How to...Guides: Research the history of your vintage car
From Classic Car Life
Knowing the background of classic cars can be very interesting to the owner because it helps to give the vehicle more character. In addition to this, car history could potentially add value to the selling price as it will make the car much more attractive to buyers than one with an unknown history. Photos, receipts, tax discs and even speeding tickets can all help to build up an image of the vehicle’s journey. See the following guide to finding out the history of classic cars.
Where to Look
- DVLA: Perhaps the starting point of finding out your car history is the DVLA. This has the records for all registered old cars in the UK and can be useful if you are waiting for your logbook to arrive or do not have a new style V5C. The DVLA website can also provide you with information about the registration number of your vintage car, such as where it was first issued.
- Car Clubs: There are many clubs for specific classic cars makes and models where enthusiasts can gather to discuss their old cars and find out more information. These always prove to be useful as they often hold details about the previous owners and can contact them for you (Data Protection Act prevents them from giving over information).
- Auction houses could be another useful avenue to go down. Just by searching online for the registration number, you could find old records of when it passed through an auction. You can then get in touch with the auction house for more information.
Once you have found a previous owner who is willing to help you with your car history, you can find out where it was serviced and contact them for more paperwork.
Certain vintage car makes have set up heritage divisions where details about classic cars can also be found. You could find out its original colour, build date, chassis info etc.
Finding out car history can be a thoroughly exciting and enjoyable pursuit. However, you should be prepared to come to some dead ends as the past owners may have moved or passed away.
