Check Any |
Completely Free.
Stolen check, finance check, write-off history, mileage verification, full MOT history, reliability scoring, and running cost analysis. Our free check already goes deeper than most paid alternatives.
Why Go Premium?
All 8 premium checks for just £4.99. Other services charge £10-£20.
Stolen Check
Is it stolen? Check against the Police National Computer
Finance Check
Outstanding PCP, HP, or loans that could cost you the car
Write-off Check
Has it been written off and put back on the road?
£4.99
Full provenance check
Others charge £10-£20
12 Checks
Stolen, finance, write-off, and more
The most comprehensive available
Since 2005
Full MOT history
Every test analysed
0-100
Reliability score
Unique to CarCostCheck
Popular car checks
MOT pass rates, reliability scores, and running costs for the UK's most searched models
Ford Fiesta
2015 · 998cc Petrol
Annual cost
£1,390
Pass rate
81%
Vauxhall Corsa
2015 · 1398cc Petrol
Annual cost
£1,722
Pass rate
78%
Ford Focus
2013 · 1596cc Petrol
Annual cost
£1,827
Pass rate
78%
Volkswagen Golf
2017 · 1598cc Diesel
Annual cost
£1,350
Pass rate
91%
Vauxhall Astra
2013 · 1700cc Diesel
Annual cost
£1,727
Pass rate
79%
Nissan Qashqai
2017 · 1200cc Petrol
Annual cost
£1,550
Pass rate
86%
Volkswagen Polo
2015 · 1198cc Petrol
Annual cost
£1,390
Pass rate
82%
The UK's most complete car check
Provenance checks, MOT history, mileage verification, reliability scoring, and running cost analysis. Everything other services charge £10-£20 for, plus deeper analysis they do not even offer.
No sign-up needed
- ✓MOT & tax status
- ✓Full MOT history
- ✓Mileage verification
- ✓Reliability score (0-100)
- ✓Running costs & MPG
- ✓CO2 & tax band
- ✓Common faults
- ✓Recall check
£4.99 one-time
Everything free, plus:
- ★Stolen check (PNC)
- ★Finance outstanding
- ★Write-off (Cat A/B/N/S)
- ★Previous owners
- ★VIN verification
- ★Colour changes
- ★Plate transfers
- ★Scrapped check
Stolen vehicle check
Checked against the Police National Computer. If the car has been reported stolen, you need to know before you buy. Included in our premium check for a fraction of what other services charge.
Outstanding finance check
If there is PCP, HP, or a loan still owed on the vehicle, you could lose both the car and your money. Our premium check catches this for just £4.99.
Insurance write-off check
Categories A, B, N, and S. Has the car been written off by an insurer and put back on the road? We check the full history so you are not caught out.
Mileage verification
Every odometer reading checked against the full MOT history back to 2005. If the mileage has been wound back or looks suspicious, we flag it immediately. Included free.
Reliability score (0-100)
A unique score based on MOT history, advisory trends, and maintenance patterns. No other car check service offers this. Included free with every report.
Running cost analysis
Fuel, road tax, predicted repairs, insurance estimates, and MOT costs combined into one clear annual figure. This goes well beyond what any typical car check includes.
How to check your car
Enter your UK registration plate
Type in the reg plate of any car you're thinking of buying, or your own vehicle.
We fetch official DVSA MOT and DVLA vehicle data
We pull the complete MOT history and vehicle details in real time. Every test since 2005 is included.
Get your instant free report
Full MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, common faults, red flags, and estimated running costs. All free, all instant.
Why pay more elsewhere?
Other car check services charge £10-£20 for less data. Here is what you actually get with CarCostCheck.
Typical paid car check (£10-£20)
- ✓Stolen check
- ✓Finance check
- ✓Write-off check
- ✓Mileage reading
- ✓Previous owners
- ✗Reliability scoring
- ✗Running cost analysis
- ✗Common fault guides
- ✗Repair cost estimates
- ✗Clocking detection
CarCostCheck Premium (£4.99)
- ✓Stolen check (PNC)
- ✓Finance check (PCP, HP, loans)
- ✓Write-off check (Cat A/B/N/S)
- ✓Mileage verification with clocking detection
- ✓Previous owners + plate transfers
- ✓VIN verification + colour changes
- ✓Full MOT history since 2005
- ✓Reliability score (0-100)
- ✓Running cost analysis
- ✓Common fault guides
- ✓Repair cost estimates
- ✓Red flag alerts
Our free check includes MOT history, mileage verification, reliability scoring, running costs, common faults, and red flags. Already more thorough than most paid services.
