A full car history check does not have to cost £10 or more. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off, and its free report adds MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs.
| Provider | Price | Outstanding finance |
|---|---|---|
| CarCostCheck | £4.99 | Included, with the lender, agreement type, start date and term |
| Total Car Check | £3.99 Silver, £9.99 Gold | Silver: not included. Gold: included |
| MyCarCheck | £4.99 Basic, £8.49 Comprehensive | Basic: not included. Comprehensive: included |
| RAC Basic | £9.98 | Finance flag only, no agreement details |
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Short answer: You do not need to spend £10 on a car history check in 2026. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off, with the lender and agreement details and the date of each recorded keeper change, and its free report adds full MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs. That is about half the price of a £9.99 check.
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The pattern: some checks at the bottom of the price range leave out outstanding finance, and at £9.98 to £9.99 some only flag finance without telling you who the lender is. CarCostCheck includes the lender and agreement details for £4.99. Above £10, the AA's check (£14.99) and the RAC's Full check (£14.99) add a £30,000 guarantee, which CarCostCheck does not offer.
A free check covers a lot, but it does not cover the history checks. On CarCostCheck you get MOT history, a mileage check, running costs, a reliability score and red flags for free. What you do not get for free is the stolen, finance and write-off checks, because that data costs money on every check.
The £4.99 step up is worth it for any car you are seriously considering buying. The cost is tiny next to the risk of missing outstanding finance or a stolen car, either of which could cost you the car. Use the free CarCostCheck check to screen candidates, then pay £4.99 for the history check on the one or two cars you shortlist. Every question about how the check works is answered in our car check FAQ.
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Enter any reg below for a free MOT history, mileage check, and running costs. Takes 5 seconds, no signup.
Data from DVSA and DVLA. Used by thousands of UK car buyers.
Paying more can buy you things CarCostCheck does not offer. The AA's £14.99 check and the RAC's £14.99 Full check include a £30,000 guarantee. If a guarantee matters to you, that is the reason to pay more.
A higher price does not always mean more detail, though. The RAC's £9.98 Basic check flags finance without agreement details and leaves out the mileage check. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check gives you the lender and agreement details, and its mileage check is free.
At the other end of the scale, some of the cheapest checks leave out outstanding finance: Total Car Check Silver (£3.99) and MyCarCheck Basic (£4.99) do not include it. Finance is one of the most important checks in a private sale, so make sure it is included before you pay.
CarCostCheck's £4.99 check includes outstanding finance, with the lender and agreement details, alongside the stolen and write-off checks.
Here is how to check a car properly for £6.99 or less:
Total spend: £6.99 at most per seriously considered car if you take the bundle. What you get: stolen, outstanding finance and write-off checks, MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score, running costs and a valuation. No subscription and no hidden charges.
CarCostCheck's £4.99 history check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off, and the free report gives you MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs. £4.99 is less than most checks that include finance.
Our premium data comes from Experian AutoCheck: stolen records from the Police National Computer, write-offs from MIAFTR and outstanding finance from Experian's finance register. We keep the price at £4.99 by keeping our overheads low. Every paid check is a one-off payment: your report appears on screen, and we email you a link to it that does not expire.
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12 checks included free. Full history from £4.99. Valuation from £2.99. No subscription, ever.
Yes. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check includes stolen, outstanding finance (with the lender and agreement details) and write-off checks from Experian data, plus the date of each recorded keeper change, and the free report adds MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs. For comparison, the AA's check and the RAC's Full check each cost £14.99 (checked 8 October 2026).
Not necessarily, so compare what is included rather than the price. The RAC's £9.98 Basic check flags finance but gives no agreement details or mileage check, while Total Car Check Gold (£9.99) does include finance. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check includes the lender and agreement details, the write-off category, date and insurer, and the date of each recorded keeper change, so for most buyers it is the better value.
At minimum: a stolen check, an outstanding finance check, the write-off category, a VIN check, a mileage check, the number of previous keepers and plate or colour changes. CarCostCheck's £4.99 check covers all of these (the mileage check is in the free report) and adds the date of each recorded keeper change, import and export markers and scrapped status.
No, but check what is included. Some checks under £5 leave out outstanding finance, such as Total Car Check Silver (£3.99) and MyCarCheck Basic (£4.99). CarCostCheck's £4.99 check includes outstanding finance, stolen and write-off, so a lower price does not have to mean less protection.
Explore Car Data by Make
Check Any Car's Costs Instantly
Enter any reg plate for a free MOT history, mileage check, health score, and running costs. No signup needed.
Used by thousands of UK car buyers. Data from DVSA and DVLA.
Example report preview
2019 Ford Fiesta
1.0 EcoBoost, Petrol, Manual
82
Grade B
£1,860
per year
Pass
MOT status
42k
Mileage
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