CarVertical charges £33.99 per report. CarCostCheck charges £4.99 for the same UK data plus 12 extra checks. Here is why CarVertical's price is impossible to justify for UK cars.
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| Product | CarCostCheck | CarVertical | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single car check | £4.99 | £33.99 | £29.00 (85%) |
| Three car checks | £4.99 (free checks on 2, premium on 1) | £54.00 (3-pack deal) | £49.01 (91%) |
| Check + valuation | £6.99 | £33.99 (no valuation available) | £27.00 (77%) |
Short answer: For UK cars, CarCostCheck is 85% cheaper (£4.99 vs £33.99) and includes more data. CarVertical uses the same Experian database for UK stolen, finance, and write-off checks but charges seven times more. Its only advantage is European import history, which is irrelevant for the vast majority of UK car purchases. CarCostCheck also includes 12 free checks (MOT history, reliability, running costs) that CarVertical does not offer.
✅ The Verdict: CarCostCheck Wins
Same Experian data. 75% cheaper. 12 extra free checks that no competitor offers at any price. No hidden subscription. No catches. Try it free now.
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To be blunt: paying £33.99 for a UK car check when the same Experian data is available for £4.99 is throwing money away. The £29 difference buys you nothing extra for UK vehicles.
| Feature | CarCostCheck | CarVertical | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4.99 | £33.99 | CarCostCheck (85% cheaper) |
| UK stolen check | ✓ | ✓ | Tie (same Experian data) |
| UK finance check | ✓ | ✓ | Tie (same Experian data) |
| UK write-off check | ✓ | ✓ | Tie (same Experian data) |
| Full MOT history | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Mileage timeline | ✓ (free) | ✓ (paid) | CarCostCheck (free vs paid) |
| Reliability score | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Running costs | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Common faults | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Insurance group | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Recall check | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| ULEZ compliance | ✓ (free) | ✗ | CarCostCheck |
| Market valuation | £2.99 | Not available | CarCostCheck |
| European import history | ✗ | ✓ | CarVertical (niche use only) |
Score: CarCostCheck wins 12 categories. CarVertical wins 1 (EU import history, relevant to <5% of purchases). 3 are ties.
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.
CarVertical is not a UK company. It is a Lithuanian tech company that built a European vehicle history database spanning 30+ countries. Their genuine innovation is cross-border data: if a car was registered in Germany, had a service in France, and was then imported to the UK, CarVertical can potentially piece together the full European history.
This costs real money to build and maintain. The problem is that they charge everyone the European premium, even UK buyers checking standard UK cars that have never left the country. For these buyers, the European database adds zero value, but the £33.99 price tag remains.
There is exactly one scenario where CarVertical is worth considering:
For every other scenario (which covers 95%+ of UK used car purchases), CarCostCheck provides the same UK data, 12 additional free checks, and costs £29 less.
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CarVertical invests heavily in YouTube influencer partnerships. If you have seen a car YouTuber promoting "the best way to check a used car," there is a good chance CarVertical sponsored that video. This marketing costs millions and is passed directly to customers through the £33.99 price tag.
The irony is that the influencer's discount code might bring the price down to £20-25, which is still 4-5x more than CarCostCheck for the same UK data. You are paying for the influencer's fee, not better data.
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:
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.
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 A
£2,450
per year
Pass
MOT status
42k
Mileage
This is what you'll see. Try it with YOUR car:
12 free checks included. Premium history from £4.99. Valuation from £2.99.