should investigate this further with the seller.

Please note the Vehicle Status Report results are time sensitive. Make sure you confirm the results with the seller before purchasing the vehicle

Cloning / Ringing is the practice of changing a vehicle's identity. When seeking to disguise a stolen vehicle, crooks often use a registration mark taken from a different vehicle - typically one that has been 'written off' in order to avoid detection.
Sometimes only the registration number is changed, but often the VIN or chassis number will also be swapped with that of the 'donor vehicle'.
Professionally 'rung' vehicles can be hard to detect, but it is always worth checking that ALL a vehicle's VINs - stamped into the bodywork, on the chassis plate and behind the windscreen match each other.

Write off is a colloquial term for a vehicle which has been declared a total loss by an insurer, either following accident damage or theft. There are some 450,000 accident-related write-offs every year and another 150,000 insurance thefts, many of which are subsequently recovered damaged and re-classified.
Many write-offs are legitimately allowed back on the roads following repair; look for the ones which have passed an independent inspection. However almost half of all write-offs are so badly damaged that they should never go back on the road.

Cut n' shut is the term used by the motor trade for a vehicle that is made up of two cars, usually both 'write-offs'. The back end of one is welded to the front end of another, often with considerable skill. The vehicle may look like new, but it is likely to be unroadworthy, could be lethal in a crash, and may be worthless when you come to sell it.
The exceptions to this rule are the 'stretched' vehicles made by specialist coachbuilders; construction of these vehicles means they often have to be cut in half, but they have plenty of additional strengthening to restore their structural integrity.

Clocking involves reducing the mileage of a vehicle by turning back the odometer. It is a common trick used by unscrupulous sellers to obtain a higher price and research shows that on average 1 in 12 vehicles have some sort of discrepancy. The average vehicle does 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so if you think the mileage is inconsistent with the age and condition of the vehicle it is worth investigating further.

The V5/logbook, or Vehicle Registration Document, is issued by the DVLA. It gives the name and address of a vehicle's current and previous registered keepers as well as the total number of previous keepers. It also lists the vehicle's colour, make, model, engine number and VIN. There are three variations of this document in circulation, dependant on the registration date of the vehicle.

The MOT Certificate shows that a vehicle has passed an annual roadworthiness check. It is an important document because it is sometimes the only indication of condition available on an older vehicle. It is also compulsory for any vehicle three years old and over to have a valid MOT, and without it you may not be covered by your insurer.
However, it is no substitute for an independent inspection. As of October 2005, all MOT serial numbers have been electronically issued by VOSA to combat the issue of fraud.

VRM: Vehicle Registration Mark, or number plate.

VIN: Vehicle Identification Number. This is the manufacturer's own ID, found under the bonnet, under the carpet by the driver's seat and/or etched on to the windows. You will also find it stamped onto a plate, either under the bonnet or in one of the door openings. Some cars have 'visible VINs' behind their windscreens.
Vehicles which are approved for sale in the EU have 17 digit VINs.

A Q Plate is literally, a VRM (see previous) which starts with a Q prefix. Use of this plate indicates one of two things: a vehicle which was not originally registered in the UK and for which proof of age was unavailable at registration, or a vehicle which has been built using a significant proportion of used parts.
It is perfectly normal for a kit vehicle to have a Q registration, but on other vehicles, it suggests that their full history may be difficult to trace.

Thatcham approved examination. Established in 1969, Thatcham is an independent, non-profit making Research Centre. It provides the insurance industry with definitive guidelines on the safe, efficient repair of vehicles.