Vehicle registration certificate
A vehicle registration certificate is an official document providing proof of registration of a motor vehicle. It is used primarily by governments as a means of ensuring that all road vehicles are on the national vehicle register, but is also used as a form of law enforcement and to facilitate change of ownership when buying and selling a vehicle.
European Union and European Economic Area
In the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), vehicle registration certificates are governed by the European directive 1999/37/EC. The information contained in these registration certificates includes:
Vehicle registration number
Personal data of the individual to whom the vehicle is registered
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Engine specifications
Exhaust emissions
United Kingdom
In the UK the document (V5C) was previously referred to as the log book, and this is still common usage. The document is issued by the DVLA and tracks the registered keeper of the vehicle, rather than the owner. When a vehicle is transferred, exported, scrapped or had major modification (new engine, chassis or factors affecting the taxation class) the form is returned to the DVLA, who issue a new document, if appropriate, with the amended details.