A normal registration check does not reveal a private keeper’s identity. DVLA may release keeper information only where the requester shows reasonable cause through the official process. The registered owner’s information will be on a valid V5C registration document. If it is a private sale, the current owner should make themselves contactable in their advertising by displaying a number or email address.
You will be advised of the category of a write-off with a check, but you will not get the entire background story as to what physically happened to the vehicle. Category A is a complete write-off and not even good for parts. Category B can be used for some parts, but the vehicle can not be driven again. Category S is structural damage that can be repaired, such as suspension or chassis. Category N is non-structural damage that can be repaired, such as the bumper, seats, roof panel etc.
Unfortunately, it is against disclosure laws to display the full vehicle inspection number (VIN) records in any of the reports, so there are some limitations here. When you purchase a report, you will need to enter the full VIN of the vehicle. You can normally find the VIN near the engine of the vehicle. If you can’t find it, you will need to contact the DVLA directly.
After you request a check with us, you should have received an email confirming your payment details and a link to your report. If you can not find this email, check your junk mailbox, as it may have been filtered through to that. If it’s still not hiding in the shadows, don’t panic, we will still have you on file, so you can retrieve your check by going to our page and entering your email and VIN.
We get this one a lot, so we actually did some research and discovered that we are getting confused with another company, so please double-check your bank statement and see if the company name, costs and details are the same as our initial payment. We do not have monthly subscriptions, nor do we hold on to your credit card details, so being charged again is not an option for us. You can contact your bank if you are having issues that need to be resolved.
We get all of our data from trusted third-party sources and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), but if you believe something in the report is incorrect, please let us know! Simply send us a message with the vehicle registration number, vehicle details, and what you believe the error to be. Once we have reviewed the information and believe you are entitled to a refund, we will provide you with a full refund back to your original payment method.
These related Car Check Experts pages help you turn the guide into a safer buying decision.
Original guide plus site navigation
Advice pages work best when they help a buyer choose the next action. Use this support guide to move from a concern to the check that answers it.
Different checks answer different questions. MOT history will not prove finance status, and a tax check will not prove the car is free from theft or damage history.
Start broad with the registration, then move into risk-specific checks as the deal becomes serious. That gives buyers useful information before travel and stronger protection before payment.
Use Car Check Experts for buyer-focused history checks, then compare key legal and road-use details with official services where they apply.
Start with the registration lookup, then choose the risk-specific checks for the vehicle.
No. Advice helps you ask better questions; a report checks the vehicle record.