When you enter a reg, CarCostCheck pulls the car's MOT history from DVSA and its vehicle details from DVLA, then works out the reliability score, mileage check, running costs and red flags automatically, so the free report is ready in seconds. When you buy the history check, the stolen, finance and write-off data comes from Experian AutoCheck, supplied through a data partner, and appears on the same report.
A paid report is easy to come back to: it appears on screen straight away, and we email you a link to it that does not expire.
Here is the optimal way to check a car in person using CarCostCheck on your phone:
- Before you view the car, bookmark carcostcheck.co.uk on your phone's home screen for one-tap access.
- When you arrive to view the car, ask the seller for the reg plate. If they hesitate, that is already a red flag.
- Open CarCostCheck and type the reg. The free report appears in seconds.
- Scan the free report for red flags: low reliability score, MOT advisories, mileage anomalies, common faults.
- If the free report looks clean, pay £4.99 for the history check. The stolen, finance and write-off results appear on screen seconds later.
- Make your decision on the spot.
Total cost: £0, or £4.99 if you buy the history check.
Even if you never pay for the history check, the free CarCostCheck report alone is often enough to decide whether a car is worth serious consideration. A low reliability score, repeated MOT failures or mileage that does not add up are all good reasons to walk away. Save the £4.99 history check for the cars that pass the free screen and are serious purchase candidates.
CarCostCheck's £4.99 history check covers stolen, outstanding finance and write-off, and the free report gives you MOT history, a mileage check, a reliability score and running costs. £4.99 is less than most checks that include finance.
- 12 checks free, no sign-up. Full MOT history, MOT and tax status, mileage check with clocking detection, reliability score, red flag alerts, running costs, fuel costs, road tax, common faults, safety recalls, ULEZ and clean air zone compliance, and the export marker.
- Premium history for £4.99. Stolen (Police National Computer), outstanding finance with the lender and agreement details, write-off with category (A, B, S, N and the older C and D), date, insurer and damage, the date of each recorded keeper change, VIN check, plate and colour changes, import and export markers, scrapped and high-risk markers. The data comes from Experian AutoCheck.
- Valuation for £2.99. The local dealer value from live UK listings, a private sale price range and how quickly similar cars sell near you.
- Bundle for £6.99. The history check and valuation together.
- No subscription, ever. Every CarCostCheck report is a one-time payment. One payment, one report, done.
- Reliability score. A single 0-100 health score worked out from the car's own MOT history: pass rate, recent failures, advisory trend, recurring faults and mileage.
- Results in seconds. From DVSA, DVLA and Experian data.
Our premium data comes from Experian AutoCheck: stolen records from the Police National Computer, write-offs from MIAFTR and outstanding finance from Experian's finance register. We keep the price at £4.99 by keeping our overheads low. Every paid check is a one-off payment: your report appears on screen, and we email you a link to it that does not expire.
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12 checks included free. Full history from £4.99. Valuation from £2.99. No subscription, ever.
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