How to Check Car History in the UK: A Simple Guide for 2025
If you’re planning to buy a used car in the UK, checking its history is one of the most important steps you can take. No matter how clean or well-presented the car looks, it could be hiding past accidents, outstanding finance or even theft. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to check a car’s history in the UK, what details to look for and where to run reliable checks that help you avoid costly mistakes.
Why Checking Car History Matters
A used car might come with a clean body and a fresh MOT, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe, legal or worth the asking price. A car history check can reveal:
- If the car has outstanding finance
- If it’s ever been written off or involved in a serious accident
- If the mileage has been tampered with
- If it was stolen or recovered
- If it’s ever been used as a taxi or rental vehicle
- If it has been imported or exported
- How many previous owners it had
- Whether the registration plate has been changed
This information protects you from buying a car that could be unsafe, worth far less than expected or even repossessed later.
How to Check Car History in the UK
1. Use a Trusted Car History Check Service
Paid car history checks pull data from police, finance companies, DVLA records and insurance databases. These services give you the full picture. You may find many service online it doesn’t mater where you by from as the data comes from same places and some data are resold in smaller bulks as license fee cost significant cost to obtain and then paying yearly fee afterwards for smaller seller it not obtainable to sustain.
What a full check includes:
- Outstanding finance check
- Stolen vehicle check
- Write-off status
- Mileage verification
- Import/export history
- Previous owner count
- Number plate change alerts
- Vehicle specifications
- Recorded colour or model changes
Typical cost: £8 to £20 for a single vehicle check. Some providers offer multi-car discounts.
2. Use Free GOV.UK Vehicle Check Tools
The UK government provides free basic vehicle information. These checks are useful but do not cover finance, write-offs or stolen vehicle data.
Free tools include:
- MOT history: gov.uk/check-mot-history
- MOT and tax status: gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax
- Basic vehicle info: gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla
These tools show things like MOT results, expiry dates, mileage records and vehicle specs.
What You Need to Run a Car History Check
For most checks, all you need is the registration number (number plate). Some advanced checks may ask for:
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- V5C logbook reference number
These extra details help confirm the data matches the exact car you’re checking.
Should You Pay for a Full History Check?
Yes. If you’re serious about buying a car, a full history check is one of the best investments you can make. It could save you thousands in repairs or legal trouble.
A car that seems like a bargain could be a written-off insurance loss, have unpaid finance or be linked to criminal activity. Spending £10 on a history check protects you from making a costly mistake.
What If You’re Buying from a Dealer?
Even if you’re buying from a used car dealership, ask to see the car’s full history report. Reputable dealers will often provide it upfront. If they don’t — or if they avoid your request — that’s a red flag.
Why You Should Still Get a Physical Inspection
Car history checks only tell you what’s on record. They won’t show hidden mechanical problems like:
- Engine faults
- Gearbox wear
- Electrical issues
- Suspension damage
- Brake problems
- Tyre condition or rust
For this reason, smart buyers pair a history check with a professional CAREXAMER pre-purchase inspection. Their engineers visit the seller and check over 100 vehicle components, giving you a detailed report before you commit.
Summary: How to Check a Car’s History in the UK
- Use GOV.UK to check MOT and tax status
- Run a full car history check through a trusted provider
- Compare mileage history with MOT records
- Look for red flags like write-offs, clocked mileage or multiple plate changes
- Get the car professionally inspected before paying
Final Thoughts
Checking a used car’s history in the UK is simple, affordable and absolutely essential. You can uncover major red flags that would never be obvious just by looking at the car or taking it for a test drive.
Use the free tools to check MOT and tax, and always run a full vehicle history check before handing over any money. If you want total peace of mind, book a full inspection with CAREXAMER, the UK’s leading mobile inspection service for used vehicles.
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