A car history check reveals information that neither a physical inspection nor a conversation with the seller can reliably provide. It shows whether the car has been reported stolen, has a recorded write-off, carries outstanding finance, or has had its mileage tampered with. Around 1 in 3 vehicle checks return a result the buyer was not aware of, which means skipping a check is a significant gamble — particularly given that buying a stolen car can result in the police seizing the vehicle with no right to compensation for the buyer.

Premium reports start from just £2.99, giving you substantially more detail than the free check at a fraction of the cost of similar services elsewhere. We also offer multi-check bundles at discounted rates, which are ideal for dealers, fleet buyers, or anyone assessing several vehicles at once. Trade rates are available from as low as £1.99 per check.

The number of previous keepers can tell you a great deal about how a vehicle has been used and maintained. A car with a large number of short-term owners may have had recurring issues that prompted repeated resale. Conversely, a single long-term keeper is often a positive indicator of consistent care. Our reports display the full keeper history so you can ask the right questions before agreeing to buy.

We source data from the DVLA, the DVSA, Experian's automotive databases, the Police National Computer, insurance industry records, and UK salvage auction databases. This combination of official and industry sources gives our reports the breadth and accuracy needed to provide a genuinely reliable vehicle history check. Please refer to our terms and conditions for a full breakdown of data sources by report type.

Yes. Our premium report includes recorded damage history sourced from insurance databases and salvage records. Where available, you can also view salvage auction photographs that show the condition of the vehicle at the time it was assessed. This gives you a clear and evidence-based picture of any significant previous damage rather than relying on the seller's account.

Yes, our free car history check provides over 80 data points at no cost, including full MOT history, mileage records, DVLA vehicle specifications, tax status, ULEZ compliance, fuel economy, CO2 emissions, and export status. This is a genuinely useful starting point for any used car purchase. Where you need deeper detail — outstanding finance, write-offs, stolen status, or keeper history — our paid reports are available from £2.99.

Full service history is not held in any central public database, which is why it should always be requested directly from the seller. Ask for a physical service book with dated stamps, or digital records from a main dealer or independent garage. You can then contact the servicing garages listed to verify the work carried out. Our vehicle history check includes MOT mileage records, which can be cross-referenced against claimed service intervals to identify any inconsistencies.

The free car history check covers make, model, colour, engine size, fuel type, body style, year of manufacture, registration date, DVLA V5C issue date, MOT history with pass and fail dates, recorded mileage at every MOT, tax status and expiry, ULEZ compliance, Euro emission status, CO2 figures, fuel economy data, export status, and any active safety recall flags. For outstanding finance, write-offs, stolen status, and keeper history, a premium report is required.

Write-off categories describe the severity of damage recorded by an insurer. Category A vehicles are so badly damaged they must be crushed entirely and cannot return to the road in any form. Category B vehicles have severe damage and the shell must be crushed, though parts may be salvaged. Category S vehicles have sustained structural damage but can be professionally repaired and returned to the road after a re-registration inspection. Category N vehicles have non-structural damage — such as cosmetic or electrical faults — and may be repaired and resold. Our premium report confirms whether a vehicle carries any of these categories and what it means for the car you are considering.

Our free car history check includes a safety recall flag that alerts you to any outstanding manufacturer recalls registered against the vehicle. A recall means the manufacturer has identified a safety-related defect and is required to fix it at no cost to the owner. If a vehicle you are considering has an outstanding recall, you should confirm with the manufacturer or a franchised dealer that the necessary work has been completed before you buy.