A practical car check for shortlisting
Many "car check" pages mix free teaser data with paid upsells. This page is simpler. You run a free plate check first, then decide if paying for deeper analysis makes sense for this specific car.
That is useful when you are comparing several adverts in one evening. You can quickly remove cars with warning signs, and only unlock reports where the details justify a viewing.
Free vs paid, clearly
Free car check
- Latest MOT result with its defects and advisories, plus expiry
- Current tax status and due date
- Latest recorded MOT mileage
£2.99 report (1 credit)
- Full MOT timeline with historic advisories and failures
- Mileage checks against prior MOT entries and advert claims
- Advert claims tested against official records
- Signs of a cloned plate where vehicle details seen in an advert or photo do not match the plate record
- Viewing checklist for what to inspect in person
Credits are also available in packs: 5 for £9.99 and 15 for £19.99.
What this check does not cover
It does not include finance, stolen or write-off registers. If you are at the payment stage, add a register-based check from a provider that covers those datasets. See RegTail vs gov.uk, RegTail vs HPI, and RegTail vs carwow for coverage differences.
How this check works
- Enter the plate above to run the free MOT, tax and latest mileage check.
- Compare the free result with advert claims before you commit to travel.
- Unlock only the cars that still look viable, then use the checklist at viewing.
How to use a car check in your buying flow
1) Before contact
Run the free check and compare it with the advert headline. If age, engine or mileage claims look off, ask questions before travelling.
2) Before viewing
Unlock the report for cars that pass step one. Read repeated advisory themes, then open the matching defect explainers so you know what "normal wear" looks like versus likely repair cost.
Good supporting pages:
3) At viewing
Use the checklist and ask the seller to show evidence of recent work where the MOT pattern suggests recurring issues.
Buyer guides:
- How to spot clocked mileage
- Used car viewing checklist
- Buying on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and Autotrader
4) Before payment
If you are ready to buy, do the extra register checks not covered here.
Why model context still matters
A single car's MOT record is one story. Model-level patterns help you calibrate that story. If one model often picks up spring and suspension advisories by year 8, seeing those notes in a candidate car is less surprising than on a model with a cleaner profile.
Start here:
Related landing pages
- Reg check for plate-first search intent
- MOT history check for buyers focused on prior tests
- Mileage check for buyers focused on mileage credibility