Car Check Experts hub

All Vehicle Checks

Use this hub to find the right registration check before you view, negotiate or buy. Start with the free lookup, then use the more specific checks when the vehicle, seller or price raises questions.

Free registration lookup MOT & mileage records Full report: £9.95 Check before you pay

Core vehicle checks

Free Car Check Start on the homepage with a free UK registration lookup. Car History Check Finance, stolen, write-off, mileage, MOT and identity risk. Free HPI Check Alternative Start with a free lookup, then upgrade for deeper history checks. MOT Check MOT history, failures, advisories and recorded mileage. Number Plate Check Confirm the vehicle details behind a UK registration. Car Spec Check Model, engine, emissions and specification details. DVLA Vehicle Check Check DVLA-style identity, tax, MOT and registration details. Service History Check Compare MOT mileage with service evidence and invoices.

Risk and history checks

Outstanding Finance Check Check lender risk before paying a seller. Logbook Loan Check Understand secured-loan risk before buying privately. Stolen Car Check Review theft and identity warning signs before buying. Insurance Write-Off Check Check damage categories and write-off markers. Salvage Car History Check Review salvage and repair-history concerns. Car Recall Check Use recall checks alongside MOT, service and history records. Mileage Check Spot MOT mileage patterns and possible clocking clues. Cloned Car Check Match identity details and reduce clone risk.

Identity and paperwork checks

VIN Check Match VIN, V5C and registration details. Engine Number Check Check engine identity clues during paperwork review. Colour Change Check Review recorded colour changes and repair-history questions. Plate Change Check Check private plate and registration-change history. Previous Owner Check Understand keeper-count clues and privacy limits. Find Car Owner By Registration Number Learn what a public reg check can and cannot show. Import Export Check Check import, export and unusual paperwork concerns. Scrapped Car Check Review scrapped-status risk before buying. SORN Check Check off-road status before driving or buying.

Buying-cost checks

Car Tax Calculator Review tax, fuel and emissions clues by registration. ULEZ Vehicle Check Check clean-air-zone cost clues before buying. Clean Air Zone Check Review charging-zone risk beyond London ULEZ. Insurance Status Guide Use official insurance checks alongside vehicle history checks. Car Valuation Check Sense-check price using mileage, history and condition risk. Ex-Taxi Check Look for high-use taxi and private-hire buying clues. Van History Check Check commercial-use clues and van-specific buying risk. Motorbike History Check Check motorcycle identity, MOT and damage clues.

Write-off category guides

Cat S Check Understand structural write-off markers and repair evidence. Cat N Check Understand non-structural write-off markers before buying. Vehicle Check Glossary Plain-English report terms and buyer prompts.

More vehicle checks now covered

These extra checks cover BHP, MPG, V5C, insurance-group, registration-year and ownership-transfer questions buyers often need before payment.

Practical vehicle check

Use this hub to choose the right vehicle check

Different checks answer different buyer risks: identity, road legality, finance, damage, mileage and running costs. Start with the registration, then choose the checks that match the vehicle and the stage of your purchase.

What to verify

Start with a registration lookup to confirm the vehicle identity.
Use MOT, tax and ULEZ checks to understand road-use and running-cost issues.
Use finance, stolen, VIN and cloned-car checks before payment.
Use write-off, Cat S, Cat N and salvage checks when damage history matters.

Red flags

A single free check can leave finance and damage questions unanswered.
A result without clear next steps can leave important questions unanswered.
Use the related guides and checks to investigate each warning before buying.

How to use the result

Pick the check that matches the risk in front of you. If you are close to buying, combine the identity, finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT checks before sending money.

Internal checks to run next

Official references to verify alongside this guide

Use Car Check Experts for buyer-focused history checks, then compare key legal and road-use details with official services where they apply.

GOV.UK MOT statusOfficial MOT status and expiry lookup.
GOV.UK vehicle tax and SORNOfficial vehicle tax, SORN and tax-rate service.
DVLA keeper change serviceOfficial DVLA sold, transferred or bought vehicle service.
TfL vehicle checkerOfficial ULEZ and London charging-zone checker.
askMID insurance lookupOfficial Motor Insurance Database vehicle enquiry.

Quick answers

Which check should I run first?

Start with the registration lookup, then move to the risk-specific checks before payment.

Why are there so many checks?

Because different buyer risks need different evidence. MOT, finance, stolen, write-off and mileage checks answer different questions.