A Verified Owner badge confirms one thing: that you submitted a proof-of-ownership document (registration, insurance card, or purchase agreement) for a specific vehicle logged in My Garage, and it was manually checked by the moderation team, typically within 2-3 business days. It does not verify your identity beyond that, isn't tied to a credit or background check, and applies per-vehicle — owning three cars means going through verification up to three times.
At a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it confirms | Proof of ownership for a specific vehicle, checked once |
| Accepted documents | Registration, insurance card, purchase agreement |
| Review time | 2-3 business days, typical |
| Scope | Per-vehicle, not per-account |
| Cost | Free |
| What it unlocks | Model Q&A posting, Car of the Month eligibility, review labeling |
What the badge actually confirms
It's narrower than it might sound: the badge confirms that a document showing your name (or a name you've explained, e.g. a spouse's) against a specific VIN or plate was reviewed once by a human moderator. It is not an identity verification service, a credit check, or an ongoing confirmation that you still own the car — it's a one-time check at the point you request it.
Accepted proof documents
- Vehicle registration document.
- Insurance card or policy declaration page showing the vehicle.
- Purchase agreement or bill of sale.
You can redact sensitive fields (VIN, purchase price, policy number) before uploading — the moderator only needs to confirm your name and the vehicle details match your Garage entry, not see the full unredacted document.
Step by step: getting verified
- Log the vehicle in My Garage if you haven't already.
- From the vehicle entry, select "Verify ownership."
- Upload one accepted document, redacting sensitive fields as needed.
- Wait for manual review, typically 2-3 business days.
- Badge appears on the vehicle's Garage entry, your profile, and any reviews/posts tied to that vehicle once approved.
What the badge unlocks
| Feature | Requires Verified Owner badge? |
|---|---|
| Posting a review | No, but verified reviews are labeled and weighted higher |
| Answering in Model-Specific Owner Q&A | Yes, for that specific model |
| Nominating for Car of the Month | Yes |
| Rate Your Car | No |
| Starting a Long-Term Test Diary | Yes |
Verification is per-vehicle, not per-account. If you own two different models, you need to submit proof for each one separately to unlock model-specific features (like answering that model's Owner Q&A) for both.
Why verification can be declined
- Document doesn't clearly match the vehicle logged in your Garage (wrong year/make/model/trim).
- Document is illegible or too heavily redacted to confirm the required details.
- Name on the document doesn't match your account name, with no explanation provided.
Losing or removing a badge
If you sell a vehicle and archive it in My Garage, the badge stays attached to that archived entry as a historical record — it doesn't retroactively invalidate reviews or diary entries you wrote while you owned it. You can also request badge removal yourself from account settings at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What documents can I use to verify ownership?
How long does verification take?
Do I need a separate badge for each car I own?
Can I redact sensitive information before uploading my document?
What happens to my badge if I sell the car?
Sources & further reading
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
