Free Car History Check by Reg
More than a list of MOT results. Get MOT history analysis, mileage verification, reliability scoring, and running cost estimates for any vehicle. No signup needed.
Is a free car check enough? Free report vs £4.99 full check
Start free on any car. The £4.99 check adds the records a free check cannot show, paid once with no subscription.
| What you get | Free report | £4.99 check |
|---|---|---|
| MOT history, every advisory and failure explained with a repair estimate | ||
| Mileage check against every MOT reading (clocking risk) | ||
| Reliability score out of 100 | ||
| Running costs: fuel, road tax, MOT and predicted repairs | ||
| Safety recalls, tax and MOT status, ULEZ check | ||
| Estimated value range | ||
| Outstanding finance, with the lender and agreement details | ||
| Insurance write-off, with the category, date, cause and damage | ||
| Police stolen record (Police National Computer) | ||
| Keepers, with the date of each recorded change | V5C issue date only | |
| Private plate and colour changes | ||
| Import, export and scrapped markers | Export marker only | |
| VIN check and engine number | ||
| Price | Free, no sign-up | £4.99, paid once |
The free GOV.UK services show a car's tax and MOT status, its MOT history with the mileage at each test, and safety recalls that have not been fixed. None of them shows outstanding finance, write-offs or keeper names.
To buy the £4.99 check, enter the reg above for the free report, then add the history check on the report page. You will not need to enter the reg again.
What the free car check includes
Based on 59,107,508 MOT tests across 6,054 model years.
How to check a car for free by reg
Enter the reg plate
Type any UK vehicle registration into the search bar above. No signup or account needed.
We fetch official data
We pull official data from the DVSA and DVLA government databases, refreshed at least once a week, and analyse every MOT test, advisory, and failure.
Get your free report
View your complete report with MOT history analysis, reliability score, mileage verification, and running cost estimates. If you want the finance, stolen and write-off checks, add the £4.99 history check on the report page.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the free car check?
The free check includes full MOT history back to 2005, mileage verification with clocking detection, a reliability score out of 100, annual running cost estimates, the faults that keep coming up in the car's MOT history, red flag alerts for neglect or safety issues, and fuel cost calculations. No signup or payment required.
Is the free car check really free?
Yes, completely free with no strings attached. There is no signup, no email required, and no credit card needed. Enter a registration plate and get your report instantly. The optional premium upgrade at £4.99 adds stolen, finance, and write-off checks if you want the full picture.
How does CarCostCheck compare to other free car check services?
The GOV.UK MOT check shows raw test results but does not interpret them. CarCostCheck takes that same data and analyses it: interpreting advisories in plain English, estimating repair costs, detecting mileage clocking, scoring reliability, and calculating running costs, all for free.
What data sources do you use?
Free check data comes directly from DVSA (MOT History API) and DVLA (Vehicle Enquiry Service). These are the same official government databases used by garages and dealers. Premium vehicle history data (stolen, finance, write-offs) is provided by Experian. All government data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Can I check any UK vehicle for free?
Yes. Any vehicle registered in the UK with an MOT history can be checked for free. This includes cars, vans, and motorcycles. Very new vehicles (under 3 years old) may not have MOT data yet, but DVLA vehicle details will still be available.
Should I get the premium check as well?
If you are buying a used car, we recommend the premium check (£4.99). It checks whether the car is recorded as stolen, has outstanding finance or has been written off by an insurer. Combined with the free check, you get MOT history, mileage, reliability, running costs and the stolen, finance and write-off checks for £4.99 in total.
Can I check if a car is stolen for free?
Not fully. GOV.UK explains how to spot a stolen V5C logbook from its DVL watermark and serial number. A search of police stolen records is part of our £4.99 check.
Is there a free outstanding finance check?
We have not found one. Finance agreements sit on private registers, not on the DVLA record. Our £4.99 check shows any agreement still on the car, with the lender and agreement details.
Can I see a car's previous owners for free?
Not their names: DVLA only releases keeper details to someone with a reasonable cause. The free report shows when the current V5C was issued, and the £4.99 check shows how many keepers the car has had and when each change happened.
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Check any car free, right now
Enter any UK reg plate to get your free report in seconds. No signup, no email, no payment needed. Finance, stolen and write-off checks are £4.99 if you want them.