The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is reminding car buyers not to buy a vehicle that doesn't come with a V5C log book.

Buying a car without a log book comes with a greater risk of it being stolen, and you may be unable to tax it, resulting in a V62 application which can take up to six weeks and costs £25.

Director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) Sue Robinson said: “The DVLA has confirmed that the V5C is an important document that is necessary in order to tax a vehicle. It is also a good indication that the vehicle was not stolen, as the V5C records the registered keeper of the vehicle.

“The NFDA has always maintained that a reputable dealer will ensure that the V5C is present, whether buying or selling a car. It’s encouraging to see that the DVLA wants to raise awareness of this issue. This will help protect consumers from untrustworthy individuals who give responsible car dealers an undeserved bad name.”