Avoid buying a cloned car Before viewing the vehicle, ask the seller for details of the car, including registration number, make and model and mileage and run it through Motorscan's car check to flag any issues. On the vehicle, check all the places the VIN number is displayed and make sure they match. It should also match the VIN number on the V5C logbook. Ensure the seller's address matches the address on the V5C logbook, and avoid buying a vehicle away from the registered keeper's address, such as in a petrol station or layby. Instead of paying in cash, make payment with a traceable form of payment which most criminals will want to avoid.