Car History Check:
Full & Free Vehicle Reports by Registration
A car history check is a verified report that reveals a vehicle’s legal, financial, and structural background before purchase.
As a trusted UK car history check provider, CarVeto delivers free and full vehicle checks using just the registration number (VRM).
Powered by Official UK Data Sources
Each report is built from verified national databases, including:
- DVLA – for MOT history, tax status, and keeper records
- MIAFTR – for insurance write-off and salvage classification
- Police National Computer (PNC) – for theft and stolen vehicle alerts
- Experian Asset Register – for outstanding finance and logbook loans
- MIB – for insurance payout checks
- BVRLA – for lease mileage accuracy
- RMI – for service-related mileage verification
What You’ll See in Your Report
- MOT results, mileage trends, and CO₂ emissions
- Write-off status (Cat A, B, S, N), theft alerts, and VIN validation
- Previous owners, number plate history, SORN/export flags
- Finance and legal ownership risks with £30,000 data-backed coverage
Whether you're buying from a private seller, dealership, or online marketplace, a CarVeto car history check helps you uncover hidden issues, so you can buy with full confidence and legal protection.
What Is a Car History Check and What Does It Reveal?
A car history check is a detailed report that uncovers a used vehicle’s legal, financial, and structural background using its registration number.
While basic DVLA checks only show MOT and tax status, a full CarVeto report pulls data from trusted UK sources, including the DVLA, MIAFTR, Police National Computer (PNC), and finance institutions, to flag any hidden issues before you buy.
Each report checks over 80 key data points, including:
- Ownership history and number plate changes
- MOT results, mileage discrepancies, and inferred service history
- Insurance write-off status and accident damage classification (Cat A, B, S, N)
- Outstanding finance, logbook loans, and theft alerts
- VIN validation, scrappage status, CO₂ emissions, and environmental flags
Whether purchasing from a private seller, dealership, or online marketplace, a CarVeto vehicle history check helps you detect risks early and buy with complete peace of mind.
Vehicle Identity & DVLA Registration Check
Every CarVeto car history check begins by validating the vehicle’s core identity using DVLA registration records.
By matching the registration number (VRM) to official data, we confirm key vehicle specifications, including make, model, engine size, fuel type, body style, and colour, ensuring they match the logbook (V5C) and any online listings.
Your report also includes:
- Date of first UK registration
- V5C logbook issue date
- Taxation class and DVLA classification
- Number plate changes (current and historic)
- SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) or export status
These checks help uncover cloned vehicles, false plate transfers, and discrepancies in documentation.
Before moving on to finance, mileage, or accident data, CarVeto ensures the vehicle’s identity is fully verified, giving you confidence from the start.
MOT History & Verified Mileage Records
CarVeto’s vehicle history report includes a complete MOT history directly sourced from the DVLA.
Each MOT entry offers insight into the vehicle’s condition and usage patterns, including:
- Pass/fail outcomes
- Mileage readings at every test
- Advisories and failure reasons
- Irregular testing intervals or gaps
Beyond basic MOT data, our mileage analysis helps detect:
- Odometer anomalies and rollback attempts
- Tampering or inconsistent mileage progression
- Extended periods of minimal mileage
To further validate recorded mileage, CarVeto integrates additional data, when available, from BVRLA and RMI leasing and service networks.
Understanding a vehicle’s MOT and mileage history is essential for judging its mechanical reliability, road safety, and maintenance quality.
These insights help buyers spot hidden risks and make smarter, safer decisions.
Insurance Write-Off Check & Damage Categories
CarVeto’s vehicle history check verifies insurance write-off status using the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR), the UK’s official database of vehicles declared a total loss by insurers.
If a write-off is recorded, your report will show:
- Category A – Total loss; must be scrapped with no salvageable parts
- Category B – Major structural damage; vehicle must be scrapped, parts may be salvaged
- Category S (Structural) – Repairable structural damage (formerly Category C)
- Category N (Non-Structural) – Repairable non-structural damage (formerly Category D), such as electrical or cosmetic faults
Each case includes:
- The assigned write-off category
- The date of declaration by the insurer
- Salvage or auction resale notes, where applicable
These classifications are essential when assessing a car’s structural safety, repair history, and future resale value.
