Check a used car before you buy it

MOT history, mileage and the seller's claims, checked against the records. The current MOT status and condition are free for any UK car.

Registration number Check vehicle

Free for every car

• The latest MOT result, with its defects and advisories
• MOT expiry and tax dates
• The mileage recorded at the latest MOT

Full report, 1 credit

One credit unlocks the full report for that plate for 30 days. Credits start at £2.99.

• Every MOT test, with every defect and advisory
• Mileage checks: every reading, against the advert and what is typical for the model
• The seller's claims in the advert tested against the records
• MOT problems grouped by part and placed on the car
• Signs of a cloned plate
• A checklist for the viewing and advice for this car

How it works

1. Plate, link or photo. Start from whatever you have: the registration, an advert link from any site, or a photo of the car.
2. Cross-checked. MOT tests, the registration record and the advert, side by side.
3. Know what to ask. Problems by part, red flags and a checklist for the viewing.

Where the facts come from

The DVSA MOT history, the DVLA registration record, the advert itself, and our analysis of millions of MOT tests across the whole fleet. See MOT pass rates by make and model.

Before you buy

Guides to reading an MOT history, spotting clocked mileage and what to check at a viewing. See all buyer guides.

Questions

Do I need the registration?

No. An advert link or a photo of the car is enough. If the advert hides the reg, we look for it in the advert's photos.

What is free, and what does a credit unlock?

Every check shows the car's current MOT status and condition for free: the latest result, its defects and advisories, the expiry, tax and recorded mileage. 1 credit unlocks the full report for that plate for 30 days: every MOT, the mileage checks, the seller's claims tested, problems by part, signs of a cloned plate, the viewing checklist and advice for this car.

Can you check finance, write-offs and theft?

No. Finance, the police stolen register and the insurers' write-off register are private, so we do not check them. Ask the seller for a finance settlement letter, and use a provider that holds those registers if you need them confirmed.

How is this different from other history checks?

It starts from the advert you are looking at, tests the seller's claims against the records, and never treats missing evidence as a clean result.

Can I share a report?

Yes. Each report has its own link, and the link shows a preview of the car when you send it.

MOT pass rates by make and model · Used car buying guides · RegTail vs carVertical · API