Compare Cars Side by Side
Enter up to 5 registration plates to compare running costs, MOT history, reliability, and vehicle specs. Don't have reg plates to hand? Jump to popular comparisons ↓
The Comparison Report
Don't just compare specs.
Find out which one to actually buy.
1 in 3 used cars has a hidden problem - outstanding finance, a write-off record, clocked mileage. Picking the wrong car off your shortlist can cost thousands. Check your whole shortlist at once and we'll tell you, in plain English, which car is the strongest buy and which to walk away from.
Every car's full report
Stolen, outstanding finance, write-off, mileage clocking, owners and VIN - a complete individual report for each car, emailed and saved forever.
+ The comparison report
A side-by-side verdict page: every check compared row by row, red flags highlighted, and our recommendation on which car to buy. Included free.
Cheaper per car
2nd car 50p off, 3rd onwards 99p off each. Two cars fully checked for £9.48 - less than half of ONE £19.99 HPI check.
“LT19 ABC (VW Golf) is the strongest buy of your three”
Best health score (85/B), clean history, lowest running costs - and we'd walk away from WV08 XVZ: £2,340 outstanding finance found. See the full sample report →
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How Our Comparison Works
Compare free
Enter up to 5 registration plates. We instantly compare MOT history, health scores, running costs and reliability from official DVSA and DVLA data - free.
Add the full checks
One click adds stolen, outstanding-finance and write-off checks for every car - the multi-car discount is applied automatically (2nd car 50p off, 3rd+ 99p off each).
Get the verdict
Every car's full individual report, plus a side-by-side comparison report with red flags highlighted and our plain-English recommendation on which car to buy.
No plates yet? Browse popular comparisons
Ford Fiesta vs Vauxhall Corsa · VW Golf vs Ford Focus · BMW 3 Series vs Audi A4 · Toyota Yaris vs Honda Jazz · Nissan Qashqai vs Hyundai Tucson · Mini Cooper vs Fiat 500 · Ford Focus vs Vauxhall Astra · Audi A3 vs VW Golf · BMW 1 Series vs Audi A3 · Kia Sportage vs Nissan Qashqai · Toyota Corolla vs Honda Civic · VW Polo vs Renault Clio
Only checking one car, not comparing two? Get a free single vehicle report instead →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable car to buy used in the UK?
Based on real DVSA MOT data, Japanese manufacturers consistently produce the most reliable used cars. Toyota (Yaris, Corolla, Aygo), Honda (Jazz, Civic), and Suzuki (Swift, Vitara) all show MOT first-time pass rates above 90% at 8 years old. Our comparison tool shows you MOT pass rates side by side for any two or three cars you are considering.
Which is cheaper to run: petrol or diesel?
For drivers covering under 10,000 miles per year, petrol is almost always cheaper overall. Diesel cars typically cost more to buy and have more expensive fuel system repairs. For high-mileage drivers (20,000+ miles per year), diesel can still save money on fuel costs, but ULEZ and clean air zone charges increasingly apply to older diesels. Use our comparison tool to see estimated annual fuel costs for both fuel types.
How do I compare two cars I am thinking of buying?
Enter the registration plates of both cars into the comparison form above. We pull MOT history, mileage, health score, running costs, and reliability data from official DVSA and DVLA databases in seconds. You can compare up to five cars at once. If you do not have the reg plates, choose from the popular model comparisons below the form.
Does mileage or age matter more when buying a used car?
It depends on the car. For most modern engines, mileage is a better indicator than age because engines are built to last 150,000+ miles. However, rubber seals, belts, and fluid systems degrade with time regardless of mileage. A low-mileage, older car can have more rubber-related failures than a higher-mileage newer one. Our tool shows both metrics side by side and flags anything unusual in the mileage history.
What does the CarCostCheck health score mean?
The health score is a 0-100 rating based on MOT history, mileage consistency, number of advisories, and failure patterns from official DVSA data. A score above 80 is good. Below 60 suggests the car has had issues and may need attention. The score is calculated from real test results, not manufacturer claims, so it reflects what independent mechanics have actually found.