Without this check, buyers may unknowingly purchase vehicles with hidden crash damage or compromised roadworthiness, risks that can impact both safety and long-term ownership costs.
Read more on What is a Car Write-Off?
Outstanding Finance, Logbook Loans & Legal Liabilities
CarVeto’s finance check detects any active financial agreements registered against a vehicle, using data from the Experian Asset Register.
This reveals whether the car is still tied to:
- Hire Purchase (HP)
- Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)
- Leasing agreements
- Logbook loans (secured via a Bill of Sale)
Your report will show:
- If the vehicle has outstanding finance
- The type of finance agreement (HP, PCP, etc.)
- The lender’s name and reference number, where available
- Any logbook loans, which grant the lender legal rights over the car
A car with outstanding finance is legally owned by the lender, not the seller.
If purchased, the vehicle may be repossessed, or the new owner could be forced to pay off the debt.
This check is critical to verify legal ownership, avoid third-party claims, and ensure you're not left liable after purchase.
Theft Status, VIN Validation & Number Plate Cloning Checks
CarVeto’s car history check includes a real-time theft scan via the Police National Computer (PNC), the UK’s official stolen vehicle database.
If a vehicle is currently flagged as stolen, it can be seized by police, regardless of the current holder or transaction history.
Your report reveals:
- Current theft status directly from PNC records
- Theft report date and police status code
- Recovery status — whether the vehicle has been located or remains missing
- Insurance theft claims — flags if a payout was issued, even if the car was later recovered
This additional layer identifies vehicles that may have been salvaged, cloned, or sold through title laundering, posing serious ownership and insurance risks.
CarVeto also performs VIN verification, matching the last 4 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number against DVLA records, to uncover:
- VIN tampering, chassis swaps, or identity inconsistencies
- Unauthorised modifications that signal potential fraud
Number plate history is also reviewed, showing:
- All previous plate changes, including private and personalised registrations
These checks protect you from unknowingly purchasing a cloned or stolen vehicle, which could result in the loss of the car and no entitlement to compensation.
Learn more about Checking if a Car is Stolen.
Scrappage Status, Emissions Compliance & Road Legality
CarVeto’s vehicle history check verifies critical identity and environmental data using official records from the DVLA.
These checks ensure the car is legally roadworthy, accurately registered, and compliant with UK environmental regulations, helping avoid surprise costs, fines, or restrictions.
Included in your report:
- Scrappage status — flags if the vehicle has been deregistered, permanently scrapped, or removed from road use
- Q-plate registration — indicates the car was rebuilt, heavily modified, or imported without a verifiable identity
- VIC inspection history — shows if the vehicle required a Vehicle Identity Check after severe damage or identity loss
Environmental standards covered:
- Euro emissions rating — confirms if the car meets Euro 4, 5, or 6 standards (essential for ULEZ and city access)
- CO₂ emissions output — used to calculate road tax, fuel duty, and Clean Air Zone charges
- ULEZ / LEZ compatibility — shows whether the vehicle is compliant with London ULEZ and other low-emission zones
These checks provide clarity on whether a vehicle is:
✅ Road legal
✅ Emissions compliant
✅ Free from registration red flags
For deeper insights, visit our resource Car Tax & Emissions Check.
Free vs. Full CarVeto Report – Which One Do You Need?
Some users just want to screen vehicles, while others are ready to buy and need protection.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide.
Feature | Free Report | Full Report (Platinum) |
|---|---|---|
DVLA Vehicle Identity | ✅ | ✅ |
MOT History & Mileage Logs | ✅ | ✅ |
Tax, SORN & CO₂ data | ✅ | ✅ |
Outstanding Finance Check | ❌ | ✅ |
Insurance Write-Off Status | ❌ | ✅ |
VIN, Keeper & Plate History | ❌ | ✅ |
Theft alerts (PNC) | ❌ | ✅ |
£30,000 Finance Guarantee | ❌ | ✅ |
✅ Use a Free Report to shortlist safe options.
🔒 Use the Platinum Check before paying for a car to protect your money and legal ownership.
How a CarVeto Vehicle History Check Works
Running a car history check with CarVeto takes less than 60 seconds.
Using only the vehicle’s registration number, you’ll instantly receive verified data from official UK sources, including the DVLA, Police National Computer (PNC), MIAFTR, and Experian.
