Everything Included in Our £8.99 Full Vehicle Check
Official Experian records cross-referencing UK finance agreements, police stolen registries, insurance write-off categories, and mileage anomalies.
The 8 Critical Checks Every Buyer Needs
Discover what each check investigates, why it matters for your protection, verified official sources, and what a clear result looks like.
Outstanding Finance (HP & PCP)
Checks whether the vehicle is subject to an active Hire Purchase (HP), Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), or lease agreement with UK finance lenders via Experian.
If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company remains the legal owner and can legally repossess the car. You lose both the vehicle and the cash you paid.
Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) & Experian Automotive
Aggregated FLA & Experian audit data indicates roughly 24% of used vehicles checked carry an active finance agreement.
Police Stolen Status
Queries the Police National Computer (PNC) and National Stolen Auto register to verify if the car has been reported stolen or missing.
Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (s.21), stolen goods convey no legal title. Police can seize the vehicle without compensation or refund.
Police National Computer (PNC) & National Stolen Vehicle Database
Under UK statutory law, buyers of stolen vehicles have no legal ownership rights and face immediate police repossession.
Insurance Write-off Category (Cat A, B, C, D, S, N)
Checks whether an insurer has declared the car a total loss and assigned a structural (Cat S) or non-structural (Cat N) salvage category.
Cat A and B cars are illegal to drive. Cat S and N cars carry structural or mechanical risk, cost significantly more to insure, and are worth 30% to 50% less than market value.
Motor Insurers' Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR / MIB)
MIAFTR registry records indicate approximately 1 in 12 UK vehicles checked has a recorded insurance write-off marker.
Odometer & Mileage Discrepancy Check
Analyzes official MOT mileage logs and salvage auction records to detect hidden odometer rollbacks, clocking, or data discrepancies.
Clocked cars conceal wear and tear, leading to sudden breakdown risks, false valuations, and unexpected heavy maintenance costs.
National Mileage Register (NMR) & DVSA MOT Inspection Logs
Cross-checks over 300 million historical mileage readings alongside official DVSA MOT timestamps.
Number Plate Transfer History
Lists every registration plate transfer, private plate change, and date of transfer recorded for the vehicle.
Frequent plate changes can be used by unscrupulous sellers to disguise a car's identity, hide write-off history, or evade past traffic penalties.
DVLA Cherished Transfer Database & Experian Records
Import & Export Status
Confirms whether the vehicle was imported into the UK from overseas or recorded as permanently exported with the DVLA.
Imported cars can be difficult or expensive to insure, may lack European safety standards, and often have unverified overseas history.
DVLA Vehicle Register & UK Customs Import/Export Declarations
Scrapped & Destruction Status
Checks if an official Certificate of Destruction (CoD) has been issued or if the vehicle has been marked as scrapped by the DVLA.
Scrapped vehicles should never be resold or driven on public roads. Scrapped status indicates the shell should have been recycled.
DVLA Certificate of Destruction (CoD) Database & Scrap Registers
Live Market Valuation & 30-Day Trend
Calculates live trade-in, private sale, and forecourt retail prices with a 30-day forecast based on real-time UK market transactions.
Helps you negotiate with confidence and avoid overpaying for used vehicles at forecourts or private sales.
Aggregated UK Forecourt, Auction & Dealer Transaction Feeds
Data Sourcing, Risk Statistics & Guarantee Details
Clear evidence and methodology behind our statistical risk claims and the £20,000 Experian data guarantee.
Sources Behind Our Risk Statistics
Where our figures originate and what each risk metric measures
Aggregated industry data published by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) and Experian Automotive demonstrates that approximately 24% to 25% of all used vehicles checked carry an active finance agreement (Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase, conditional sale, or lease). Lenders hold legal title until final settlement.
Sourced from the Motor Insurers’ Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR), managed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). MIAFTR tracks total loss claims recorded by 99% of UK motor insurers across salvage categories A, B, S, and N (as well as legacy C and D). Roughly 1 in 12 vehicles checked has a recorded total loss history.
Sourced directly from the Police National Computer (PNC) and the National Stolen Asset Database. Under UK law (Sale of Goods Act 1979, s.21 / nemo dat quod non habet), a buyer cannot acquire good title to stolen property. Police can seize the car immediately without compensation to the innocent purchaser.
£20,000 Experian Data Guarantee
Coverage limits, eligibility, and consumer protections
Coverage Limits & Scope
Underwritten by Experian, the guarantee covers up to £20,000 (or the vehicle’s purchase price, whichever is lower) against direct financial loss if recorded Experian data fails to identify undisclosed outstanding finance, police stolen status, or recorded total loss / write-off categories at the time of your check.
Guarantee Requirements & Prerequisites:
- Check must be completed prior to purchasing the vehicle.
- Transaction must take place within the United Kingdom.
- Vehicle VRM and VIN must match the physical car and report data.
- You must retain proof of purchase (receipt / bank statement) and the report ID.
Exclusions & Limitations
The guarantee applies exclusively to our full paid Extended History Check. It does not cover unrecorded off-book repairs, digital service history records (manufacturer OE data), or vehicles purchased after data changes.
Comparison Grid: Free vs Extended History Check
Understand exact features in our free MOT lookup vs our full Experian check.