Free Car History Check
Check MOT history, tax status, mileage and key vehicle details instantly.
- Over 5 million checks completed
- Uses DVLA & licensed data
- £10,000 data guarantee
How a car history check works
Enter your registration number to check any UK vehicle and instantly access the full history report.
Enter the registration number
We search DVLA and licensed data sources to retrieve accurate vehicle information linked to the registration.
Review the free car check
Instantly view essential vehicle information from the free car check, including make, model and specifications.
Get the full vehicle report
Upgrade to access the full car history report, including outstanding finance, stolen status, write-off records and other critical checks to help you avoid risks before buying a used vehicle.
Customer reviews of our car check service
Over 5 million vehicle checks completed, with fast, reliable and accurate car history reports.
Best car check
"One of the best car check sites out there. I’ve been using them for years. If there are any issues, the warnings are clear, and if the car is a write-off, you’ll get links to the original damage photos. Simply brilliant."
10/10 service
"Quite simply, if you are buying a vehicle, this service is an absolute must have. The very low cost of a detailed comprehensive report prevented me from spending a substantial £20,000 on a vehicle that had a warning for an inaccurate recorded mileage. Thank you!"
Great service
"Great service from Full Car Check. I’ve used them recently for both free and paid reports, and their information is actually more accurate than we found on some other sites. Highly recommended."
Rated 4.9★ on Trustpilot and 4.8★ on Google, our car history check service is trusted by thousands of UK car buyers every month.
Customers value our fast results, accurate vehicle data and clear reports, helping them make informed decisions before buying a car.
Why choose Full Car Checks
Check any UK vehicle using DVLA and licensed data sources, with finance, write-off and key checks to help you buy with confidence.
DVLA and licensed vehicle data
Full Car Checks reports combine DVLA data with trusted licensed information from industry sources.
- Includes data from DVLA, insurance, police and finance sources.
- Helps verify a vehicle’s history before buying a used car.
£10,000 data guarantee
Our full car check includes a £10,000 data guarantee.
- Provides added protection when buying a vehicle.
- Applies to full car history reports for extra confidence.
Over 80 vehicle data points
Our car history check includes over 80 data points.
- Includes finance checks, write-off status and key vehicle records.
- Helps you identify risks before buying a used vehicle.
What is a car history check?
A car history check provides key information about a vehicle’s past, helping you identify risks before buying a used car. It checks official and licensed data sources to reveal issues such as outstanding finance, stolen status, write-off records and other important details.
- Insurance write-off check (total loss): Confirms if a vehicle has been recorded as an insurance write-off (Category A, B, S or N) using data from the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud & Theft Register (MIAFTR).
- Outstanding finance check: Shows if the vehicle is still under finance and may not legally belong to the seller. Check outstanding finance on a vehicle.
- Imported or exported status: Confirms whether the vehicle has been recorded as imported or exported by DVLA.
- Salvage history: Reveals auction records and damage photos where available. View salvage history check.
- VIN and identity check: Verifies key vehicle identity details linked to the registration.
- Vehicle valuation: Provides an estimated market value based on mileage and vehicle data.
A car history check is essential when buying a used vehicle, helping you avoid hidden problems and unexpected costs.
What’s included in our car history check
Compare our free car check, standard check and full report to find the right level of detail before buying a used vehicle.
Free car check
Start with a free car check to access essential vehicle details and basic history information.
- Vehicle details: make, model, year, fuel type and specifications
- MOT history and road tax information
- Basic checks including stolen vehicle status, mileage alerts and recalls
Standard car check
Upgrade to a standard car check for deeper checks and more detailed vehicle information.
- Insurance write-off and salvage history
- Advanced mileage check and previous keepers
- Imported/exported status and vehicle changes
- VIN details, plate changes and full vehicle records
Full car history check
Get the most comprehensive car history check with full data coverage to help you avoid high-risk vehicles before buying.
- Outstanding finance and logbook loan checks
- Insurance write-off, stolen status and high-risk alerts
- Vehicle valuation and complete vehicle report
- Includes £10,000 data guarantee for added protection
Free Car Check vs Full Car Check
Start with our free car check for key DVLA data and MOT insights. Upgrade to the full report for finance checks, write-off records, stolen status and deeper vehicle checks before you buy.
| Feature | Free Car Check | Full Car Check |
|---|---|---|
| DVLA data | Tax status, MOT history, Export status, SORN updates and technical specifications pulled from DVLA. | Adds keeper timeline insights, colour changes, import/export status, and more detailed vehicle specifications. |
| Vehicle history insights | Highlights red flags such as MOT failures, mileage patterns, and expired road tax. | Includes finance checks, insurance write-off records, stolen vehicle status, salvage history checks, valuation, and much more. |
| Additional vehicle data | Includes basic DVLA data such as tax status, MOT history and vehicle details. | Includes extended mileage checks from licensed databases, combining multiple data sources to build a complete vehicle history. |
| Data guarantee | Limited preview of data guarantee coverage. | £10,000 data guarantee included with every full report, providing added protection when buying a used vehicle. |
Complete UK car check only £9.99
Get a complete report from just £9.99, with detailed vehicle data at a lower cost than many other UK car check providers.
Our full car check includes outstanding finance checks, MIAFTR insurance write-off records, salvage history, plate changes and other essential vehicle checks to help you make informed decisions before buying or selling a car.
Pricing and included data were last checked on 01 March 2026 against HPI Check, Car Checker, Reg Check, Check Car Details, Vehicle Check, Car Check, Instant CarCheck, MyCarCheck, Car Analytics, RAC Car Passport and AA Car Check.
Car check FAQs
What is a car history check?
A car history check, often referred to as an HPI check, provides information about a vehicle’s history, helping you identify risks before buying a used car. It includes information such as MOT history, tax status, mileage records, ownership data and other important factors to consider.
Is it worth getting a car history check?
Yes, a car history check is essential when buying a used car. It helps you avoid hidden problems by revealing issues such as outstanding finance, stolen status, write-off records and mileage discrepancies before you buy.
Why is a car check important?
A car check is important because it verifies whether a vehicle has been stolen, written off, has outstanding finance or has incorrect mileage. This helps you make an informed decision and avoid costly mistakes when buying a vehicle.
How much does a car history check cost?
A full car check costs £9.99 and a standard check costs £5.99. Our full report includes comprehensive vehicle checks and a £10,000 data guarantee for added protection.
How can I check a car’s MOT and tax status?
You can check a car’s MOT and tax status instantly by entering the registration number into our free car check. Alternatively, you can use the GOV.UK MOT history and GOV.UK vehicle tax services.
How do I check a car’s service history?
A car service history check shows maintenance records, including service dates, mileage and work carried out. You can use our service history check to view available records and better understand a vehicle’s condition.
Is a free car check enough?
A free car check provides basic vehicle information, but a full car history report is recommended to check finance, write-off status and other critical details before buying.