Free Car History Check Before You Buy
Enter a UK registration to see the vehicle's full MOT history, tax status, advisories, recorded mileages and official specifications — everything you need to check before handing over any money for a used car.
Free · No registration · Official government sources
What a Free Car History Check Reveals
Everything the DVLA and DVSA hold on the vehicle, pulled in real time and laid out clearly.
Complete MOT History
Every MOT test result on record — passes, failures, mileage at the time of test, and the test centre.
Defects & Advisories
The full list of problems flagged at each MOT, including dangerous and major faults that caused a fail.
Mileage Consistency
Compare recorded mileages across all MOT tests to spot clocking — one of the biggest used-car scams.
Tax & MOT Status
Current tax and MOT position, plus the next renewal dates so you know what you are taking on.
Vehicle Specification
Make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, year of manufacture and CO2 emissions — all from DVLA.
100% Free Forever
No sign-up, no credit card, no trial period. Look up as many cars as you want, as often as you want.
Why a Free Check Matters When Buying a Used Car
Most used-car buyers never look past the dealer's advert. That's a mistake — the vehicle's MOT history alone can tell you more about its real condition than a quick test drive ever will. A car with a clean MOT record, consistent mileage and few advisories has almost always been cared for.
Red flags to watch for:
- Large unexplained mileage jumps between MOTs (or mileage going backwards) — a strong sign of clocking.
- The same advisory year after year — the owner has been ignoring a known problem.
- Repeated failures for the same fault — often means the fix was a bodge, not a proper repair.
- A recent MOT pass after a long gap — could mean the car has been sitting unused and may have seal, tyre or battery issues.
Our free check gives you the raw facts. Combine it with a physical inspection and a test drive and you are in a much stronger position to negotiate or walk away.
Please note: this free service does not include stolen vehicle checks, outstanding finance, insurance write-off status or number of previous owners. For those you will need a paid HPI-style check from a specialist provider.
Just Bought a Car? Never Miss a Deadline
Once you have checked the history and made your purchase, set up reminders so you never forget the next MOT or tax date. From £3.99 for 12 months of email alerts, or £10.99 with SMS.
Car History Check — FAQs
Is the car history check really free?
Yes. Our car history check is 100% free — no sign-up, no credit card, no trial. You can look up as many vehicles as you like. The only paid service we offer is an optional reminder subscription for MOT and tax alerts.
What does the free car history check include?
Full MOT test history with advisories and defects, all recorded mileages, current and upcoming tax and MOT status, plus vehicle specifications such as make, model, year, colour, fuel type and engine size. All data comes from the DVLA and DVSA in real time.
Can the free check tell me if a car has been stolen or written off?
No. Stolen vehicle registers, insurance write-off category checks, and outstanding finance checks are not available through the free DVLA/DVSA APIs. For those checks you need a paid HPI-style service from a third party.
How do I check a car for hidden mileage issues?
Look at the mileage recorded at each MOT test in the history. These values come straight from the test centre records. If the mileage goes down, jumps unrealistically, or stays suspiciously flat between tests, the car may have been clocked.
How many MOT records will the history show?
We show every MOT test on record. For most vehicles this goes back to 2005. Newer cars under three years old will not have an MOT history yet because they are not required to have one.