UK Car Check FAQ: Every Answer in One Place
Direct answers to the questions UK car buyers actually ask. Cheapest HPI check, what data you get, how to pay, how long it takes, what each write-off category means. If you are deciding whether to run a car check before buying, this page has everything in one read.
Start with a free reg plate check
MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score and running costs. No signup, no email, instant results. Add the £4.99 premium for stolen, finance and write-off data.
Cheapest UK car check
What is the cheapest UK car history check in 2026?
CarCostCheck premium at £4.99. It returns stolen, outstanding finance, write-off (Cat A, B, S, N, plus legacy C and D), VIN verification, previous keeper count, colour changes and plate transfers. That is 75% cheaper than HPI (£19.99) and 67% cheaper than AA or RAC (£14.99), using the same underlying Experian data.
Is there a free UK car check that actually works?
Yes. The CarCostCheck free report (at carcostcheck.co.uk) returns full MOT history since 2005, mileage verification with automatic clocking detection, a reliability score out of 100, running cost estimates, common faults, red flag alerts, and insurance group. No signup, no email, no card. The only thing the free report cannot do is check stolen, finance, or write-off status, because those sit in private insurance databases.
Why is CarCostCheck cheaper than HPI?
Same data, lower overheads and no subscription traps. HPI auto-enrols you in a £39/year subscription after your one-off check. CarCostCheck is pay-once, £4.99, no subscription, no email list. The provenance data (stolen, finance, write-off) is sourced identically through Experian.
Are free HPI check sites legitimate?
No. Sites advertising a free HPI check can only show free DVLA data (make, model, tax, MOT status). They cannot access stolen, finance, or write-off databases for free because those databases charge per query. Any claim of a free full HPI check is misleading.
What you get for £4.99
What does the £4.99 CarCostCheck premium report include?
Stolen check (Police National Computer), outstanding finance check, write-off category check (Cat A, B, S, N plus legacy C, D), VIN verification, previous keeper count, colour change history, plate transfer history. On top of that, you get everything in the free report: full MOT analysis, mileage verification, reliability score, running costs, common faults, and red flag alerts. 15+ data points in a single £4.99 report.
Is the CarCostCheck report instant?
Yes. The free report loads in under 10 seconds after you enter a reg plate. The £4.99 premium report is delivered instantly after payment, on-screen and by email, including a PDF copy.
Do I get a PDF of my car check report?
Yes. Every premium report is emailed as a PDF and also available as a permanent live web link (the link keeps working indefinitely so you can share with a mechanic, finance provider, or the seller).
Can I check multiple cars with one payment?
Each £4.99 premium report is for one vehicle. The free report is unlimited: check as many cars as you like for free without paying anything.
How to use CarCostCheck
How do I check a UK car by registration plate?
Go to carcostcheck.co.uk, type the registration into the search box, and press check. You see the free report instantly: MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, running costs. If you want the stolen, finance, and write-off checks too, add the premium for £4.99.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no signup, no email collection, no password. You can check a car completely anonymously. If you buy a premium report, you only enter a card; even then, no account is created.
What payment methods do you accept?
Card payment via Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay). No PayPal required, no crypto, no bank transfer hassle.
How long does payment take?
Under 60 seconds from reg plate to full report, including card entry. Most users take 20-40 seconds.
MOT, mileage, tax and the free checks
How do I check MOT history for free?
CarCostCheck free returns every MOT test since 2005 with plain-English explanations of every advisory, estimated repair costs, and mileage analysis. The DVSA also offers raw MOT data for free, but without the interpretation. CarCostCheck uses the same DVSA API with analysis added on top.
How do I check if a car's mileage is genuine?
CarCostCheck's free report runs automatic clocking detection on every lookup. It analyses MOT mileage readings across years and flags any sudden drops, impossible increments, or suspicious static periods. Around 1 in 16 UK used cars has had its mileage tampered with, so this check is essential and it costs nothing.
How do I check if a car is taxed?
Free on CarCostCheck, free on the DVLA's own site. Both return live tax status and current tax band. Never pay for a tax check; the data is released under the Open Government Licence. CarCostCheck adds the annual tax cost in pounds alongside the status.
Can I check a VIN online?
Partial VIN data is in the free DVLA service (make, model, year). Full VIN verification that confirms the VIN on the car matches official records and checks against stolen, finance and write-off databases is £4.99 in the CarCostCheck premium report.
Stolen, finance and write-off checks
How do I check if a UK car is stolen?
The Police National Computer (PNC) stolen register is accessed through Experian. CarCostCheck queries it as part of the £4.99 premium report. Free services cannot access the PNC.
How do I check if there is finance on a car?
Outstanding finance data is held in lender databases accessed through Experian. CarCostCheck queries it in the £4.99 premium report. If you buy a car with active finance without knowing, the finance company can legally repossess the car from you even if you paid for it in full, so this check is critical when buying privately.
What are the UK car write-off categories?
Current (from October 2017): Cat A (scrap only), Cat B (body shell destroyed, parts salvageable), Cat S (structural damage, road-legal after repair), Cat N (non-structural damage, road-legal). Legacy (pre-October 2017): Cat C (replaced by Cat S), Cat D (replaced by Cat N). All markers are permanent once recorded.
How do I check if a car has been written off?
Run the £4.99 CarCostCheck premium report. It queries the insurance industry MIAFTR and CUE databases and returns the write-off category if any. No free service has access to this data.
Is CarCostCheck trustworthy?
Is CarCostCheck legit?
Yes. CarCostCheck pulls vehicle data from DVSA (MOT History API) and DVLA (Vehicle Enquiry Service), both official UK government APIs. Premium provenance data (stolen, finance, write-off) is sourced through Experian, the same underlying provider as HPI, AA, and RAC. The site is run from the UK and processes payments via Stripe.
Why are other car check services so much more expensive?
Legacy pricing and hidden subscriptions. HPI charges £19.99 partly because that is what they have always charged and partly because they auto-enrol customers in a £39/year subscription after the initial check. CarCostCheck is pay-once, no subscription, and was built from the ground up on lower-cost modern infrastructure, so the £4.99 price reflects actual cost rather than brand premium.
Who uses CarCostCheck?
Private used car buyers, small dealers, auction buyers, anyone who wants an HPI-equivalent check without paying £20. The free report is also used by people checking their own car before selling it to see what a buyer will see.
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