What is a free car check?

A look-up of any UK reg, drawing on official DVLA data: make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, CO2, first registration date, year of manufacture, and more.

You also get current tax and MOT status, the full MOT history with advisories and mileage, and ULEZ compliance. All from government sources — no third-party scrapes.

Why check a vehicle before buying?

The AA estimates around 1 in 3 used cars has a hidden history issue — clocked mileage, undisclosed damage, the lot. A check is the cheap first step. What it catches:

• Mileage fraud — see clocked odometers via the mileage history.
• Wrong description — verify make/model/colour/engine against DVLA records.
• Expired tax or MOT — confirm via tax and MOT status.
• ULEZ charges — check compliance if you drive in clean-air zones.
• Safety recalls — our recall check matches against DVSA records.

For high-value purchases, a paid HPI-type check adds finance, write-off, and stolen-vehicle data. For most buyers, the free check is the right starting point.

Free check vs. paid check

Free Plate Check includes DVLA spec, full MOT history, tax, mileage, ULEZ, recalls, and a valuation estimate. Paid services (HPI, AA, RAC) add data government APIs don't expose:

• Outstanding finance
• Insurance write-off categories (S, N, B, A)
• Stolen vehicle check against the Police National Computer
• V5C logbook verification

Start free. If anything looks off, that's your cue to spring for the paid one.

How to read your results

• Vehicle details — should match the V5C logbook the seller shows you.
• MOT status — current cert, plus expiry date.
• Tax status — confirm not SORN'd before driving away.
• Mileage history — steady increases across MOTs are healthy. Drops or unexplained jumps are red flags.

For the full pre-purchase checklist see our buying guide.

Frequently asked questions