Whether it is your first car ever, or if you are looking for an upgrade, it can be an exciting process to purchase a new vehicle. Whether you have a favourite type of car, a specific colour you’ve always wanted, or because you’ve just passed your licence and you can taste sweet sweet freedom, it is always important to rein it in, and do your due diligence first! It is so important to do a thorough history check on your car. You can easily be fooled by a nice exterior, kicking the tyres to make sure they have no punctures or even a clean bonnet. However, the history of the car can tell a different story.
Depending on the extent of the damage, the bodywork can be easily repaired, and it’s a classic case of judging a book by its cover. The MOT may have failed for various reasons, and a quick fix of some new tyres may be covering the damage sustained to other parts of the vehicle, due to how it has been running. The VIN may not match the vehicle, which could indicate that the car you are considering making your own, has been stolen. It may have even been painted a completely different colour, without the DVLA being informed, which is going to cause you issues in the long run. A car history check will give you all of this vital information in one place and can save you a lot of headaches.
By doing a simple car history check, you are potentially saving yourself an incredible amount of money, and protecting yourself and your loved ones by keeping them safe. So as exciting as it may be, do yourself a favour and take the time to do a proper background check before investing your hard-earned money. All you need is the vehicle registration number, it’s that easy!
These related Car Check Experts pages help you turn the guide into a safer buying decision.
Original guide plus buyer checks
The reason to run a history check is simple: the expensive risks are often invisible during a viewing or test drive.
A proper history check connects identity, finance, theft, write-off, mileage and MOT clues so the buyer can challenge the seller story with evidence.
Run the check before paying a deposit or travelling far. If the result changes your view of the car, it is better to know while you can still walk away.
Use Car Check Experts for buyer-focused history checks, then compare key legal and road-use details with official services where they apply.
No. It is useful for private and dealer purchases.
No. Use it with paperwork checks, viewing and mechanical inspection.