A car history check helps you review recorded information about a UK vehicle before buying. Enter the registration number to see available vehicle specifications, MOT history, recorded mileage and tax information free of charge. Our optional £10.99 Full Vehicle History Check searches additional industry records, including finance, stolen-vehicle and insurance write-off information. Each check is limited by the data returned by its sources.
Checking recorded history can highlight questions that a viewing or test drive may not answer. For example, a finance marker may need lender confirmation, a write-off record calls for repair evidence and an unexplained mileage change deserves investigation. No database search can guarantee a vehicle is free from problems, so combine the results with the V5C, the seller’s documents and a physical inspection. The GOV.UK used vehicle buying checklist explains these additional steps.
Whether you are buying privately or through a dealer, start with the free registration lookup and compare the details with the vehicle and its documents. If you want to investigate finance, stolen-vehicle and write-off records, choose Full Check at £10.99 after reviewing its included checks and current price.
Start with a free registration lookup. Available data is generally returned quickly, but coverage and response times depend on the vehicle and data sources. The additional finance, stolen and write-off searches require Full Check at £10.99.
Enter the registration number above and check that the returned make and model match the car. The free lookup uses available vehicle and MOT records.
View available MOT test history, recorded mileage, tax status and vehicle specifications free of charge. Fields vary by vehicle.
Choose Full Check for £10.99 to search recorded finance, stolen-vehicle and write-off information, plus available salvage and registration history. Check the package details before paying.
The free check provides available vehicle details, MOT results, recorded mileage and tax information. Our £10.99 Full Vehicle History Check adds searches of relevant industry data for finance, stolen-vehicle markers and insurance write-offs. The table describes the searches included in each option, not a guarantee that every field or record exists for every car.
| Check | Free Check | Full Check £10.99 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT history, advisories and failures | ✔ | ✔ |
| Available mileage readings from recorded MOT tests | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tax status and expiry date | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vehicle specifications, engine size and fuel type | ✔ | ✔ |
| Available CO2 emissions and fuel economy data | ✔ | ✔ |
| Recorded vehicle finance agreements (for example HP or PCP) | ✘ | ✔ |
| Search for recorded stolen-vehicle markers | ✘ | ✔ |
| Insurance write-off records and damage category | ✘ | ✔ |
| Available salvage auction records and photos | ✘ | ✔ |
| Available registration changes and keeper counts | ✘ | ✔ |
| Import, export and scrapped markers | ✘ | ✔ |
| Additional recorded mileage indicators where available | ✘ | ✔ |
Important: A clear Full Check means no relevant marker was returned by the sources searched. It does not establish legal ownership, prove that the vehicle has never been damaged or confirm its current roadworthiness.
Also checking clean air zone rules? Use our ULEZ checker for available vehicle information and confirm charging eligibility with the relevant official authority before travelling.
Insurers use categories A, B, S and N to classify written-off vehicles. The category describes the assessed damage and what can happen to the vehicle, not whether its repairs are currently safe. Our paid Full Check can return a recorded category where the data source supplies one. See the official write-off category guidance.
The entire vehicle must be crushed. No parts may be salvaged for reuse, and the vehicle cannot return to the road.
The body shell must be crushed, although suitable parts may be salvaged. The vehicle itself cannot return to road use.
The insurer recorded repairable structural damage. It may return to road use only if repaired to a roadworthy condition. Ask for repair evidence and an independent inspection.
The insurer recorded repairable non-structural damage. This does not necessarily mean the damage was minor. Review repair documents and check that the vehicle is roadworthy.
We access DVLA vehicle records and DVSA MOT data directly. Additional paid searches use available industry data supplied for finance, theft and insurance total losses. Each source has its own coverage and update times, so a clear result is not a guarantee of a clean history.
The £10.99 Full Check includes searches for recorded finance agreements, stolen-vehicle markers and insurance write-offs through the relevant data suppliers. Records may be delayed or unavailable; investigate any alert before paying for a vehicle.
Our free MOT check displays available readings recorded during MOT tests. For cars, motorcycles and vans, Great Britain records generally go back to 2005 and Northern Ireland records to 2017. A discrepancy needs further checks and does not, on its own, prove clocking.
Enter a UK registration to access available free vehicle information without payment or an account. Some vehicles have limited records, and the separate £10.99 Full Check is optional.
Our free checks use available DVLA vehicle information and DVSA MOT records. Optional paid history searches use separate industry data providers for finance, insurance total losses, theft markers and salvage where available. We are an independent service, not a government agency. Data may be delayed or incomplete.
Enter a UK registration number above to see available vehicle details, tax status, MOT results and recorded mileage free of charge. Some vehicles have limited records. Our free lookup does not include finance, stolen-vehicle or insurance write-off searches, which are part of the optional £10.99 Full Check.
The free car history lookup shows available DVLA vehicle information, DVSA MOT results, tax details and recorded mileage. Full Check costs £10.99 and adds searches for finance agreements, stolen-vehicle markers and insurance write-offs, plus available salvage and registration history. The report can only display records returned by the sources searched.
The free lookup can show recorded MOT tests, mileage, tax status and vehicle specifications. The £10.99 Full Check adds recorded finance, stolen-vehicle and insurance write-off searches, along with available salvage records, registration changes and keeper counts. Coverage depends on the vehicle and data source; no report confirms legal ownership or current mechanical condition.
A car history check helps you compare the seller's description with recorded vehicle, MOT, finance and insurance information. It can reveal issues worth investigating before you buy, but it cannot prove the car is genuine, accident-free or mechanically sound. Also compare the VIN and V5C, inspect the car and review repair or service documents.
Choose our £10.99 Full Check to search available finance records linked to a registration. If finance is recorded, ask the seller and lender for evidence of settlement before buying. Some private buyers may have legal protection if they purchased in good faith without knowing about hire purchase or conditional sale, but the rules depend on the circumstances.
A stolen vehicle can be seized and its ownership disputed, and recovering the purchase price may be difficult. Full Check searches available stolen-vehicle markers, but no database check can prove that a car is genuine or has never been stolen. Compare the registration, VIN and V5C, and investigate inconsistencies before purchase.
Compare the available MOT mileage readings by test date with the current odometer and service records. An unexpected drop or gap should be investigated, but recording errors, a change of units or a replacement instrument can also explain differences. A mileage history check alone does not prove clocking.
Category A vehicles must be crushed in full. Category B vehicles must have their body shell crushed, although parts may be salvaged. Category S means repairable structural damage; Category N means repairable non-structural damage. S and N vehicles can return to the road if repaired to a roadworthy condition. A recorded category does not certify repair quality.