Free Car Check
Instantly verify a vehicle’s MOT, Tax & Insurance history
Verify a UK vehicle registration using official DVLA sources
Get a full vehicle check with mileage, car history, and registration details. Powered by DVLA and Police databases.
Avoid scams, spot hidden risks, and check your car’s legal status in under 10 seconds.
Enter registration number
Instant Vehicle Check – MOT, Tax, Insurance & Registration History
Get real-time access to verified MOT, tax, insurance, and registration records, sourced directly from DVLA and askMID.
We use trusted UK records from government and insurance sources to deliver accurate, up-to-date vehicle history.
It’s the fastest way to confirm a car is road-legal and safe to buy or sell.
How the Free Car Check Works
Step 1: Enter the registration number
Start by entering any UK number plate. CarVeto instantly retrieves and verifies official DVLA records to confirm the vehicle’s make, model, fuel type, and registration history.
Step 2: Review key vehicle details
See verified MOT status, tax class, engine size, emissions rating, and year of manufacture—all drawn from trusted UK sources like DVLA and the Vehicle Certification Agency.
Step 3: Uncover hidden risks before you buy
Check for outstanding finance, theft alerts, insurance write-off history, mileage discrepancies, plate changes, and previous ownership. Verifying these risks protects you from buying a vehicle with hidden issues.
Free Reg Check – Instantly Verify Tax, MOT & Insurance Status
Run a quick and accurate reg check to view MOT expiry, road tax status, insurance confirmation, mileage history, and registration details, all verified through UK sources like DVLA and askMID.
CarVeto cross-references data from DVLA, the Motor Insurance Database (MID), and the Vehicle Certification Agency to provide a complete summary of a vehicle’s legal standing and roadworthiness.
What’s Included in Your Free Car History Check?
🔍 Your free report includes:
- Make & model
- Engine size
- Fuel type
- Emissions rating
- Registration date
- MOT and tax status
- Mileage history
- Verified instantly from official UK records
Buying a Used Car? Unlock Deeper Checks Before You Commit
Upgrade to a full CarVeto vehicle history report to uncover critical risks that free checks can’t show:
🔒 Outstanding finance – Detect loans, lease plans, or logbook-secured debt
🚨 Theft and write-off status – Avoid stolen vehicles or write-offs (Cat A, B, S, N)
🔁 Keeper and plate history – Review all previous owners & number plate changes
🧬 VIN and document match – Confirm consistency across the logbook, chassis number, and DVLA database
➡️ With full access to verified legal, financial, and identity records, you can make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Free
What's Included
- Basic information
- Outstanding finance
- Stolen
- Write-off
- £30,000 data guaruntee
Check your vehicle now for FREE
Platinum
What's Included
- Outstanding finance
- Stolen
- Write-off
- Import/export
- Scrapped/unscrapped
- Plate changes
- Colour changes
- Mileage problems
- BVRLA & RMI search
- Registered near
- £30,000 data guarantee
Check your vehicle now for £12.90
Gold
What's Included
- Stolen
- Write-off
- Mileage problems
- Export
- Registered near
- Outstanding finance
- £30,000 data guarantee
Check your vehicle now for £8.90
Why You Need a Car Check Before You Buy
Before buying a used car, it’s vital to check its full history. Missing key details can lead to legal issues, unexpected costs, or safety risks.
A clean exterior may hide serious problems like unpaid finance or past damage that only a history report can uncover.
⚠️ Common risks include:
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off or salvage classification
- Theft records
- Mileage discrepancies
CarVeto uses verified data from UK sources, including DVLA and MID, to help you avoid hidden issues and make a confident, informed purchase.
Premium Car Check – Uncover Hidden Legal, Financial & Identity Risks
CarVeto’s Premium Check uncovers legal and financial risks that basic checks miss, issues that can block a sale, void insurance, or cost you thousands later.
It scans for:
💳 Outstanding finance
🚨 Theft and write-off records
🔁 Plate cloning and ownership mismatches
🧬 VIN and document inconsistencies
📊 Mileage rollbacks and service gaps
All checks are powered by verified UK data from the Police National Computer, Experian, MIAFTR, MID, BVRLA, and DVLA.
➡️ Instant alerts flag serious risks early. Avoid costly mistakes and make a fully informed decision.
What’s Included in a Premium Car Check?
CarVeto’s Premium Check cross-references police, finance, mileage, salvage, insurance and DVLA records to identify serious risks that affect legal use, resale value, and ownership clarity.
