A car's history can provide all kinds of vital and potentially money-saving information before you commit to buying what looks like a good deal.
Learn how to check a used car’s history, including valuable details like its MOT and finance history and whether it’s been stolen or is an insurance write-off. Our comprehensive guide also outlines the benefits of checking a vehicle’s background.
EASY AS HACK
You can check a car’s history in 4 easy ways:
- An online checker
- Through the DVLA
- Asking the seller
- Paying for checks
At a glance
When reviewing a car’s history, always check whether the address on the V5C logbook matches the seller’s location. It’s a red flag if it doesn’t
check a car's history
Checking a car’s history is your best defence against potentially losing money (and even the car) when buying a used vehicle. It provides peace of mind by identifying hidden risks, such as unpaid debt, insurance write-offs, stolen logbooks and vehicles, and mileage variations.
A car history check can save you from buying a vehicle with issues, such as high mileage and outstanding finance, or one that’s unreliable or unsafe. You can check a car’s history in the following ways.
online car history checks
Checking the car’s history online using a free history checker tool will provide essential information. When you input the registration number, it will provide data such as the vehicle’s MOT due date, the number of owners and any safety recalls from the manufacturer.
Checker tools often include basic information from the Driver Licensing Agency (DVLA), which you can unearth yourself on the government website.
Although DVLA will not reveal as much detail as paid checks for finance, theft and write-offs, some commercial providers will charge for information you can find for free on DVLA’s website. So, it makes sense to use the DVLA first.
contact the dvla
The DVLA’s car checking service provides a basic car history check at zero cost. You just need the reg number (number plate) of the vehicle you’re considering buying.
You can contact the DVLA to access official government vehicle data instantly, including:
- The year the car was manufactured and the date it was first registered
- The engine size, weight and fuel type
- Its CO2 emissions
- The vehicle’s colour
- Current vehicle tax rate and expiry date
- Whether the car is registered as off-road (SORN)
Checking a car’s history for free using the DVLA checker is particularly valuable for spotting differences in the mileage that a seller might state versus the recorded MOT history.
Check a car’s MOT history on the DVLA website.
ask the seller
Another way to check vehicle details is to ask the seller for information to understand the car’s history. The DVLA advises not relying solely on online checks.
Its advice to buyers includes asking sellers for:
- MOT information
- Registration number
- Make and model
- The V5C logbook
Most importantly, you should ask the seller for the V5C vehicle registration certificate or logbook. Never buy a vehicle without one. You should also report the seller to the police (when it’s safe to do so) if the details do not match the car.
If the logbook is legitimate, it will have a DVL watermark and an 11-digit serial number. Learn how to identify the V5C.
pay for detailed checks
For further confidence in a car’s history, you can typically pay between £10 and £30[1] for a more detailed account. Before paying, ensure these providers offer additional checks that you can’t obtain from the DVLA.
Companies like the RAC, AA and HPI Check will search police, DVLA, insurance and finance databases to provide you with a report. This report will include essential details, including:
- Whether it’s a stolen car: If you buy a stolen vehicle, you may have to return it to the rightful owner, leaving you out of pocket.[2]
- Wrong mileage: Research from Rapid Car Check suggests there may be up to 2.5 million clocked cars and vans on UK roads.[3]
- A written-off car that someone has repaired and then returned to the road. Anybody can revive a written-off car by using parts from other vehicles.
- Outstanding loans on the vehicle: If you buy a car that’s still on finance, you could lose both the vehicle and your money.
Buying a used car can sometimes feel risky. Gathering as much information as possible before closing the deal can help you enjoy your new wheels with peace of mind.
Look for providers, like the RAC, AA and HPI Check, which have data guarantees. These terms reimburse you for financial losses if they make a mistake and their information is inaccurate or incomplete. However, each guarantee varies, so it’s worth comparing them.
why should you check the history of a vehicle?
When buying a used car, it’s essential to check the vehicle’s history to verify claims made by the seller, especially if they’re a private seller.
That’s because the Consumer Rights Act 2025 (CRA) protects consumers when buying vehicles from dealerships.[4]However, you don’t have the same legal rights when you buy a car from a private seller. The caveat emptor rule applies. It means ‘buyer beware’ – i.e. it’s up to you to inspect the car for faults and risks.
