Where there is doubt about the origin, age, or identity of a vehicle, a ‘Q’ registration mark is issued. ‘Q’ registration marks were introduced following wide consultation with the Police, Motor Trade, Salvage Industry, and other interested parties. Although seen by many vehicle enthusiasts as a seal of disapproval, since its inception in 1983 in Great Britain and 1990 in Northern Ireland, the ‘Q’ registration mark has proven a useful consumer protection aid. The display of a ‘Q’ registration mark is a visible sign to a prospective purchaser of a vehicle’s uncertain history.