Understanding Car History Check Services and Why They Matter
Buying a second-hand car can be a sensible way to get around, but the decision can carry real financial risk. UK figures suggest that up to one in three used cars may have hidden issues that aren't apparent from a brief test drive.
When you buy a used car, you might unknowingly take on outstanding finance, or you could be viewing a vehicle that was stolen and later returned to circulation. Some cars are recorded as an insurance write-off, then repaired and advertised again, which can negatively affect safety, value, and insurance costs.
Car history check services help you see the bigger picture by retrieving data from trusted records and databases. For a small fee, you can spot warning signs early and move forward with more peace of mind.
In this guide, we will explain what a vehicle check includes and how free reports differ from paid, comprehensive ones. We will also review leading UK providers for 2026, so you can pick the right level of cover.
What a UK Car Check Typically Covers
In the United Kingdom, car checks are typically divided into two types: Free and Paid. Free basic checks are a good place to start, but they provide limited information.
Paid comprehensive checks cost more, but they offer protection against key issues such as outstanding finance, write-offs, and stolen status. If you want a more complete picture before making a buying decision, a paid report is usually a safer option.
What You Get in a Free Car Check
A free car check is a good first step when you start researching a used car. You usually only need the number plate to pull up basic facts that help you confirm the car matches the advert. These checks include useful details, but they do not provide information about finance, theft, or write-offs.
A typical free report often shows:
- Basic vehicle information like make, model, colour, engine size, fuel type, and first registration date.
- MOT history, including previous passes and failures, advisory notes, and mileage recorded during each test.
- Road tax status, so you can see if the car is taxed and when the tax expires.
- ULEZ and Clean Air Zone compliance for some UK cities.
You can also use the official GOV.UK service to check the MOT history, which helps spot recurring issues or suspicious mileage. Still, treat this as a starting point rather than a complete car check.
What’s Included in a Full, Paid Vehicle History Check
A full vehicle check is where you get the details that matter most for safety and peace of mind. It builds on the free information, then adds checks that can protect you from buying a car with serious legal or financial problems. This is the level of report many buyers use when they are close to making a decision.
A paid report typically includes:
- Outstanding finance checks allow you to determine whether a loan is still secured against the vehicle.
- Insurance write-off status (if any), including the category in which the vehicle was placed and what this means for repairs and value.
- Stolen vehicle checks, which compare the car against police databases to ensure it hasn’t been reported stolen in the past.
- Mileage discrepancy checks that compare mileage records from different sources to flag possible clocking.
- VIN and chassis number checks are used to confirm the identity of the vehicle and detect cloning.
- The number of previous keepers shows how frequently the car has changed hands.
- Number plate change history, which can be useful for tracking a car's history.
- Import and export status that can influence insurance and resale value.
- Scrapped status, to confirm the car has not been recorded as scrapped by the DVLA.
If a report raises a red flag, take a step back and ask the seller direct questions. Sometimes, the safest and most cost-effective decision is simply to walk away.
Our List of the 10 Best Car Check Websites in the UK (Expert Review)
1. My Car Reg Check
My Car Reg Check is a strong option if you want a quick first look and the option to upgrade. It offers a free check, a standard report for £4.99, and a full premium report for £7.99, which is good value.
The standout point is the breadth of vehicle data it pulls together in an easy-to-read report. Alongside MOT and tax details, it adds extras like estimated fuel costs and an ownership cost projection. It offers high financial protection and a lot of detail for the price; it also includes a £30,000 data guarantee.
The main drawback is that it is a newer brand, so it may feel less familiar than long-standing brands. If you want a clear report at an affordable price to make an informed decision when buying a used car, it is our top pick for 2026.
2. Full Car Checks
Full Car Checks is a good pick if you want to do a quick, free check first and only pay once you are serious about the car. The free results give you a basic snapshot, including the MOT status, so you can confirm the car’s details and see if anything looks odd. If everything seems fine, you can then upgrade to a paid report for the deeper checks.
There are two paid levels, with the Standard Check priced at £6 and the Full Check priced at £10. The Full Check is the better pick for most buyers because it adds outstanding finance and logbook loan checks, which can protect you from buying a car that is still tied to a finance company. It also includes a £30,000 data guarantee, which adds extra reassurance.
The Full Check is competitively priced, but there are no multi-car packages. If you are comparing several cars, your total cost on each car check report can add up.
3. HPI Check
HPI Check is one of the best-known names in UK vehicle history checks, and many people use the term HPI check to mean any car history report. Their basic check costs £10, and it can feel pricey because some other services offer more detail at a similar cost. Still, it covers two of the biggest deal breakers, insurance write-offs and stolen vehicle status.
