RAC

Glossary

This glossary lists all terms common to car data checks. Please click on the relevant letter of the alphabet for an explanation of each term.

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Clocking
Clocking involves reducing the mileage of a vehicle by turning back the odometer. It is a common trick used by unscrupulous sellers to obtain a higher price and research shows that on average 1 in 12 vehicles have some sort of discrepancy. The average car does 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so if you think the mileage is inconsistent with the age and condition of the car it is worth investigating further.

Cloning / Ringing
Cloning / Ringing is the practice of changing a vehicle's identity. When seeking to disguise a stolen car, crooks often use a registration mark taken from a different vehicle - typically one that has been 'written off' in order to avoid detection.

Sometimes only the registration number is changed, but often the VIN or chassis number will also be swapped with that of the 'donor vehicle'.

Professionally 'rung' vehicles can be hard to detect, but it is always worth checking that ALL a vehicle's VINs - stamped into the bodywork, on the chassis plate and behind the windscreen match each other.

Cut 'n shut
Cut 'n shut is the term used by the motor trade for a car that is made up of two cars, usually both 'write-offs'. The back end of one is welded to the front end of another, often with considerable skill. The car may look like new, but it is likely to be unroadworthy, could be lethal in a crash, and may be worthless when you come to sell it.

The exceptions to this rule are the 'stretched' vehicles made by specialist coachbuilders; construction of these cars means they often have to be cut in half, but they have plenty of additional strengthening to restore their structural integrity.

Grey and parallel Imports
The number of vehicles imported through 'unofficial channels' has increased significantly in recent years. There are many different definitions used with imports, but as a general rule:

Parallel imports were originally destined for other European markets but have been brought into the UK as new vehicles by parties outside the manufacturer's official distribution chain.

Personal imports are vehicles ordered by UK customers and sourced from dealers in the EU, either directly or by UK brokers.

Grey imports are vehicles destined for other markets outside the EU and are being brought into the UK by parties outside the manufacturer's official distribution chain. The term is most frequently applied to Japanese-specification vehicles.

MOT
The MOT Certificate shows that a vehicle has passed an annual roadworthiness check. It is an important document because it is sometimes the only indication of condition available on an older vehicle. It is also compulsory for any vehicle three years old and over to have a valid MOT, and without it you may not be covered by your insurer.

However, it is no substitute for an independent inspection. Also, tens of thousands of blank MOT Certificates are stolen each year, and are used to mislead purchasers about the status and condition of vehicles.

Q plate
A Q Plate is literally a VRM which starts with a Q prefix. Use of this plate indicates one of two things: a vehicle which was not originally registered in the UK and for which proof of age was unavailable at registration, or a vehicle which has been built using a significant proportion of used parts.

It is perfectly normal for a kit car to have a Q registration, but on other vehicles, it suggests that their full history may be difficult to trace.

Thatcham approved inspection
Established in 1969, Thatcham is an independent, non-profit making Research Centre. It provides the insurance industry with definitive guidelines on the safe, efficient repair of vehicles.

Vehicle Registration Document
The V5/logbook, or Vehicle Registration Document, is issued by the DVLA. It gives the name and address of a vehicle's current and previous registered keepers as well as the total number of previous keepers. It also lists the car's colour, make, model, engine number and VIN. There are three variations of this document in circulation, dependent on the registration date of the vehicle.

VIN
Vehicle Identification Number. This is the manufacturer's own ID, found under the bonnet, under the carpet by the driver's seat and/or etched on to the windows. You will also find it stamped onto a plate, either under the bonnet or in one of the door openings. Some cars have 'visible VINs' behind their windscreens.

Vehicles which are approved for sale in the EU have 17 digit VINs.

VRM
Vehicle Registration Mark, or numberplate.

Write off
Write off is a colloquial term for a vehicle which has been declared a total loss by an insurer, either following accident damage or theft.

There are some 450,000 accident-related write-offs every year and another 150,000 insurance thefts, many of which are subsequently recovered damaged and re-classified.

Many write-offs are legitimately allowed back on the roads following repair; look for the ones which have passed an independent inspection. However, almost half of all write-offs are so badly damaged that they should never go back on the road.

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