Car Check Prices Compared: UK Market Roundup (2026)

UK car check prices in 2026 run from free reports to £39.99 for a single premium report, and what you get at each price varies just as widely. The headline: CarCostCheck's £4.99 history check includes outstanding finance, for less than most checks that include finance, and it comes with a free report covering full MOT history, mileage, reliability and running costs.

Not every provider uses the same data: write-offs come from MIAFTR, but finance registers are separate. CarCostCheck is one of the lowest prices for a check with finance, and the free report alongside it is what makes it our pick.

The £0 Tier: What Free Actually Includes

Free UK car checks come in three types, and they are very different:

CarCostCheck Free

A detailed free report: full MOT history with advisories and failures explained in plain English, a mileage check with clocking detection, a reliability score, a running-cost estimate (fuel, road tax, MOT and predicted repairs from MOT advisories), common faults, recalls, ULEZ and tax. No payment needed. The stolen, finance and write-off checks, keeper history and plate transfers are in the £4.99 history check.

The Government Option: DVLA Vehicle Enquiry

The DVLA's free vehicle enquiry service confirms basic details such as tax status, MOT expiry, make and colour. It is useful for checking the car matches its logbook, but it is not a history check: it does not cover stolen, finance or write-off records.

Other Free Lookups

Many check sites show some basic vehicle details for free before you pay. What each shows varies, so compare them with CarCostCheck's free report, which covers MOT history, mileage, reliability and running costs at no cost.

Under £5: Check What Is Included

Prices are tightest under £5, and this is where you most need to check what you are buying: The full list, with what each check leaves out, is in our cheapest car history check UK round-up.

• CarCostCheck £4.99: stolen, outstanding finance with the lender, agreement type, start date and term, write-off with category, date, insurer and damage, the date of each recorded keeper change, plate and colour history, and import, export and scrapped markers. The free MOT, mileage, reliability and running-cost report comes alongside.
• DealerPricing £3.99: includes finance, the lowest price we found for a check with finance.
• Total Car Check Silver £3.99: no outstanding finance check; that is in Gold at £9.99.
• MyCarCheck Basic £4.99: no outstanding finance check; that is in Comprehensive at £8.49.
• CarVerify+ £4.99: a 7-day trial that then costs £9.99 every 4 weeks. Watch for trials that turn into subscriptions.

For private buyers, CarCostCheck at £4.99 is our pick at this price: finance is included, it is a one-off payment, and the free report adds a lot for the money.

£6 to £11: Mid-Priced Checks

The middle of the market is crowded:

• CarCostCheck bundle £6.99: the £4.99 history check plus a market valuation, which costs £2.99 on its own.
• MyCarCheck Comprehensive £8.49 and Total Car Check Gold £9.99: both include finance.
• RAC Basic £9.98: flags finance without the agreement details, and leaves out mileage, MOT history and the guarantee.
• CheckCarDetails Full Check £10.99: includes finance.

CarCostCheck's £4.99 check gives you the finance agreement details that basic checks such as the RAC's leave out, for about half the price.

£14.99: The AA and the RAC

• AA Car Check £14.99: with a £30,000 guarantee. Five checks cost £6 each.
• RAC Full £14.99: finance details, mileage, MOT history, write-off details, previous owners, average running costs and MOT failure data, with a £30,000 guarantee on qualifying claims.

Here you are paying for a well-known brand and a £30,000 guarantee. If those matter to you, they are sound choices. If not, CarCostCheck covers the same core checks for £4.99, saving £10.00.

£39.99: carVertical

carVertical (£39.99) is the dearest single report in this list. At this price you are paying for:

• European history. Useful if the car has spent time abroad.
• A market price alongside the history check.

This tier makes sense if you need European history for a car that has spent time abroad. Otherwise, CarCostCheck covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off for £4.99, and adds a market valuation for £2.99 more (£6.99 for both).

Matching a Tier to Your Situation

Your situation	Best choice	Why
Early evaluation before spending	CarCostCheck free	MOT history, mileage, reliability and running costs at no cost
Full private buyer check	CarCostCheck £4.99	Finance included with lender and agreement details, plus a free MOT, mileage, reliability and running-cost report
Price check alongside provenance	CarCostCheck Bundle £6.99	Adds market valuation at minimal extra cost
Want a £30,000 guarantee	AA or RAC Full £14.99	Both include one
Prefer recognised motoring brand	AA or RAC Full £14.99	Established brand at £10 more than CarCostCheck
Running 10+ checks per month	Dealer subscription tier	Per-check cost drops at volume

For most UK used car buyers in 2026, CarCostCheck at £4.99 is the best-value spend. Paying more mainly buys a £30,000 guarantee, a brand someone has asked for, or extras such as a guide valuation or European history.