Car History Check

Check the History of a Vehicle

Enter the vehicle registration to get in an instant Car History Check.

Instant Access

Access your report online in seconds after payment. We'll also send you a PDF copy.

Money Back Guarantee

If you're not happy for any reason, we'll give you your money back.

Data Guarantee

Data guarantee of £30,000 on full checks, for extra peace of mind.

What's Included in a Car History Check?

Buying a car history check allows to you complete a number of important data checks when buying a used vehicle.

Outstanding Finance^*
£30,000 data guarantee^*
Written Off
Stolen
Scrapped
Mileage Discrepancies
Imported or Exported
Colour Changes
Plate Changes

Reports also include specifications of the vehicle where available.

View a Sample

You can view a collection of sample reports below to see some examples of what data is included.

Reports are available to view on our website or in a PDF document format. We'll automatically email you a report after payment.

Sample Reports

^*The outstanding finance check and £30,000 data guarantee are only included in full checks. You can view the terms of the data guarantee on our terms and conditions page.

Choosing a Car History Check

Select a Full or Partial report depending on your requirements.

Data Check	Full Check £9.99	Partial Check £2.99
Finance Agreements	Yes	No
Log Book Loans	Yes	No
£30,000 Data Guarantee	Yes	No
Written Off	Yes	Yes
Stolen	Yes	Yes
+ over 50 More data fields...

View a full comparison of the different report types:

Compare Prices

Understanding the Results of a Car History Check

Each data field will return one of the results below, along with an overall result for the report.

It's important to review the full report carefully and speak to the seller if you need more information about anything. You can also contact us if you need any further clarification on anything displayed on the report.

Pass

A pass result indicates that no issues were highlighted, but you should still be careful and complete some manual checks.

Some things can only be checked in person, and you should always walk away if you have doubts for any reason.

Be aware that mechanical issues or bad repairs won't show up on the report. It's also important to check the VIN and complete the manual checks to help confirm the identity of the vehicle.

Warning

This means that an issue was highlighted and you should do some further investigation before purchasing the vehicle.

You will see this warning appear if a vehicle has had previous plate changes, colour changes or a mileage discrepancy.

This doesn't always mean that you shouldn't buy the vehicle, but it's very important to complete some further checks first. A mileage discrepancy could be due to an incorrect figure that was recorded during an MOT, or it could be a genuine clocking attempt, so it's always important to clarify this before spending any money.

Fail

A red fail marker highlighted on the reports means there was one or more serious issues found. The vehicle could have been written off, stolen or still have outstanding finance.

It's very important to be aware of why the marker is on the report and get any issues resolved before any money changes hands.

You should never purchase a vehicle that shows as stolen or scrapped. It's also important that any finance agreements are settled in full by the current owner.

View Sample Reports

Manual Checks when Buying a Used Car

After purchasing a report, there are some manual checks you should complete to confirm the identity of the vehicle.

Completing these manual checks can help reduce the risk of purchasing a 'cloned' vehicle with a false plate.

VIN Check

You can usually find the VIN number on the windscreen, under the bonnet, and on one of the door posts. The VIN in these locations should all match and there shouldn't be any signs of the VIN being changed.

You can then enter the full number on your report. If the VIN on the vehicle doesn't match the VIN held by the DVLA a warning will be displayed and you shouldn't buy the vehicle.

V5C Date Check

You should never purchase a used vehicle without the V5C document. You can check the V5C date on the report matches the date listed on the V5C document in the seller's possession. This allows you to confirm that you are seeing the latest document issued by the DVLA.

If the dates don't match, this isn't the latest V5C and you shouldn't purchase the vehicle.

Engine Number Check

The engine number is found under the engine bay and can also be used to help confirm the identity of the vehicle. You can confirm the engine number on the report matches the number on the engine of the vehicle.

If the engine number doesn't match this could indicate a cloned vehicle or an engine swap at some point. Buying a vehicle that's had its engine replaced could also indicate previous mechanical issues and cause difficulties in verifying how many miles the engine has done.

View Sample Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a car history check cost?

We offer a full or partial report depending on which data checks you require. Prices start at £2.99 for a single check, but with multi-check discounts available you can get reports for as low as £1.99.

Our pricing page allows you to compare the different options and select the best report for you.

How can I check the history of a car for free?

Although there are many free car check services available, these won't include important checks or be as detailed as a paid check. These typically only allow you to check details such as MOT history and vehicle specifications, but won't flag up more serious problems.

To get a comprehensive check that includes important checks such as finance and write-offs, you'll need to purchase a full check.

How long does it take to get a car history check?

After you enter your vehicle registration and select an option to get an instant report, it will be available to access immediately on our website after payment. You'll also get a PDF copy by email within a few minutes. If you didn't receive this, it's worth checking your junk folder.

Will a car history check highlight all issues with a vehicle?

A report will provide you with a large amount of data and multiple checks, but it's important that you physically check over the vehicle in person to ensure there are no issues that can't be picked up by a car history check.