Check a Car

MyPlateCheck

Check the car before you buy it.

Start with a free vehicle check, then go deeper only when you need to.

Run a Free Vehicle Check

Used car buying check

Check the car, the history and the paperwork.

The safest way to approach a used car is to combine vehicle data with a physical inspection and document checks. No single database can tell you everything about the condition of the car in front of you.

UK registration lookupMOT & tax contextBuyer-focused reports

Before you travel

Run the registration first. Confirm the make, model and key vehicle details match the advert, then review MOT status, mileage and anything in the record that you want the seller to explain.

At the vehicle

Match the VIN and registration to the documents, inspect tyres, lights, bodywork, fluids and warning lights, and compare the car's wear with the claimed mileage and service history.

Before paying

For a meaningful purchase, consider deeper history checks for write-off, theft, finance and salvage exposure. Make sure the seller has the right to sell the vehicle and avoid being rushed into payment.

How to use this information

MyPlateCheck combines available vehicle data into buyer-focused checks. Data can contain omissions or recording errors, so use it alongside the V5C, VIN, service history, seller evidence and a physical inspection. Resolve material inconsistencies before paying for a vehicle.

Questions buyers ask

Useful answers before you check.

What should I check first on a used car?+

Start with the registration and vehicle identity, then MOT, mileage and documents before moving on to physical condition and deeper history.

Should I buy a car without a history check?+

For a low-value vehicle you may decide differently, but the higher the purchase price, the more useful it becomes to check risks that are not visible in a basic MOT or tax lookup.

Should I get a mechanical inspection?+

For expensive, unusual or uncertain vehicles, an independent mechanical inspection can provide information that database checks cannot.

Start with the registration

Check the vehicle before you commit.

Run the free vehicle lookup first, then choose deeper history checks if the purchase needs them.