The most comprehensive car check available for under £5
Full provenance check powered by Experian data. Stolen, finance, write-off, mileage, owners, VIN, plate history, and more. Other services charge £10-£20 for less.
Stolen check
Checked against the Police National Computer
Finance check
Outstanding PCP, HP, or loan agreements
Write-off check
Insurance write-off categories (Cat A/B/N/S)
Previous owners
Full keeper count and change history
Typical car check services charge £10-£20 for basic provenance data. We include everything they offer, plus reliability scoring, running cost analysis, and common fault guides they do not.
How we compare
CarCostCheck includes more checks for less money. Our free check alone goes deeper than most paid alternatives.
| Feature | CarCostCheck | HPI Check | AA Check | RAC Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free basic check | Yes | No | No | No |
| MOT history analysis | Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Mileage verification | Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Reliability score | Free | No | No | No |
| Running cost analysis | Free | No | No | No |
| Common fault data | Free | No | No | No |
| Recall check | Free | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Stolen check | £4.99 | £19.99 | £9.95 | £14.99 |
| Finance check | £4.99 | £19.99 | £9.95 | £14.99 |
| Write-off check | £4.99 | £19.99 | £9.95 | £14.99 |
| Car valuation | £2.99 | Separate | No | No |
Prices correct as of April 2026. Premium provenance data sourced from Experian for all services.
Frequently asked questions
What makes CarCostCheck different from other car check services?▼
Most car check services charge £10-£20 and give you basic provenance data: stolen, finance, write-off. We include all of that for £4.99, plus reliability scoring, running cost analysis, common fault guides, and mileage verification that no other service offers. Our free check alone goes deeper than many paid alternatives.
Is the free check really that thorough?▼
Yes. The free check includes full MOT history back to 2005, mileage verification with clocking detection, a reliability score out of 100, running cost estimates, common faults for the make and model, red flag alerts, and recall checks. Most paid car check services do not include half of this.
What does the premium check include?▼
The premium check adds full provenance data powered by Experian: stolen vehicle check against the Police National Computer, outstanding finance (PCP, HP, loans), insurance write-off history (Cat A/B/N/S), previous owner count, VIN verification, colour changes, plate transfers, and scrapped status. All for £4.99, one time.
Why is it so much cheaper than other services?▼
Other services mark up their data significantly. We believe every car buyer deserves access to a proper car check without paying over the odds. We keep costs low by using official government data sources and passing the savings on. No subscriptions, no hidden fees.
What data do you use?▼
Free check data comes directly from DVSA (MOT History API) and DVLA (Vehicle Enquiry Service), the same official government databases that garages and dealers use. Premium provenance data is sourced from Experian. All government data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Can you detect clocked mileage?▼
We analyse every odometer reading from the full MOT history (back to 2005). If the mileage drops between tests, we flag it as a high clocking risk. We also detect suspicious gaps and unusually low readings. This is included free with every check.
What does the reliability score mean?▼
The reliability score is a 0-100 rating based on MOT pass rate, dangerous defects, advisory trends, recurring issues, mileage consistency, and neglect signals. Grade A (90+) means excellent condition; Grade F (below 30) means significant concerns. This is unique to CarCostCheck.
How often is the data updated?▼
Vehicle data is fetched live from DVSA and DVLA each time you run a check. Results are cached for 24 hours. The MOT history includes every test since the vehicle was first tested.
Why CarCostCheck is the car check UK buyers trust
Buying a used car without a proper check is a serious risk. Stolen vehicles, outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, clocked mileage, and hidden mechanical problems cost UK buyers millions every year. A thorough car check is not optional; it is essential.
Most car check services charge £10-£20 for basic provenance data: stolen status, finance, and write-off history. That is important, but it is only half the picture. CarCostCheck includes all of that for £4.99, then goes further with reliability scoring, running cost analysis, and common fault guides that no other service provides.
Our free check is already more detailed than many paid alternatives. Full MOT history back to 2005, mileage verification with clocking detection, a reliability score out of 100, predicted repair costs, annual running cost estimates, and red flag alerts. All from official DVSA and DVLA data, delivered instantly, with no sign-up required.
Whether you are buying your first car, comparing two options on a forecourt, or just want to know the true condition of your own vehicle, CarCostCheck gives you the most thorough report available at any price. Start with a free check. Upgrade to premium for £4.99 if you need the full provenance history. Either way, you will know more about that car than the seller does. See our full comparison with HPI Check to understand the difference.
Run the UK's most thorough car check
Enter any UK reg plate. Free check in seconds. Premium provenance check for £4.99.