If you want a broader picture, the £20 Comprehensive Check provides more useful information. It includes MOT history, checks for mileage inconsistencies, and can detect cloning by comparing the car to records from an identical model. It also indicates whether the logbook has been stolen, which can be a warning sign.
The comprehensive report adds helpful ownership information, such as common MOT failure areas for that model, an estimated value, and likely running costs, including fuel. If you are comparing a few cars, there is a multi-check option of three cars for £30. Full checks include a £30,000 guarantee.
4. Total Car Check
Total Car Check is a good option if you want to keep costs low while you compare a few cars. Prices start at £1.99 for the Basic report, which can be useful for quick checks after entering the registration.
For proper protection, most buyers should look at the Gold Check, which costs £9.99 and includes a £30,000 data guarantee. Total Car Check is highly regarded, having earned Auto Express Best Buy awards and consistently receiving strong customer ratings for its reliability and service. The cheaper reports may miss crucial details like finance status and write-off history, so the Gold Check is the best option when you're ready to buy. It provides a thorough review of the finance status, stolen marker, MOT expiry date, and other key risk factors.
5. CarAnalytics
CarAnalytics is a useful place to start if you want a free overview before you spend any money. When you enter the registration number, you can see vehicle tax and MOT status, plus a few extra details that help you check the advert makes sense. It is a simple first step when you are shortlisting cars.
The free report can show the number of previous owners, and whether the number plate or the colour has changed. It can also flag if the vehicle has been recorded as scrapped, and it checks whether the VIN matches official records. The free report also provides a valuation, giving you a better sense of whether the asking price is reasonable and in line with the car's history.
If the car still seems worth a closer look, the full report costs £10 and adds the big risk checks. This upgrade can show outstanding finance, police stolen status, and whether the car has been recorded as an insurance write-off. It may also include a certificate of destruction flag, a high-risk check for financial disputes, and a mileage anomaly check.
6. Freecarcheck
Freecarcheck does what the name suggests: it gives you a free car check to start with. Like many similar services, it then offers an upgrade if you want deeper checks before you buy. This makes it handy when you are quickly comparing a few cars online.
The free report is fairly detailed for a no-cost option. It shows tax and MOT details, and it can also tell you whether the vehicle is an import. You will usually see technical basics such as engine size, power, engine number, colour, colour change count, year of manufacture, and the registration date. It may also show a generic image of the model, rather than a photo of the exact vehicle.
If you are serious about a particular car, the £10 premium report is the one to consider. It can include checks for outstanding finance, stolen status, number of keepers, mileage anomalies, number plate changes, and write-off records. Freecarcheck also offers checks for other vehicle types, including motorcycles, trucks, and coaches.
7. The AA / RAC Vehicle History Check
The AA and RAC vehicle history checks are aimed at buyers who want to use a familiar, trusted name. The price is usually around £14.99, and the reports are often powered by HPI data, which many drivers already recognise.
The main benefit is confidence in the brand, and you may also get member discounts or extra perks if you already subscribe. The downside is that you can often get similar underlying data for less money through other providers. Overall, it is a sensible choice if you are an AA or RAC member, or you simply prefer to use a well-known brand.
8. MyCarCheck
MyCarCheck is a good choice if you want a reasonably priced report and the option to buy bundles. A single check typically costs around £8.49; bundle deals are a great option if you're comparing multiple cars at once.
One useful feature is Auto Intelligence, which keeps an eye on a vehicle’s history and alerts you to any changes after you've completed a check.
The main thing to watch is the name. Some similarly named sites have drawn criticism for subscription-style billing, so take a moment to confirm you are on the genuine MyCarCheck website before you pay.
9. AutoTrader Vehicle Check
AutoTrader’s Vehicle Check is best seen as a quick add-on when you are already browsing cars on AutoTrader. It costs £4.95, uses Experian data, and takes only a few minutes to run. If you reserve a car online, the check may be included at no extra cost.
The main benefit is convenience, because everything stays in one place while you shop. The main drawback is that the free details shown on many cars are very limited, so they should not be your final check. If you are close to buying, it is often worth using a dedicated history check service as well for a deeper report.
10. Carwow Car Check
Carwow Car Check is a convenient choice if you are already using Carwow to look for a car or to sell one. Prices start from £8.50, and the checks are provided through a partnership with MotorCheck. That means you can stay on the same platform and still get a proper report.
The main advantage is ease, because it slots into the Carwow buying process with no extra steps. The main drawback is that it is designed to work best within Carwow, so it may not feel like the best option if you found the car somewhere else. If you are shopping on Carwow, it is a reliable add-on.
