How to check a used car's history in the UK
What you can check on GOV.UK at no cost, what needs a paid vehicle history check, and what only the seller can show you before you buy a used car.
Updated
A used car's history comes from three places, and you need all three. GOV.UK shows the MOT history, the tax and MOT status and the basic vehicle details, at no cost. A paid vehicle history check covers what GOV.UK does not: outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and plate changes. The seller is the only source for service records, repair invoices and proof of ownership. Do the GOV.UK checks before you travel, the paid check before you pay, and ask for the paperwork at the viewing.
None of these checks replaces seeing the car. They tell you which questions to ask, and which cars to walk away from before you have spent a morning on them.
Step 1: the GOV.UK checks anyone can do
Ask the seller for the registration number, the make and model, and the MOT test number. GOV.UK suggests asking for exactly these before you see a car. Then run three GOV.UK services.
MOT history
The GOV.UK MOT history service shows whether each test passed or failed, the mileage recorded at each test, what failed, any minor problems and advisories, and when the next MOT is due. For cars in England, Scotland and Wales the results go back to 2005, and the test location is shown. In Northern Ireland they start in 2017.
This is the most useful single check. Look for:
- Mileage that goes up steadily. A reading lower than an earlier one is a warning sign. Our guide to clocked cars explains what to look for.
- Advisories that repeat. The same corrosion or tyre note year after year tells you what the next owner will pay for.
- Long gaps between tests. The car may have been off the road, or the seller may know why.
- Colour and model. The record should match the car in the advert.
Our guide on how to read MOT history goes through a record line by line, and the MOT advisory checker explains what common advisories usually mean.
Tax and SORN status
The GOV.UK service "Check if a vehicle is taxed" shows whether the car has up-to-date vehicle tax or is registered as off the road (SORN). A car declared SORN cannot be driven or kept on a public road, except to a pre-booked MOT, which matters if the seller suggests a test drive. Tax does not pass to you with the car, so you will need to tax it yourself before you drive it away. Our car tax check tool explains what the tax will cost you.
Vehicle details from DVLA
The DVLA vehicle enquiry service on GOV.UK shows details such as the date of first registration, the year of manufacture, the fuel type, the engine size, the CO2 emissions, the MOT expiry date and the date the last V5C logbook was issued. Check them against the advert. A very recent V5C issue date is worth a question: there may be an innocent reason, but a fresh logbook is also a pattern in stolen and cloned car sales. Our number plate age checker shows when a plate's age identifier was issued.
Step 2: what needs a paid vehicle history check
GOV.UK does not show who has a financial or insurance interest in a car. A paid vehicle history check pulls together records that are not public, so run one before you hand over money. It usually covers:
| What it looks for | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Outstanding finance | A car on hire purchase or PCP can belong to the lender, not the seller |
| Insurance write-off records | A repaired Cat S or Cat N car is worth less and can cost more to insure |
| Stolen markers | A stolen car can be taken back from you with no refund |
| Plate changes | Private plates are normal, but they can hide a car's past |
| Previous keepers | The count, not the names, and when keepers changed |
Read the full result, not just the summary. If something shows, our guides explain what to do: outstanding finance, write-off categories and stolen car checks.
A clear result is good news, but it is not a guarantee. It only reports what has been recorded. A car that was damaged and repaired without an insurance claim will not show as written off, for example.
Step 3: what only the seller can show you
Some history exists only on paper, in the seller's hands. Ask for it before you agree a price.
- The V5C logbook. The original, not a photo. Our V5C logbook guide shows the watermark and serial number checks.
- Service records. A stamped book, a printout from a dealer or invoices from an independent garage. Check that the dates and mileages fit the MOT history.
- Invoices for major work. Ask for the invoice for any cambelt, clutch, gearbox or bodywork job the seller mentions. A claim without an invoice is just a claim.
- Proof of ownership. The V5C names the registered keeper, not the owner. Ask for the purchase invoice or a finance settlement letter. Our guide to registered keeper vs owner explains why.
- Spare key and handbook. Missing keys can mean a lot of things. Ask.
A seller who has looked after a car is usually happy to show the paperwork. A seller who cannot find any of it is telling you something too.
Step 4: check the car against the paperwork
At the viewing, compare the car with everything you have gathered. The VIN on the car should match the V5C in at least two places. Our VIN guide shows where to look. The mileage on the dashboard should be higher than the last MOT reading. The colour, engine and body style should match the DVLA record.
Then see the car and ask a mechanic to look at anything the history raised. Our example Buying Report shows how we read a car's MOT record and mileage. It is not a stolen or write-off check.
If something does not add up
Most odd results have an explanation, and a straightforward seller will give you one. Ask, then check the answer against the records. Walk away if:
- the VIN does not match the V5C
- the V5C serial number is in a stolen range
- the mileage goes backwards with no paperwork to explain it
- the seller cannot show any proof they own the car
- outstanding finance shows and the seller will not settle it before the sale
Our guides to cloned cars and used car scams cover the patterns to watch for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check a car's history for free?
Partly. The GOV.UK services show the MOT history, tax and SORN status and vehicle details at no cost. Outstanding finance, write-off records and stolen markers need a paid vehicle history check.
Does the MOT history show accidents?
No. It shows test results, mileage and defects. Damage may show up as advisories or failures, but a write-off record comes from the insurance industry and needs a vehicle history check.
How far back does MOT history go?
For cars tested in England, Scotland and Wales, GOV.UK shows results from 2005. In Northern Ireland, results start in 2017.
What should I ask the seller for?
The registration number, make, model and MOT test number before the viewing. At the viewing, the original V5C, service records, invoices for major work and proof of ownership.