| Check | CCC Free | CCC Premium £4.99 | CCC Bundle £6.99 | DVSA Free | Typical Paid (£20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full MOT history with analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Raw only | ✗ |
| Advisory explanations + repair costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mileage clocking detection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Basic |
| Reliability score (0-100) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Running costs (fuel, tax, MOT, repairs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Insurance group estimation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Common faults for make/model | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Red flag alerts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Recall + ULEZ + export check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| CO2 & VED tax band | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fuel cost calculator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| V5C logbook + MOT reminder | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Stolen check (PNC) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Finance outstanding | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Write-off (Cat A/B/N/S) | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Previous owners + VIN + colour + plate | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Fair market value (local + national) | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Days to sell + vehicle lifespan | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Insurance group + cost estimate | Group only | Group only | ✓ Full | ✗ | ✗ |
| Comparable live listings | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Total checks | 16 | 24 | 29 | 1 | 5 |
| Price | Free | £4.99 | £6.99 | Free | £19.99 |
Car Checks
Free Car Check vs Paid: Is a Paid Car Check Actually Worth It?
When you can check a car for free, why would you pay? We break down exactly what free checks include, what paid checks add, and when it is worth spending money.
CC
CarCostCheckCheck Any Car Free, Instantly
Full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs. No signup needed.
Short answer: A free car check from CarCostCheck gives you more information than most paid services. But if you are about to spend thousands on a used car, the £4.99 premium check is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Check Any Car Free, Right Now
Enter a reg plate below. Full MOT history, mileage check, reliability score, and running costs in seconds.
What You Get for Free
Not all free car checks are equal. The government DVSA website shows raw MOT results. That is useful but limited. CarCostCheck's free check goes significantly further:
CarCostCheck's free tier includes 11 checks. Most £20 paid services include 5. The free check alone gives you a better picture of the car's condition and costs than paying £20 elsewhere.
Check Any Car's Costs Instantly
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.
What Paid Checks Add
The data you cannot get for free is provenance information held by Experian and the Police National Computer:
- Stolen check: Has the car been reported to police? If you buy a stolen car, police can seize it. You lose the car and your money.
- Finance check: Is there PCP, HP, or a loan on the car? If so, the finance company owns it, not the seller. They can repossess it even after you buy it.
- Write-off check: Has an insurer written this car off as Category A, B, N, or S? Categories A and B mean structural damage so severe the car should have been scrapped.
- Keeper count: How many registered owners has it had? A car with 8 owners in 5 years is a red flag.
- VIN verification: Does the chassis number match DVLA records? Mismatches can indicate a cloned or stolen vehicle.
This data protects you from catastrophic losses. It does not tell you about the car's condition or running costs. You need both.
Try It Yourself
See everything we check for free. No sign-up, no email, instant results.
When Free Is Enough
- Initial research: Browsing Autotrader and want a quick sense of a car's condition? The free check is ideal.
- Narrowing your shortlist: Checking 5-10 cars to find the best 2-3? Use the free check on all of them, then pay for premium on the ones you are serious about.
- Buying from a dealer: Reputable dealers run their own provenance checks. The free check adds condition analysis they do not provide.
When You Should Pay
- Buying from a private seller: Always. Private sellers have no obligation to check the car's history. You are fully exposed.
- Spending more than £500: The £4.99 cost is trivial compared to the risk of outstanding finance or a hidden write-off.
- The car seems too good to be true: Low price, low mileage, reluctant seller? Run the premium check before viewing.
The Best Value Option
Start with the free CarCostCheck report. If the car looks promising, upgrade to premium for £4.99. You now have 16+ checks covering both condition and provenance. Total cost: £4.99.
Compare that to £19.99 for HPI (5 checks), £14.99 for RAC (5 checks), or £9.95 for AA (5 checks). Same provenance data, less analysis, three to four times the price.
Ready to Check a Car?
12 free checks included. Premium stolen, finance, and write-off checks for just £4.99.
Related reading: Best Car Check Services UK 2026 | Best HPI Alternative UK | Do I Need an HPI Check?
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 A
£2,450
per year
Pass
MOT status
42k
Mileage
Fuel£1,180Tax£165Insurance£680Repairs£425
This is what you'll see. Try it with YOUR car:
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12 free checks included. Premium history from £4.99. Valuation from £2.99.