How to Check a Car on Facebook Marketplace Before Buying (2026)

Short answer: Before buying any car from Facebook Marketplace, enter the registration plate on CarCostCheck for a free instant check. You will see the full MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, and running costs in seconds. If the car passes the free checks, the £4.99 premium report confirms whether it is stolen, has outstanding finance, or has been written off. This is not optional for Marketplace purchases. There is no dealer warranty, no comeback, and no buyer protection.

Why Facebook Marketplace Cars Need Extra Scrutiny

Facebook Marketplace has become one of the biggest places for private car sales in the UK. It is free to list, there is no vehicle verification, and there is no buyer protection scheme. That combination makes it popular with both genuine sellers and fraudsters.

Here is what makes Marketplace different from buying through a dealer or established platform:

The lower prices on Marketplace exist because you are taking on all the risk. A £4.99 car check eliminates the biggest risks for less than the cost of a coffee and a sandwich.

The 5-Minute Marketplace Car Check Process

Before you even message the seller, run these checks. It takes less than five minutes and can save you thousands.

Step 1: Free Check (30 seconds)

Enter the registration plate on CarCostCheck. The free report shows:

• Full MOT history since 2005, including every advisory, failure, and pass
• Mileage verification plotted over time, with automatic clocking detection
• Reliability score (0-100) based on MOT patterns for this specific car
• Running costs including fuel, tax, MOT, and predicted repairs
• Common faults drawn from this car's MOT history
• Outstanding recall check from DVSA

If the mileage does not match what the seller claims, or the MOT history shows serious structural advisories, stop here. Do not waste time viewing the car.

Step 2: Cross-Reference the Listing

Compare the free check results against the Marketplace listing:

• Does the mileage in the listing match the last MOT reading?
• Does the colour match? A colour change could indicate accident repair or a cloned identity.
• Does the year match? Some sellers list the face-lift year rather than the actual registration year.
• Are there MOT advisories the seller has not mentioned?

Step 3: Premium Check (if the car passes)

If the free check looks clean, pay £4.99 for the premium report before you go to view the car. This checks:

• Stolen status against the Police National Computer
• Outstanding finance including PCP, HP, and personal loans secured against the vehicle
• Insurance write-off history with full category detail (Cat A, B, N, or S)
• VIN check showing the last 4 characters of the VIN on record, so you can compare them with the car
• Plate transfer history which can indicate identity changes

This is the check that protects you from the expensive problems. If the car has £8,000 of outstanding PCP finance, the lender may still have a claim on it. A private buyer who bought in good faith without knowing about the finance is usually protected by the Hire Purchase Act 1964, but not for every type of loan, and sorting it out can take months, so check before you pay.

The Most Common Facebook Marketplace Car Scams

1. Outstanding Finance (Most Common)

The seller still owes money on the car. When they sell it to you, they pocket the cash but the finance agreement remains, and the lender may still have a claim on the car. The Hire Purchase Act 1964 usually protects a private buyer who did not know about the finance, but not for every type of loan, and proving it can take months. A £4.99 finance check shows any recorded finance before you pay.

2. Clocked Mileage

The odometer has been rolled back to make the car appear lower mileage than it really is. This is illegal but extremely common. The free CarCostCheck report plots every MOT mileage reading over time. If the readings do not follow a consistent upward trend, the car has likely been clocked.

3. Undisclosed Write-Offs

The car was previously written off by an insurance company (usually after an accident) and has been repaired and relisted without disclosure. Category N and S write-offs can be legally sold, but the buyer must be told. Many are not. The premium check reveals full write-off history.

4. Stolen Vehicles

Less common than finance fraud but far more serious. If you unknowingly buy a stolen car, the police will seize it and you will lose both the car and your money. The premium check queries the Police National Computer for theft records.

5. Deposit Scams

The seller asks for a deposit to "hold" the car before you view it. The car may not exist, or the seller disappears after receiving the deposit. Never pay a deposit before viewing and checking a car in person. No legitimate seller needs a deposit.

What to Check When You View the Car

After your online checks pass, here is what to verify in person:

1. Match the VIN. Check the VIN plate (usually on the dashboard by the windscreen and on the door frame) matches the V5C logbook, and that its last 4 characters match the VIN shown on your CarCostCheck report. Mismatched VINs indicate a cloned or rebuilt vehicle.
2. Check the V5C logbook. The seller should have the original V5C in their name. If they say it is "in the post" or show a photocopy, walk away.
3. Match the mileage. The dashboard reading should be close to the last MOT reading plus reasonable miles since the test.
4. Look for accident repair. Check panel gaps are even, paint colour matches across all panels, and there is no overspray in the door shuts or boot.
5. Start the engine cold. Ask to see the car before the seller has warmed it up. Cold start issues reveal problems that disappear once warm.

Price Comparison: Car Check Services

Prices checked 8 October 2026. The AA's single check is £14.99. The RAC's Full check and the AA's check include a £30,000 data guarantee, which CarCostCheck does not offer. CarCostCheck gives you the core checks (stolen, outstanding finance, write-off) for £4.99.

Provider	Price	Finance	Stolen	Write-off	MOT History	Running Costs	Mileage Analysis
CarCostCheck	£4.99	✓	✓	✓	✓ (free)	✓ (free)	✓ (free)
CarCostCheck (Free)	Free	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
HPI Check	£19.99	✓	✓	✓	✗	✗	Basic
RAC Car Check (Full)	£14.99	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

What Makes CarCostCheck Different

CarCostCheck is not just a cheaper version of HPI. As well as the history check, it helps you judge whether a car will be a good one to own. Here is what you get that HPI does not offer at any price:

• Market valuation from £2.99, based on live UK dealer listings. See the local dealer value for your car and how quickly similar cars sell near you.
• Estimated vehicle lifespan: An estimate of how many years the car has left on UK roads and the probability of it still 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.
• Reliability score (0-100): one number based on the car's MOT record, including its pass rate, recent failures, advisory trend and mileage. Free.
• Common faults: the problems that keep coming up in the car's own MOT history. Free.
• 12 free checks: Full MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, running costs, fuel costs, red flag alerts, common faults, recall check, ULEZ compliance, tax and MOT status, 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 the same core checks: stolen, outstanding finance and write-off. The complete bundle (history + valuation) is £6.99, still 65% cheaper than HPI's basic check.

Related Reading

• Cheapest HPI Check UK 2026: Every Provider Compared
• How to Spot a Clocked Car in the UK (2026 Guide)
• How to Check if a Car Has Outstanding Finance