No logbook. No personal details. Just the reg.
Step 1 – Enter the Registration Number
Type the number plate into the CarVeto search bar. Our system matches it with government-backed databases to retrieve the vehicle’s core identity and history profile
Step 2 – Access Your Free Car Check
Your free report loads instantly and includes: Basic vehicle details MOT and tax status Emissions and export/SORN markers This is ideal for screening listings and ruling out early red flags before making contact or placing a deposit.
Step 3 – Unlock Full Report for Risk Protection
If you’re ready to move forward on a vehicle, upgrade to the Platinum Check for complete transparency: Legal, financial, and theft risk Write-off classification VIN and ownership validation £30,000 data guarantee This protects you from buying a misrepresented, unsafe, or finance-encumbered car, helping you make a secure and confident purchase.
Why Choose CarVeto? Trusted, Data-Driven Vehicle Checks
CarVeto delivers one of the UK’s most advanced vehicle history checks, blending verified data with intelligent validation to give you a comprehensive, risk-focused report before you buy.
Our reports are powered by trusted UK sources:
- DVLA — registration details, MOT history, tax status, keeper records, SORN/export flags
- MIAFTR — official insurance write-off classifications (Categories A, B, S, N)
- Police National Computer (PNC) — stolen vehicle alerts and theft investigations
- Experian Asset Register — outstanding finance and logbook loan checks
- BVRLA & RMI — verified mileage and lease/service history
Designed for both private buyers and motor trade professionals, CarVeto helps individuals, dealerships, and fleet managers make safe, compliant, and confident purchase decisions.
✅ Trusted Risk Protection with Every Platinum Report
Upgrade to a Platinum report and get:
- 80+ validated data points across legal, financial, and structural categories
- £30,000 data-backed guarantee covering ownership disputes and financial loss
- Clear, defensible reporting built for legal assurance and peace of mind
Whether buying from a dealer or private seller, CarVeto ensures you're fully protected against hidden damage, outstanding debt, vehicle cloning, and other costly surprises.
👉 Compare Report Features or Run Your UK Free Car Check Now
Frequently Asked Questions About Car History Checks
No. The free CarVeto car history check does not include VIN verification. To access this feature, you'll need the Platinum Check, which displays the last 4 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
This protects against VIN tampering, cloning, and chassis fraud.
No. CarVeto reports are generated using the vehicle registration number (VRM). The chassis number is part of the VIN and is verified internally, but it cannot be used to run a search.
No. A DVLA check shows only basic vehicle data, such as MOT expiry, tax status, and registration details.
A CarVeto car history check includes:
- Outstanding finance and logbook loans
- Insurance write-off status
- Theft records via the Police National Computer (PNC)
- Keeper history and number plate changes
- VIN checks and scrappage flags
See how to verify DVLA Car Details.
No. CarVeto does not provide garage service receipts. However, it does include verified mileage data that helps infer servicing accuracy:
- MOT mileage logs from the DVLA
- Lease history from BVRLA
- Garage entries from RMI
These insights help flag mileage rollback or inconsistencies.
Learn about Service History
Yes. CarVeto’s free report includes the complete MOT test history, including:
- Pass/fail outcomes
- Mileage at each test
- Advisory notes and failure reasons
- Gaps or delayed test records
Check our customised MOT History Check
No. Due to UK GDPR laws, CarVeto cannot display the name or address of previous vehicle keepers.
However, the report does show:
- Number of previous owners
- Dates of ownership transfers
- Region of initial registration
Explore the Car Owner Check
Yes. Running a car history check is strongly recommended for first-time buyers.
CarVeto helps reveal:
- Clocked mileage
- Outstanding finance or logbook loans
- Theft status or VIN cloning
- Insurance write-off or salvage categories
This ensures confidence and legal protection before purchase.
No. CarVeto is a leading alternative to HPI checks, offering similar or extended features:
- Finance and write-off verification
- Theft alerts via the PNC
- VIN validation
- £30,000 data-backed guarantee
Compare CarVeto vs. HPI Check
Yes. CarVeto provides advanced vehicle checks tailored to trade professionals, including:
- Car dealers and fleet operators
- Auction buyers and importers
- Bulk check functionality
- Trade API access
- Custom dashboards