Free Car Check: MOT History, Mileage & More
The most thorough free car check in the UK. Get MOT history analysis, mileage verification, reliability scoring, and running cost estimates for any vehicle. No signup needed.
12 free data points in every report
Based on 59,115,744 MOT tests across 6,059 vehicle models.
How we compare to other car check services
| Feature | CarCostCheck (Free) | CarCostCheck (Premium) | HPI Check | TotalCarCheck | GOV.UK MOT Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOT history analysis | |||||
| Mileage verification | |||||
| Reliability score | |||||
| Running cost estimate | |||||
| Common faults guide | |||||
| Red flag detection | |||||
| Stolen check (PNC) | |||||
| Outstanding finance | |||||
| Write-off check | |||||
| Price | Free | £4.99 | £19.99 | £9.95 | Free |
How it works
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 live data from DVSA and DVLA government databases 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.
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, common faults for the specific make and model, red flag alerts for neglect or safety issues, insurance group estimation, 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. No other free service provides this level of analysis.
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 provenance 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 verifies the car is not stolen, has no outstanding finance, and has not been written off by an insurer. Combined with the free check, you get more information than an HPI check at a quarter of the price.
Related checks and tools
MOT History Check
Full test results and advisory analysis
Car History Check
Stolen, finance, write-off and mileage
Cheapest Cars to Run
Rankings by annual running costs
Reliability Rankings
Most and least reliable cars by MOT data
Car Valuation
How much is your car worth?
CarCostCheck vs HPI
See how we compare feature by feature
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.