Car Owner Check
Check the ownership history of a vehicle.
Enter the vehicle registration to see how many previous keepers a vehicle has, along with information about when the vehicle has been bought and sold.
What's Included in a Car Owner Check?
Registered Keeper History
Check when the vehicle was registered, when the current keeper acquired it and how many previous owners it's had.
While not always a cause for concern, finding a vehicle that is being resold in a very short amount of time could indicate potential problems and require further investigation.
Ownership Change Dates
Where available, you'll be able to see a full list of when each keeper bought and sold the vehicle.
Unfortunately in some cases, this information might not be available, however you'll always be able to see this information for the current keeper.
Owner Name & Address
This information is personal and is protected unless you have a valid reason to need it, like tracing someone involved in an accident.
You can request information about the name & address of the vehicle owner from the DVLA if you have 'reasonable cause'.
Vehicles with a high number of previous keepers could potentially have a lower resale value, especially if it appears that it could be down to mechanical problems. A car owner check can help you to be informed and ask further questions of the seller when necessary and avoid possible issues in the future.
Do I need a Previous Keeper Check?
When purchasing a second-hand car, it’s important to ensure you’re making an informed decision. One of the key pieces of information that can help you is the number and details of the vehicle’s previous owners. A Previous Keeper Check can reveal:
Number of Previous Owners: Understanding how many people have owned the vehicle can indicate how well it’s been maintained. A car that’s frequently changed hands could be a red flag.
Length of Ownership: If the vehicle has had a short ownership history, it might suggest underlying issues that prompted previous owners to sell quickly.
Date of Last Ownership Change: Similar to a vehicle with a high number of keepers, a vehicle that's been sold immediately after just being bought could be a warning of problems to come.
How Does a Car Owner Check Work?
A Car Owner Check is part of a comprehensive vehicle history report. By simply entering the car’s registration number, you’ll receive a detailed report instantly.
1. Enter the Vehicle Registration
Confirm you've got the correct registration by ensuring the basic details like Make, Model, Fuel & Colour are correct.
If the details don't match you should confirm if the vehicle has recently had a plate change and wait for the details to be updated by the DVLA.
2. Receive Your Report in Seconds
After entering your payment details, your report will be generated immediately. You'll get access to it on our website in addition to a PDF copy by email.
You'll get a full refund immediately if we're unable to provide a full report for any reason, but this is rare.
3. Make an Informed Decision
Review the previous keeper details, in combination with all of the other important data fields to make a decision of whether you should continue with the purchase.
Speak to the seller to clarify any concerns and walk away if there's any doubt about the issues raised.
A Car Owner Check provides a wide range of information that you won’t find through free vehicle checks. We'd always recommend buying a full vehicle history check before deciding to buy a used vehicle. For a few pounds, it really isn't worth the risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check when a car was last sold?
You can purchase a full check to find out when the current keeper acquired the vehicle.
Alternatively, you can look at the V5C registration document to find this information.
Can I check a car owner's details for free?
You can use a free car check service to check the current V5C issue date.
This will show the date on which the latest V5C document was issued by the DVLA, however it's important to note that a new V5C might be issued for other reasons, not just because of an ownership change. The V5C could have been lost, or the keeper might have moved and had to update their address.
Alternatively, the V5C document can also be used to verify some of these details.
How can I find out who owns a car?
If you need to know the name or address of the owner of a vehicle, there are only two places to get this:
- Look at the current V5C Registration Document
- Request the information from the DVLA
Without a valid reason, you won't be able to access this information as it is personal data.
How much does a car owner check cost?
You can select either a full or partial check depending on the data you require.
When buying a used vehicle, we'd always suggest a full check unless you specifically don't need access to the finance data or data guarantee that's offered with the full service.
You can view our latest prices to see how much it costs to complete a car owner check.
Should I buy a car that's had a lot of previous owners?
A car that's had a high number of registered keepers can sometimes make buyers nervous as it could indicate problems that have pushed previous owners to sell.
It's not always necessarily a bad thing though, there could be genuine reasons behind the vehicle sale. It's best to be cautious and get a mechanical inspection if necessary to satisfy any concerns you might have about the condition of the vehicle. You should also review the service history to spot any potential concerns and ask for further information from the seller if required.
Should I buy a car that's being sold straight after being purchased?
Buying a car that is being sold immediately after purchase could be risky, and it’s important to consider why the seller is trying to get rid of it so quickly.
However, it's not always an issue as long as you are satisfied that the seller isn't hiding any problems such as mechanical issues, or issues with this history like finding out the vehicle has been written off. You can buy a full vehicle history report, get a thorough mechanical inspection and review the service history to help distinguish a genuine seller from a costly mistake.
Ready to Buy?
Don’t leave your purchase to chance. A car owner check check takes just seconds but can save you thousands in the long run. Enter the car registration number now for instant peace of mind before making your purchase.
Buy a Full CheckProduct Highlights
Want to see a sample?
View our sample reports to see real-world examples of a Car History Check report.
Compare the data included in a full or partial report and view examples of vehicles that have passed and failed.
Sample ReportsHave a question before purchasing?
If you'd like to know more about the reports before purchasing, please send us a message.
Alternatively, you can look through our frequently asked questions page for common queries.
Contact Us1 Send us an email within 24 hours if you're not happy and we'll provide a full refund.
2 Details of the data guarantee are included in our terms and conditions.