Motorists looking to buy a used car are being urged to check the vehicle's V5C registration certificate by the DVLA.

The body has advised drivers not to purchase a car if the serial number of its V5C falls within the BG8229501 to BG9999030 and B12305501 to B12800000 ranges.

All registration certificates issued by the DVLA are given a unique serial number but the due to a technical difficulty, numbers within these two ranges have not, and will not be distributed, the organisation said.

Motorists are also urged by the DVLA not to proceed with any purchases if the V5C has no serial number, looks to have been altered or if the vehicle has only part of the certificate.

The serial number appears on the top right hand corner of the registration certificate.

An executive agency of the Department for Transport, the DVLA aims to facilitate road safety and law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles.

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