Outstanding finance
Check for recorded finance agreements against the car. If an agreement appears, resolve it with the finance company before paying the seller.
Full car history checkKnow more before you buy
Check a used car's recorded finance, theft, insurance write-off and mileage history before you commit. Start with a UK registration number and use the findings to ask the seller the questions that matter.
Look beyond the advert, investigate unexpected records and keep a PDF report for reference. A history check helps you understand the car's background; an inspection helps you assess its condition today.
What does the full check include?
Review the recorded risks that a viewing, a test drive or an MOT certificate alone cannot explain.
A clearer picture of the car's past
A full car history check brings together recorded background information for the registration you enter. It can help you spot an unresolved finance agreement, a theft marker, an insurance write-off or a mileage discrepancy before you spend money on the car.
That makes it useful whether you are buying privately or from a dealer. Compare the report with the advert and the seller's answers. A discrepancy is a reason to investigate, rather than something to explain away because the car looks good.
The package costs £9.99 for one vehicle. Select it on the car history check page after confirming the registration. You receive a dedicated PDF in your report download.
Understand the limits: the report depends on the records available when the check is made. It cannot promise a complete account of every event, prove that the car is accident-free or confirm the quality of repairs.
Detailed MOT history, valuation, specifications and other reports are separate options. Choose those if you need answers beyond the full history package.
What to look for
Six areas to review before buying
Stolen vehicle records
Look for a recorded stolen marker. Check the vehicle identity in person too: a clear registration check cannot rule out a cloned number plate.
Insurance write-offs
See recorded insurance write-off information and the category where available. A clear result does not mean the car has never been damaged or repaired.
Mileage discrepancies
Look for inconsistencies in recorded mileage. Compare the findings with the dashboard, MOT history and service invoices before accepting the advertised mileage.
Registration and keeper changes
Review available number-plate and keeper-change records. Ask the seller to explain differences from the advert; keeper history does not prove legal ownership.
Import, export and scrapped status
Check for recorded changes that may affect the vehicle history. An imported car may have gaps in its earlier overseas records.
How to check a used car's history
Run the report before you travel or pay a deposit, then use it alongside the car and its paperwork.
Check
1. Enter the registration
Open the history-check page, enter the number plate and confirm the car. Choose Full car history check, review the price and add it to your cart.
Compare
2. Compare the evidence
Read the completed report against the advert, MOT mileages and service records. At the viewing, check that the VIN on the car matches the V5C log book.
Decide
3. Resolve concerns before paying
Ask for documents that explain unexpected findings. If the history is satisfactory, consider an independent inspection to assess the vehicle's present condition.
For the checks to make in person, see GOV.UK's used-vehicle buying guidance, including comparing the V5C and vehicle identification number.
Free car checks vs a full history report
Start with the basics, then investigate the background risks. Neither replaces a physical inspection.
Free vehicle data check
Do the registration details match?
Compare the details with the car, its advert and V5C. Check the VIN in person.
Check vehicle detailsFree MOT history check
What happened at previous MOT tests?
Review test results and mileages. An MOT history is not a service history or a finance check.
Check MOT historyFull car history check
Are finance, theft or write-off risks recorded?
Investigate any markers. Missing or unreported events may not appear in the report.
Start your full history checkIndependent vehicle inspection
What condition is the car in now?
Choose an inspection appropriate to the car. Its scope and access determine what can be assessed.
Explore vehicle inspectionsYou can also check MOT history directly on GOV.UK. Available test records differ by vehicle type, age and where the test took place.
What to do when a report raises a concern
Use the finding to decide what evidence you need next. Pause the purchase while important questions remain unanswered.
Finance or a stolen marker
For outstanding finance, contact the named finance company using independently verified contact details. Ask it to confirm the position before paying; a seller's promise to settle is not confirmation. If a stolen marker appears, do not proceed with the transaction and seek advice from the police.
A recorded insurance write-off
Ask what happened, who repaired the car and what evidence supports the repair. Category S refers to structural damage; Category N refers to non-structural damage. Neither describes the quality of the subsequent repair. Check the official write-off categories and arrange an appropriate inspection.
A mileage discrepancy
A drop in recorded mileage needs an explanation. Compare dates, units, MOT entries and service invoices; ask for evidence of any correction or instrument replacement. Do not assume either fraud or a harmless mistake without supporting documents.
No concerns recorded
Continue checking the car itself. A report cannot diagnose engine faults, test electrical systems or assess hidden damage. Review service and repair evidence, verify the seller's right to sell and use an independent pre-purchase inspection to investigate current condition.
Your questions answered
Costs, coverage, documents and the next steps for UK used-car buyers.
A full car history check is a report about a used vehicle's recorded background. The CarExamer package checks finance, theft, insurance write-offs, mileage discrepancies and available registration, keeper, import, export and scrapped records. It helps you investigate risks before buying; it does not assess the car's present physical condition.
The CarExamer full car history check costs £9.99 for one vehicle. Enter the registration on our history-check page, confirm the vehicle and select the Full car history check package. Any additional packages are priced separately, and you can see the total before adding your selection to the cart.
Yes. Start with the UK registration number shown on the number plate and confirm that the returned vehicle details match the car. When you view it, also compare the vehicle identification number (VIN) with the V5C log book. A registration search alone cannot confirm that the number plate belongs to the vehicle in front of you.
No. Free vehicle details and MOT checks help you review registration information, tax status, test results and recorded MOT mileages. They do not provide the same finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks as the paid full history package. Use both types of check when researching a used car.
No. An insurance write-off check can show a recorded write-off, but damage repaired privately or an accident that did not result in a recorded write-off may not appear. A clear report is not proof that a car is accident-free. Ask for repair evidence and consider an independent inspection.
A detailed MOT-history report is a separate CarExamer package, and a free MOT check is also available. The full history check does not provide a complete service history. Ask the seller for the service book, digital service record and invoices, then compare the dates and mileages with the vehicle's other records.
Available keeper records can help you understand changes in the vehicle's history, but the report is not a way to obtain previous keepers' names or addresses. The registered keeper and legal owner can be different people, so a keeper record does not establish the seller's right to sell.
Run the check before paying a deposit or committing to the purchase, ideally before travelling to view the car. A report describes the information available when it is produced; it is not a lasting guarantee. If the purchase is delayed or the circumstances change, obtain a fresh check before paying.
After your order is completed and the reports are prepared, you can download the report archive. Each purchased package is supplied as its own PDF. Keep the report with the advert and any supporting documents so you can compare what was recorded with what the seller told you.
No. A clear result means no issue was identified in the relevant available records at the time of the check. Missing records, unreported damage and recent changes can still matter. Verify the VIN and documents, review the service history and arrange a physical inspection to assess the car's current condition.
Found a car you want to buy?
Check its recorded background before you commit. Full check: £9.99 per vehicle.
Start history check