Short answer: partly. Stolen and write-off records come from shared sources, but finance registers differ. Here is what a £4.99 car check shares with dearer checks, and what the dearer ones add.
Prices checked on each provider's own site on 8 October 2026.
| Provider | Price | Stolen | Finance | Write-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| carVertical | £39.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AA Car Check | £14.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| RAC Vehicle History Check (Full) | £14.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MyCarCheck Comprehensive | £8.49 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CarCostCheck | £4.99 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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Short answer: Partly. Stolen records come from the Police National Computer and write-offs from MIAFTR, the insurers' register. Outstanding finance can differ, because there is more than one finance register. Dearer checks often add a data guarantee or a valuation; a £4.99 CarCostCheck covers the core checks and adds a free MOT, mileage and reliability report. Our car check FAQ has more on where each record comes from.
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CarCostCheck's history data comes from Experian AutoCheck. Experian, one of the three major UK credit reference agencies, gathers records from:
Not every provider uses the same finance register, so two checks can occasionally differ on finance.
Data sources are not all the same. Stolen records (Police National Computer) and write-offs (MIAFTR) are shared, but finance registers differ.
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Data from DVSA and DVLA. Used by thousands of UK car buyers.
Why does the market support such a wide price range? Three reasons:
So the price gap reflects brand, marketing and guarantees as well as what each check includes.
The bigger differences show up in the extras each check adds:
All of the above are included free or at the £4.99 tier with CarCostCheck.
Cheap and dear car checks share the stolen (Police National Computer) and write-off (MIAFTR) sources, but finance registers differ, and dearer checks can add a data guarantee, a valuation or, for carVertical, European history. For a standard UK-registered car, a £4.99 check covers the core checks; pay more if you want those extras.
If you want the core checks plus a free MOT, running-cost and reliability report, CarCostCheck at £4.99 covers them. If you want a data guarantee, some dearer checks include one.
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Partly. Stolen records come from the Police National Computer and write-offs from MIAFTR, the insurers' register. Finance data can differ, because there is more than one finance register. What also differs between providers is the price charged and what additional analysis is layered on top.
Some dearer checks include a data guarantee or a valuation, and well-known brands can charge more. If you do not need a guarantee, a £4.99 check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off for much less.
carVertical at £39.99 adds European vehicle history for cars that have spent time abroad. For a car that has always been registered in the UK, there is no European history to find. Budget services under £2 may skip finance or write-off checks entirely, so their reports are incomplete rather than drawing from a different source.
CarCostCheck adds a free report with MOT history analysis and plain-English advisories, a reliability score, running cost estimates, common faults and DVSA recall data, free with every check. Its £4.99 history check also shows the date of each recorded keeper change.
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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
This is what you'll see. Try it with YOUR car:
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