Free Car Check UK 2026: What's Really Free

What you can check on a car for free, and where

Three GOV.UK services cover the official basics, and they cost nothing. Use them with the seller's registration number before you travel to see a car.

Tax, MOT status and the DVLA record (GOV.UK)

The DVLA's vehicle enquiry service shows the tax rate and when the tax runs out, SORN status, when the MOT expires, the date of first registration, the date the last V5C logbook was issued, the year of manufacture, engine size, fuel type, CO2 emissions, type approval category, weight and export status.

Check that the year, engine size, fuel type and first registration date match the advert and the V5C. A logbook issued very recently is worth asking about, because a new V5C goes out when the keeper changes or a replacement is ordered. Our car tax check shows the tax status by reg.

Full MOT history and the mileage at every test (GOV.UK)

The DVSA's MOT history service shows whether each test was passed or failed, the mileage recorded at each test and when the next MOT is due. For cars tested in England, Scotland and Wales, results go back to 2005, and you can see which parts failed and any minor problems. With the 11-digit number from the V5C logbook you can also download MOT certificates and see where each test was done. In Northern Ireland, results go back to 2017.

The mileage line is the best free clue to clocking: readings should only go up. A drop, or a long gap with no test, needs an explanation. Our MOT history check and mileage check lay the same records out in date order.

Safety recalls

GOV.UK's recall check takes a car's registration and shows safety recalls that have not been checked or fixed. Without the registration, you can check by make, model and year of manufacture. Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and you will not usually have to pay for repairs or parts. The MOT history can also show recalls, depending on the manufacturer. Our safety recall check looks up recalls by reg.

Is the logbook stolen? (GOV.UK guidance)

At the viewing, check that the V5C logbook has a "DVL" watermark and that its serial number is not between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000. GOV.UK says a logbook in those ranges might be stolen, and to call the police as soon as it is safe to. Then check that the vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number on the car match the logbook. Our V5C logbook check explains what each part of the logbook should show.

What CarCostCheck's free report adds

Enter a reg to check a car free by reg. The free report uses the same official DVSA and DVLA data and adds the analysis:

• every MOT advisory and failure explained, with an estimated repair cost;
• a mileage check across every MOT reading, which flags drops and suspicious gaps;
• a reliability score out of 100, worked out from the car's own MOT history;
• running costs: fuel, road tax, MOT and predicted repairs (not insurance);
• the faults that keep coming up in the car's MOT history;
• outstanding safety recalls, tax and MOT status, and a ULEZ and clean air zone check;
• an estimated value range, the V5C issue date (when DVLA supplies it) and the export marker.

There is no sign-up, no email and no card. The data is refreshed at least once a week, so a test from the last few days may not show yet. Our free car history check page lists everything in the report, which is based on more than 59 million MOT tests across over 6,000 model years. The ULEZ and clean air zone guide explains the rules.

What a free car check cannot show, and why it costs money

Three records matter most before you pay for a used car: outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and police stolen records. None of them is on GOV.UK. They are held on licensed databases and the data is charged for each search, so a check that includes them costs money.

Outstanding finance

Finance agreements are not on the DVLA record. Lenders register them, and the registers are private. We have not found any service that shows the result of a finance check for free. Some pages called "free finance check" show the free basics and then charge for the finance result.

CarCostCheck's £4.99 outstanding finance check shows any agreement still on the car, with the lender, agreement type, start and end dates, agreement number and the number to call to settle it. If a car has finance outstanding, do not pay until the seller has settled it and you have seen confirmation from the lender. Our guide on how to check if a car has outstanding finance covers what to do next.

Insurance write-offs (Cat S, Cat N and the older C and D)

When an insurer writes a car off, the record goes on the insurers' write-off register, MIAFTR, which is not public. Free warning signs include a long gap in the MOT history, a price well under similar cars and signs of repair at the viewing, such as panels that do not match. To be sure, run a write-off check: ours shows the category, date, cause, damage and insurer. Cat S and Cat N explained covers what each category means.

Police stolen record

Some free checks show whether a car is currently recorded as stolen: Total Car Check says its free check does (checked 12 October 2026). CarCostCheck's free report does not. Our £4.99 stolen car check searches Police National Computer records and shows the date reported and a police contact if the car is recorded as stolen. For free, use the GOV.UK logbook checks above.

Previous keepers

Keeper names and addresses are not public. The DVLA releases a registered keeper's details only to someone with a "reasonable cause", such as finding out who was responsible for an accident. An individual applies by post on form V888, and the form explains how to pay.

The free report shows when the current V5C was issued, when the DVLA supplies it. The £4.99 check shows how many keepers the car has had, the date of each recorded change of keeper and how long each keeper had the car, without names. See our previous owners check.

Free car history check or the £4.99 full check: which do you need?

Use free checks to screen every car you look at. Pay for the full check on the one or two you are ready to view or buy, especially when:

• the car is a few years old or newer, so it may still be on finance;
• you are buying from a private seller;
• the price is well under similar cars;
• the plate or colour has changed recently, or the V5C was issued very recently;
• you are about to hand over a deposit.

Check a car free See what the £4.99 check shows See a sample report

How to check a car for free in four steps

1. Run the reg. Use CarCostCheck or the GOV.UK services, and check that the make, model, year, engine and fuel match the advert.
2. Read the MOT history and the mileage. Walk away from mileage that goes down, and ask about any long gap with no test.
3. Check recalls, tax and ULEZ. An open safety recall is usually fixed by the manufacturer at no cost to you; tax and ULEZ affect what the car will cost you.
4. Check the logbook at the viewing. Look for the DVL watermark, check the serial number against the stolen ranges and match the VIN and engine number to the car.

If the car passes all four, run the £4.99 check before you pay a deposit. It is offered on the free report page, so you do not need to start again.

Free checks that are not quite free

Before you type a reg into any free car check, look out for:

• results that say "issues found" but make you pay to see what they are;
• a request for your email address before you see any results;
• a low first price that starts a trial and then renews as a subscription unless you cancel.

CarCostCheck's free report needs no sign-up, no email and no card, and every paid check is a one-off payment.

Car finance compensation is a different thing. If you searched for a free car finance check because you think you may be owed money on a car finance deal you had in the past, that is about your own agreement, not a car you are buying, and a vehicle check will not answer it. The Financial Conduct Authority's car finance complaints page explains how to complain to your lender.

How much does a full car history check cost?

On 12 October 2026, single checks that include outstanding finance cost from £3.99 to £39.99 on the providers' own websites. CarCostCheck's is £4.99, paid once, with no subscription. Some dearer checks include a data guarantee, such as up to £30,000 with the AA's check; ours does not. For every provider's price, see our cheapest car history check prices.

Related Reading

• Car history checks compared
• How to check MOT history free
• VIN check: how to match a VIN to the V5C
• Car check FAQ