Cheapest Cat N Check UK 2026: Every Major Option Compared

Quick answer: CarCostCheck premium costs £4.99, with stolen and outstanding finance checks included. It returns Cat A, B, S, N markers (plus legacy Cat C and Cat D) from MIAFTR via Experian, the same insurance industry database HPI charges £19.99 for. A few checks cost less, and some of them leave out finance. Free government lookups do not show write-off markers, because MIAFTR is not public.

Why CarCostCheck is the best-value option for most buyers

Cat N markers come from MIAFTR, the insurance industry's write-off register, so a £4.99 CarCostCheck report draws write-offs from the same register as the dearer checks in the table. The price differences come from brand premium and bundled extras (HPI's £30k guarantee, CarVertical's EU history). For most UK private buyers, CarCostCheck's write-off, stolen and finance checks for £4.99, with free MOT history and running costs, are the best-value choice.

Why "free Cat N checks" rarely include write-off data

MIAFTR is not public, and checks that include it cost money to run. Free government data from the DVLA and DVSA does not include write-off markers. If a site advertises a free Cat N check, read what it actually shows: it may be DVLA tax and MOT data, which does not include write-off status, followed by an offer of a paid check.

What you actually get for the £4.99

The CarCostCheck premium report includes:

• Cat A, B, S, N markers (plus legacy Cat C and Cat D), with the date, insurer and damage
• Outstanding finance, with the lender, agreement type, start date and term
• Stolen status (Police National Computer)
• VIN check
• Plate transfer history
• Colour change history
• Number of keepers, with the date of each recorded keeper change
• Import and export markers
• Scrapped status
• Plus the full free report: DVSA MOT history since 2005, mileage verification with clocking detection, reliability score 0-100, annual running cost estimate, common faults, recalls, ULEZ compliance

That covers the core history checks, plus a free reliability score and running-cost estimate.

How long does a Cat N marker stay on the record?

Forever. Once a vehicle is recorded on MIAFTR, the marker is permanent. Cat C was replaced by Cat S in October 2017 and Cat D by Cat N, but cars written off before that date still carry their original Cat C or Cat D marker for the rest of the vehicle's life. The CarCostCheck report shows whichever marker is on file.

Related reading: Cheapest HPI Check UK 2026 | Cat N + Cat S FAQ | What is a Cat N Write-Off? | What is a Cat S Write-Off? | Cheapest Write-Off Check UK