Step 1: Get the Registration Plate
Ask the seller for the full registration number. If they refuse to give it before viewing, that is a red flag. Any genuine seller will share the plate so you can verify the car's details.
Step 2: Run the Free Check First
Enter the plate on CarCostCheck. The free report checks MOT history, mileage, reliability, and running costs. If anything looks wrong at this stage (mileage discrepancy, serious MOT failures, poor reliability score), save your £4.99 and move on.
Step 3: Run the Premium Check
If the free check is clean, pay £4.99 for the premium report. This queries the Experian database for:
- Outstanding finance: PCP, HP, and secured loans
- Stolen status: Police National Computer check
- Write-off history: Insurance categories A, B, N, and S
- VIN verification: Confirms the car's identity
- Keeper history: Number and timing of ownership changes
Step 4: If Finance Is Found
If the check reveals outstanding finance, do not buy the car unless the seller agrees to settle the finance in full before the sale completes. You can ask the seller to contact their finance company for a settlement figure. Once settled, run a second check to confirm the finance marker has been removed. Never take the seller's word that "it will be sorted."
| Provider | Price | Finance Check | Stolen | Write-off | MOT History | Running Costs |
|---|
| CarCostCheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (free) | ✓ (free) |
| MyCarCheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Total Car Check | £9.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| AA Car Check | £9.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| RAC Car Passport | £9.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| HPI Check | £19.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
All providers query the same Experian database for finance data. The difference is price and what else is included. CarCostCheck is the only service at £4.99 that includes both the Experian provenance checks and practical ownership data (MOT history, running costs, reliability).
CarCostCheck is not just a cheaper version of HPI. It is a fundamentally better product that happens to cost 75% less. Here is what you get that HPI does not offer at any price:
- Real-time market valuation from £2.99, powered by over 650,000 live UK dealer listings. See what your car is actually worth in your local area, how quickly similar cars sell, and how the price compares nationally.
- Estimated vehicle lifespan: Our AI model analyses over 100 million data points to predict how many years the car has left and the probability of it being on the road in 12 months.
- Insurance costs by age: See estimated annual premiums for drivers aged 20, 30, 40, and 50. Budget before you buy.
- Running cost breakdown: Annual fuel, road tax, MOT, predicted repairs, and total cost per month. All calculated for this specific car.
- Health score (0-100): A single number that tells you the overall condition of the vehicle based on MOT history, advisory patterns, mileage consistency, and maintenance trends.
- Common faults: Known issues for this exact make and model, drawn from real MOT failure data across thousands of vehicles.
- 12 free checks: Full MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, running costs, fuel costs, insurance group, red flag alerts, common faults, recall check, ULEZ compliance, and more. All before you pay a penny.
The premium history check (£4.99) uses the same Experian database as HPI, AA, and RAC. You get identical stolen, finance, and write-off data. The complete bundle (history + valuation) is £6.99, still 65% cheaper than HPI's basic check.
Ready to Check a Car?
12 checks included free. Premium stolen, finance, and write-off checks for just £4.99. Market valuation from £2.99.
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