The Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) was a regulation concerning car ownership that was in force in the UK between 2003 and 2015.
[3] When a car was written off by an insurance company as "Category C" or higher, checking was required before the V5C could be issued.
The test, carried out by VOSA, determined whether or not a car presented was the same one that was listed on DVLA records.
A car bought with no V5C might also require a VIC even if there had been no insurance claim to confirm its identity before a new V5C was issued.
[6] Since then, the conditions for issue of a V5C are that the vehicle has obtained an MoT Test Certificate, is roadworthy and has insurance.