Legal & Compliance Checks
🔐 Stolen vehicle check: Confirms if the car is flagged as stolen in police or MIB records
💥 Write-off and salvage status: Identifies if it’s classified as Cat A, B, S or N (MIAFTR)
🧾 Scrappage and VIC inspection: Flags vehicles rebuilt, scrapped or needing identity checks
🔄 Q plate and re-registration: Highlights major rebuilds or status changes with the DVLA
Financial Risk Detection
💳 Outstanding finance: Finds active loans, leases or conditional ownership (Experian)
📄 Logbook loan detection: Alerts if the car is used to secure personal credit
⚠️ Title clearance: Warns if legal ownership can’t be transferred
Ownership & Identity Verification
👤 Keeper history: Lists all previous owners and change dates
🔁 Plate transfer history: Tracks private plate changes that may hide usage
🧬 VIN and engine number check: Confirms alignment with DVLA and V5C
Mileage & Lifecycle Analysis
📊 Mileage anomaly detection: Flags inconsistencies across MOT, lease and service data
🛠️ Service vs MOT mileage match: Confirms mileage accuracy across sources
Free vs Premium Vehicle History Check: Feature Comparison
Feature | Free Car Check | Premium Car Check |
|---|---|---|
DVLA Data Access | ✅ MOT, tax, registration, engine size | ✅Full DVLA data + legal and financial risk sources |
Vehicle Identity Match | 🔍 Reg, model, fuel type, emissions rating | 🔍 Adds VIN and engine number verification |
Write-Off & Theft Status | ❌ Not included | 🚨 Full theft and insurance write-off data (Cat A/B/S/N) |
Finance & Logbook Loans | ❌ Not included | 💳 Active finance agreements and logbook-secured loans |
Ownership History | ❌ Not included | 👤 Previous owners, change dates, and number plate history |
Mileage Records | 📄 MOT mileage only | 📊 Includes lease, service, and MOT mileage checks |
Scrappage & Export Flags | ⚠️ Basic DVLA export status | 🧾 Adds scrappage records, Q plates, and VIC inspection results |
What to Check Before You Buy a Used Car
Before committing to a used car, it’s essential to verify that it’s legally safe, financially clear, and mechanically sound. Even well-presented vehicles can hide costly or dangerous problems.
CarVeto checks bring clarity to the buying process by using verified UK data, including DVLA, Police National Computer, and insurance and finance databases.
Used Car Buyer Checklist
Look out for these red flags before finalising any deal:
💳 Finance debt – Make sure there are no loans or leases attached that could block legal ownership.
🚨 Theft status – If flagged as stolen, the vehicle may be seized, even after purchase.
💥 Write-off history – Damage from past accidents (Cat A/B/S/N) affects safety, resale value, and insurance.
📊 Mileage irregularities – Gaps or mismatches across MOT, service, or lease records can signal odometer fraud.
🧬 Identity inconsistencies – The VIN, logbook, and registration must align. Any mismatch may suggest cloning.
📄 MOT and tax status – Confirm the vehicle is currently taxed and MOT-certified to be roadworthy.
👤 Keeper history – Frequent ownership changes or plate swaps may indicate hidden usage patterns.
🔁 Number plate changes – Review all private and standard plate changes to detect potential misuse.
🟢 Pro Tip: Most of these checks take seconds with CarVeto’s Registration Plate Check. For complete peace of mind, unlock full vehicle history with the Premium Report.
Why the Free GOV.UK Car Check Falls Short
The GOV.UK car check is a helpful starting point.
It covers basic details like MOT status, tax expiry, engine size, and registration information.
But it doesn’t go far enough to protect you from legal, financial, or ownership risks such as theft, hidden finance, or write-off history.
CarVeto goes further, cross-referencing verified UK sources, like the DVLA, Police National Computer, MID, and MIAFTR.
To uncover high-risk issues that GOV.UK car checks don’t reveal:
🚨 Stolen vehicle alerts – Flags if the car is listed as stolen by police or insurance databases
💥 Write-off classification – Detects cars written off as Cat A, B, S, or N
📊 Mileage discrepancies – Identifies odometer rollbacks and missing service history
💳 Outstanding finance – Finds loans, lease agreements, or logbook-secured debt tied to the vehicle
➡️ CarVeto turns raw data into a clear risk summary, helping you avoid costly mistakes and make an informed decision before you buy.
FAQs – Car Checks, Ownership & Reports
General Car Buyer Questions
Yes. CarVeto compares the VIN, number plate, and logbook data against police and theft databases to detect cloning. Manually check that the last four digits of the VIN match both the vehicle and its registration document. You should also compare the engine number.
No. A history report covers ownership, finance, mileage, and legal status. A service history records past maintenance, like oil changes and repairs.
No. Cambelt schedules aren’t included in DVLA or MOT records. Refer to the service book or manufacturer’s guidelines for timing belt intervals.
CarVeto vs Other Providers
CarVeto includes the same core checks, finance, theft, and write-offs as HPI, and adds data from BVRLA, RMI, and other sources for deeper mileage and keeper history analysis.
The best free car checker delivers instant MOT, tax, and insurance status. CarVeto pulls from DVLA and askMID, with optional upgrades for deeper history and risk checks.
Electric Vehicles and Environment Zones
Yes. Where available, EV data includes battery range, charging type, powertrain info, and energy efficiency.
Yes. CarVeto shows Euro emissions level, fuel type, and engine details to help assess compliance with low-emission zones.
Yes. The report displays Euro NCAP crash safety ratings when available.
Ownership and Registration Checks
Yes. CarVeto reports the number of registered keepers, change dates, and often the original registration location.
Yes. CarVeto supports UK-wide checks, including vehicles registered in Northern Ireland.
Support and Troubleshooting
CarVeto offers a free report and two paid options: Gold and Platinum. Pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.
Start by confirming the registration number. DVLA data may have delays. If the issue persists, contact CarVeto’s UK-based support team.
The vehicle may be recently registered, scrapped, deregistered, or imported. Double-check the reg number for typos. If it's still missing, reach out to support.
Buying Advice & Safety
To avoid hidden risks like outstanding finance, mileage fraud, write-offs, or theft. CarVeto reveals these issues using official UK data before you commit.
A reg check confirms MOT and tax status, insurance record, engine size, fuel type, and registration history, verifying if the car is road-legal and properly registered.
