Car check
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What’s a Basic Car Check?
It’s an online report that reveals key details about a vehicle’s identity and history using its registration number.
It helps you make informed decisions when buying, selling, or maintaining. It provides details such as previous owners, mileage records, and tax status.
The report also includes technical specifications and registration information.
What Data is Included in a Basic Car Check?
Using a license plate, you instantly see the car’s details such as brand, model, colour and technical specifications.
Verify the year of manufacture (construction), latest V5C issue date, registration date, MOT expiry, tax status, engine size, fuel type, CO₂ output (g/km), emissions, body type, Euro status, MOT mileage, export information, SORN status, and insurance checks.
What’s a Full Car Check?
It’s a detailed online report that uncovers a vehicle’s legal, financial, and structural history, building on the basic car check.
It identifies serious risks such as outstanding finance, theft, insurance write-offs, mileage discrepancies, and previous keeper history.
This level of report provides a complete picture of the vehicle’s history, ideal if you’re buying a used car and want reassurance before committing.
What’s Included in a Full Car Check?
A full car check is a comprehensive background vehicle check. It builds on the basic report by revealing critical legal, financial, and identity data that could impact your decision to buy.
The CarVeto Premium Report includes the following:
Legal & Financial Risk
- Outstanding finance check (via Experian Asset Register)
- Logbook loan detection
- Theft status (Police National Computer)
- Insurance write-off check (MIAFTR database)
- Write-off classification: Cat A, B, S, N
- Salvage history
- Scrapped or unscrapped status
- VIC inspection flag
Check for a Stolen Vehicle.
MOT, Tax & Mileage
- MOT expiry date and advisory notices
- Road tax status, expiry date, and cost
- Annual fuel cost estimate
- CO₂ emissions rating (g/km)
- Extended mileage history (MOT, lease, and service sources)
- Mileage anomalies or rollback detection
Check Car Tax Cost by registration. See current tax rates, CO₂ output, and emissions standards.
Ownership & Registration
- Number of previous keepers
- Date and duration of each keeper’s ownership
- Region of registration
- V5C logbook issue date
- Number plate change history (private/cherished)
- Q plate registration check
- Import/export status
Learn about Car Ownership.
Technical & Mechanical Specifications
- Manufacturer, model, variant, and colour
- Engine size, power (BHP/kW), torque
- Fuel type, turbo type, and fuel delivery
- Transmission type and alignment
- Euro emissions classification
- Engine number and VIN Check (last 4 digits)
- Number of seats and doors
- Brake horsepower, cylinder layout, and valve count
Vehicle Dimensions & Performance
- Width, length, and height
- Wheelbase
- Top speed
- Insurance group
- Fuel consumption (combined, urban, extra urban)
This report pulls verified data from DVLA, DVSA, Experian, the Police National Computer, and other trusted sources, helping you avoid costly mistakes and buy with confidence.
When do I Check a Car Online?
Conduct a basic or full car or vehicle check when preparing to buy or sell a vehicle.
Checks verify a car’s legal status and history, helping you make informed decisions and avoid costly surprises.
They’re also useful during routine maintenance, ensuring your vehicle meets UK road laws and stays roadworthy.
To legally drive a car in the UK, your vehicle must have:
- Valid road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty)
- A current MOT certificate (if over 3 years old)
- Active car insurance (at least third-party cover)
CarVeto’s basic vehicle check confirms essential DVLA Vehicle Details, including current MOT status and tax.
Our customised MOT check service reveals:
- Full DVLA MOT History Check and expiry dates
- Pass/fail results and certificate numbers
- Advisory notes and warnings
Advisory notes highlight developing or defective issues, giving you time to fix them early, reducing the risk of breakdowns or expensive repairs.
Running regular checks helps preserve your car’s condition by identifying issues early and maintaining accurate service records. Both support better resale value.
You can check if your vehicle has valid insurance using the official askMID database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the terms are used interchangeably. A vehicle check provides the same data as a car check, including MOT, tax, finance, mileage, and ownership records.
Try a Free Vehicle Check.
Yes, CarVeto uses many of the same official data sources as HPI, including DVLA, the Police National Computer, and insurance databases such as MIAFTR. We include extra checks from BVRLA and RMI that HPI do not provide.
Compare CarVeto to Free HPI Check.
No, full service history is not always available online. However, you can rebuild a strong service history using MOT timelines, mileage records, and previous keeper data. CarVeto helps fill in the gaps using verified data.
Learn about rebuilding Vehicle Service History
The cheapest car check is CarVeto’s free report, which includes MOT status, tax details, and key DVLA data. For more in-depth checks, prices start at just £8.90 for Gold and £12.90 for Platinum, making CarVeto one of the best-value full vehicle check services in the UK.
Yes, CarVeto provides a 100% free car check covering MOT expiry, road tax status, mileage history, and vehicle identity data from official sources.
Each year, millions of vehicle checks are conducted across the UK, particularly during car purchases, sales, and routine maintenance schedules.