It’s essential to check whether someone bought the vehicle on finance. Finance companies retain ownership of the car, so if it’s still on finance and you buy it, they can repossess it without paying compensation. So, you’ll lose your money and the vehicle.
what information can you find in a car history check?
A car history check can uncover the following vital information to save you from an expensive problem later:
- If the car has outstanding loans against it
- Whether an insurer has written it off, and at what level
- Basic vehicle details like the make, model and fuel type
- Number of previous owners – is it the ‘one careful owner’ as advertised?
- Whether the vehicle is roadworthy and legal by checking its tax and MOT status (you are breaking the law if you drive without these)
- ‘Clocking’ – illegal mileage reduction that could indicate fraud
- The car’s actual age using the first registration date
- Running costs from CO2 emissions and tax band information
- Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) status
how to check a car's mot history
You can use a free government online service to quickly check the past results of a vehicle’s MOT tests.
Simply enter the car’s registration number and the tool will draw on results for MOT tests done in England, Scotland or Wales since 2005. This MOT history check will show you:
- If the car passed each MOT
- The mileage recorded during the test
- What parts failed at each test, and if any parts had minor problems
- When the next MOT is due
You can also find out where each MOT took place. However, to get this information, you’ll need to provide the 11-digit number from the vehicle’s logbook.
If there are any gaps in the car’s MOT history, ask the seller about them. For example, it might not have needed an MOT if it was unused for some time and was registered as SORN.
how to check a car's service history
Always cross-reference a car’s service history to protect yourself against potential fraud.
- Check a car’s service history for free using the DVLA for baseline checks.
- Review the car’s service history in the vehicle’s logbook. The V5C logbook is where garages record details of services, repairs and the vehicle’s mileage at each service. Read it carefully, as forged logbooks are a significant problem.
- Pay for checks to access further information about outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and its theft status. Use a commercial provider that’s properly licensed.
Learn why a car needs servicing.
Do not proceed with the sale if anything in the logbook fails to match. Red flags include differences in the vehicle identity number (VIN), which manufacturers etch on windscreens, the engine number on the engine block, the car’s colour, and the address from which the seller is selling.
Never buy a used car without a V5C. Always walk away from a seller who pressurises you into making a quick sale or whose explanations about any discrepancies are unconvincing
car history and its impact on insurance
A car’s history can dramatically affect your insurance, with an insurance write-off one of the most significant impacts.
To an insurer, a write-off makes you a higher risk, so they may refuse car insurance or charge higher premiums.
You must declare the purchase of a repaired write-off vehicle to your insurance provider, or you’ll void your insurance contract. How insurers decide whether the vehicle should be crushed or repaired depends on its write-off category.[5]
If you unknowingly bought a stolen car, the insurance company will likely refuse insurance, and the police could seize it. Alternatively, if you try to claim on what turns out to be a stolen car, your insurance will be invalid, and the insurer will deny your claim.
Other issues that invalidate insurance include fraud, such as clocked mileage. This discovery could lead to investigations, your insurer denying your claim and an impact on your future insurance. Unrecorded and undocumented damage can also lead to voided insurance.
See how easy it is to manage Ageas car insurance.
FAQs
how can i check that a car's service history isn't forged?
You can check a car’s service history isn’t forged by verifying all the servicing locations, particularly through the V5C registration paper/logbook.
However, criminals can forge logbooks. See how criminals use duplicate or stolen V5C logbooks to make cars appear legal.
what information can you get from a car history check?
A car history check provides information on the MOT history, finance agreements, and the number of previous owners.
Investigate the free information available on the DVLA website before using a paid service for more in-depth details, like finance.
is a car history check free?
Whether a car history check is free depends on where you are getting your information from – you can use the DVLA’s checker for zero cost.
what if my vehicle check doesn't match my car details?
If your vehicle check doesn’t match your car details, it’s a red flag. You should cross-verify the details with the DVLA and inspect the vehicle physically.
Sources
[2] www.hpi.co.uk
[5] www.gov.uk
