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The Essential Car Checker

Car Check - Free Car Checker by Registration

The smart way to check any car before you buy. Enter a registration number to see MOT history, verified mileage, defect records, and vehicle specs — everything you need to make an informed decision.

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Free, instant, and used by thousands of UK car buyers.

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By UK buyers

How Our Car Checker Works

Three simple steps to check any car in the UK.

Step 1

Enter the Reg

Type in the car's registration number. Any format works — with or without spaces, upper or lower case.

Step 2

Review the Report

Get the complete MOT history, mileage data, vehicle details, and all advisory and failure items — displayed clearly.

Step 3

Buy with Confidence

Use the data to verify the seller's claims, negotiate on price, or walk away from a car that doesn't check out.

What Your Car Check Report Includes

A detailed, data-rich report covering the car's mechanical history, condition indicators, and key specifications.

MOT Test Timeline

Every annual MOT test from 2005 in chronological order — dates, outcomes, certificate numbers, and testing stations. See the car's entire inspection history.

Mileage Fraud Detection

Odometer readings compared across every test to build a verified mileage trajectory. Our algorithm flags any drops or suspicious jumps that indicate tampering.

Defect History

Every advisory, minor, major, and dangerous defect ever found. Colour-coded by severity so you can scan for serious issues at a glance.

Red Flag Alerts

Automatic alerts for mileage discrepancies, repeated dangerous defects, and unusually high failure rates. Issues that demand your attention are highlighted.

Pass Rate Score

The car's lifetime MOT pass percentage. A car that has failed more MOTs than it has passed is a car that has been poorly maintained.

System-Level Analysis

Defects grouped by component — brakes, suspension, tyres, emissions, body structure. Identify which system is the car's weak point.

Car Check Tips for Buyers

Get the most out of your car check with these practical tips from experienced buyers.

Check before you visit

Run the car check before driving out to view the car. If the MOT history shows serious issues, you save a wasted journey. Always check from the comfort of your sofa first.

Cross-reference the advert

Compare the MOT data to the listing. Does the stated mileage match? Does the year match? Is the colour correct? Discrepancies are a warning sign.

Use advisories as leverage

Recent advisories on items like brake discs or tyres give you legitimate grounds to negotiate the price down. The seller cannot deny issues that are on the official record.

Check multiple candidates

If you are comparing several cars, run a check on each one. The car with the cleanest MOT history and most consistent mileage is usually the better buy — regardless of cosmetics.

Car Check — FAQ

Everything you need to know about checking a car before you buy.

What is a car check?
A car check is a search that retrieves key information about a vehicle using its registration number. Our free car check reveals the full MOT testing history from 2005, mileage recorded at each annual test, advisory and failure items from every inspection, the current MOT status and expiry date, and basic vehicle details like make, model, colour, engine size, and fuel type. It is the single most important step before buying any used car in the UK.
Should I do a car check before buying?
Yes — it is essential. A car check reveals things you cannot see on a test drive: whether the mileage is genuine (odometer fraud affects an estimated 2.3 million UK cars), whether the car has a history of serious mechanical failures, whether advisories have been ignored over multiple years, and whether the MOT is actually valid. Skipping a car check before buying is like buying a house without a survey.
What is the difference between a free car check and a paid one?
Our free car check covers MOT history, mileage data, vehicle details, and defect records — everything sourced from official DVSA/DVLA databases. Paid car checks (like HPI, AA, RAC) additionally cover outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen vehicle alerts, and plate change records. We recommend starting with our free check and only paying for a full check if the MOT data looks clean and you are seriously considering buying.
How often should I check my own car?
At minimum, check before your MOT is due each year. Review the advisories from the previous test so you can proactively fix issues before the inspection. It is also worth checking after buying the car to have a copy of the full history for your records, and when you are about to sell — so you can present the MOT history to buyers as evidence of good maintenance.
Can a car check detect mileage fraud?
Our car check is one of the most effective tools for detecting mileage fraud. Odometer readings are captured at every MOT test, creating a verified mileage trail. If the mileage drops between tests (e.g., 80,000 miles in 2023, then 60,000 miles in 2024) this is clear evidence of clocking. Our system automatically flags these anomalies and highlights them in the report.

More Free Vehicle Checks

Explore our other free tools to get a complete picture of any UK vehicle.

Free Car Check

Free comprehensive vehicle check.

MOT History Check

Full MOT test history from 2005.

Mileage Check

Odometer fraud detection.

Vehicle Check

Complete vehicle history check.

Reg Check

Vehicle details by registration.

Check a Car Now

Enter any UK registration number for a free, instant car check powered by official DVSA data.

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