What is the Registration and Legal Status section in a vehicle history report?

The Registration and Legal Status section in a carVertical report provides information on any registration or legal restrictions associated with the vehicle. These restrictions may prevent you from registering, insuring, or legally driving the car.

Note: Depending on your location, you may be able to see only the Registration or only Legal parts of this section.

What you can learn from the Registration and Legal Status section

This section is divided into two parts: Registration Restrictions and Legal. A yellow warning sign will appear at the top of the Registration and Legal Status section if any available records are associated with these areas.

The Registration Restrictions part of this section may include information about:

• Property rights – this record indicates that someone other than the seller holds ownership rights or claims over the vehicle. This could mean the car is legally tied to a third party, such as a previous owner or a lender
• Liens – this record refers to any financial obligations attached to the vehicle. If a lien exists, the lender may have the legal right to repossess the car if the debt remains unpaid
• Seizures – this record indicates that the vehicle has been seized by authorities, often due to legal actions such as unpaid debts, criminal investigations, or other legal disputes. A seized vehicle may not be eligible for registration or transfer until resolved

In the Legal part of the section, you can find details on whether the vehicle:

• Has passed technical inspections – vehicles that have not passed may need repairs or modifications before they can be legally driven
• Is marked as “scrapped,” meaning that it’s designated for dismantling and isn’t legally allowed on the road. This status can affect resale and eligibility for registration
• Was imported or exported, which could mean specific compliance requirements (e.g., extra inspections or certifications for roadworthiness)

Each record contains an event type, status (Record found, No record found, Passed [technical inspection]), date and country where the event was recorded, and a short explanation.

Why this section may be incomplete or missing from the report?

The information included in the report depends on the availability of data. If the Registration and Legal Status section is missing, it means that it’s not yet supported in your location. Additionally, certain records may be absent if they are not relevant to your market (e.g., seizures).

Why are registration restrictions important when buying a used car?

Knowing registration restrictions when buying a used car is crucial because they can impact your ability to legally register and own the vehicle. Issues like seizures, liens, or a car being marked as scrapped or stolen could prevent you from transferring ownership or registering the car, leading to legal complications or unexpected costs.

Still have questions? If you need more help understanding the Registration and Legal Status section of your report, feel free to reach out to our support team.