Determining number of prior owners

[foibles]

Is there an authoritative' database against which one can check the number of owners a specific vehicle has had? And does this count include dealerships which have sold a car second hand, rather than just 'private owners'?

 

[midlifecrisis]

The DVLA, on the log book. Dealers are not counted though. They used to be a while back but that's changed.

Even if a car moved from one member of the family to another, the number of owners increases.

Cazana used to indicate number of owners but not sure now as it's behind a paywall/not free.