The cheapest way to check a UK car's history

Car history checks range from free to over twenty pounds. What each tier actually gives you, and how to check a car for the least money.

DATA · 4 min read

Start with the free checks

You can learn a huge amount for nothing. The gov.uk MOT history service gives you every test, the mileage timeline and advisories. The gov.uk vehicle enquiry shows tax and MOT status. Our Vehicle History Checker pulls these together and adds any salvage auction records we hold, all free. For many private sales that is enough to spot the obvious problems.

What the free checks cannot show

The confirmed insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and police stolen markers sit in databases (MIAFTR and the finance registers) that are only licensed to paid providers. If you need those confirmed, you have to pay someone who has access. There is no free route to that specific data, whatever a site claims.

Do not overpay for the paid check

The big-name history checks charge a premium for the brand. The underlying data is the same official DVLA, DVSA and industry-provider data that cheaper checkers use. Compare on price for the same data set rather than paying extra for marketing. A full check should cost a few pounds, not the price of a tank of fuel.

A sensible order of checks

First run the free MOT and status checks to catch mileage and tax red flags. If the car passes that and you are serious, buy one paid full check for the write-off, finance and stolen data. Do not buy five paid checks on five cars; free-filter first, then pay once on the one you want.

The takeaway

Free gets you the MOT history, mileage timeline and status, which catches most problems. Pay once, on the shortlisted car, for the confirmed write-off and finance data. Start free on our history checker and only spend when you have to.

Confirm the write-off category, finance and stolen status, 5 credits