CarHistory.cc

Used car check: what to check before you buy

Start with the car's MOT history: enter the registration for a free check. Then work through the eight checks below, in order.

What to check, in order

Most of these checks are free. Step 6 needs a paid history check. Buy one once the free checks look right and you're close to buying. If something doesn't add up before then, you haven't spent anything on checks.

  1. 1 MOT history

    Free with our check at the top of this page

    We show every MOT on record. For cars, records start in 2005. Each test shows the result and the mileage. For tests in England, Scotland and Wales, it also lists the parts that failed or had minor problems. Records for tests in Northern Ireland start in 2017 and don't list the parts.

    What we flag at the top of the result:

    • Mileage needs checkingA reading 1% or more below the one before.
    • The last MOT was a failThe latest MOT was a fail, with no pass since.
    • Dangerous defect in the last 3 yearsA tester recorded a dangerous defect.
    • Repeated advisoriesAdvisories or minor defects in the same area at more than one MOT.

    The result also shows when the MOT runs out, any outstanding safety recall, and a list of questions to ask the seller.

    We don't flag gaps between tests, so read the dates. Most cars over 3 years old need an MOT every year. Citizens Advice says to ask the seller about any gaps. A car may not have needed an MOT while it was declared off the road (SORN).

    What MOT history doesn't show

  2. 2 Mileage

    Free with our check

    Each MOT records the odometer reading. Our check lists them all and flags a reading 1% or more below the one before.

    A drop is a reason to ask questions. It doesn't prove anything on its own. It can be a typing error at the test centre, a replaced odometer or instrument cluster, or clocking: an odometer wound back to make the car look less used.

    • Look at the odometer in the car. It should show more miles than the last MOT reading.
    • Ask for service records and invoices that show the mileage and dates.
    • Citizens Advice says a private history check tells you if the car is showing the correct mileage (see step 6).
    Free MOT mileage checkGuide: when the mileage doesn't add up

  3. 3 V5C log book and VIN

    Free by looking at the log book and the car

    Ask to see the V5C log book. DVLA advises you not to buy a vehicle that doesn't have one. Check that:

    • It has a “DVL” watermark.
    • The serial number isn't between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000. GOV.UK says a V5C in these ranges might be stolen. If it is, call the police as soon as it's safe to.
    • The details match what the seller told you, and the seller's name and address are on it.
    • The vehicle identification number (VIN) and the engine number on the car match the log book. The VIN is usually stamped into the chassis. Also look at the base of the windscreen and the door pillar.

    Our result shows the make, model and colour on DVSA's record. If they're different from the car in front of you, don't buy it: the plate may be mistyped, or cloned.

    Guide: buying a used car privately

  4. 4 Tax and MOT status

    Free with the DVLA vehicle enquiry on GOV.UK

    Enter the registration in Get vehicle information from DVLA on GOV.UK. It shows:

    • whether the car is taxed, or declared off the road (SORN)
    • when its MOT runs out
    • when it was first registered, and when the last V5C was issued
    • details such as year of manufacture, engine size and fuel type

    Check these match what the seller told you and the V5C. Citizens Advice says to report the seller to the police if the log book doesn't match DVLA's records.

    Tax isn't transferred to you when you buy a car. You must tax it, or declare it off the road, before you drive it. If the MOT has run out, the car can't be driven or parked on the road, except to a pre-arranged MOT test or to be repaired.

  5. 5 Recalls

    Free with our check, or on GOV.UK

    Our result shows whether DVSA's record has an outstanding safety recall for the car. “None outstanding” means the record says there isn't one. “None found” means the record doesn't say. GOV.UK says whether the MOT history shows recalls depends on the manufacturer.

    You can also check for recalls on GOV.UK, by registration or by make, model and year of manufacture.

    The manufacturer does the recall work, and you won't usually have to pay for repairs or parts. If there's an outstanding recall, ask the seller whether the work has been done.

  6. 6 Finance, write-off, stolen and plate changes

    Paid. A private history check costs up to £20, Citizens Advice says (checked 1 Nov 2026).

    The MOT history doesn't list these, and nor does the DVLA vehicle enquiry. We don't check them either. Our result marks them “Not checked”.

    • Outstanding financeNot checked
    • Written off (Cat S or N)Not checked
    • Recorded as stolenNot checked
    • Plate changesNot checked

    Citizens Advice says a private history check, sometimes called a data check, will tell you if:

    • the car has been reported stolen
    • the seller still owes money on it
    • it has been in a serious accident
    • it's showing the correct mileage
    • it has been written off, repaired and returned to the road

    Paid checks such as HPI and Experian AutoCheck also list number plate changes. Not every package includes write-off details, so read what a check lists before you buy one.

    Two things to do for free first:

    • If the seller had finance on the car, ask for the settlement letter.
    • Look at the V5C. DVLA records Cat S in the log book. A log book with no note doesn't rule out Cat N.
    Compare history checksGuide: HPI checksGuide: Cat S and Cat N cars

  7. 7 Service history

    Free by asking the seller

    Citizens Advice says to ask about the car's service history. Ask to see the records and receipts. Records that show the mileage help you check the MOT readings.

    If our check found repeated advisories, ask whether the work has been done since. Both questions are in our list of questions for the seller, which you can tick off, send to the seller or print.

  8. 8 Test drive and inspection

    Free to view and test drive. An independent report costs around £120 to £250, Citizens Advice says (checked 1 Nov 2026).

    • View the car in daylight, and when it's dry if you can. Damage is harder to spot on a wet car.
    • With a private seller, meet at their home. Then you have a record of their address if something goes wrong.
    • Make sure you're insured before you drive. Ask your insurer whether you can drive someone else's car, or ask the seller whether their insurance covers you. Don't test drive a car if you're not insured.
    • Drive for at least 15 minutes on different types of road.

    Our result explains common advisories in plain English, with what to look and listen for. For a brake disc advisory it says: “What this means: the brake discs are wearing. They still work, but will need replacing. Ask if they've been done, and listen for grinding on the test drive.”

    If you're still not sure, Citizens Advice says it's probably a good idea to look for another car. Or you can get an independent report on the car's condition from a motoring organisation or a specialist company.

When you buy

Sources

What our check shows and flags comes from our own code and rules. Facts about the other checks come from these pages.

Check a car's MOT history