Check a Car

MyPlateCheck

Check the car before you buy it.

Start with a free vehicle check, then go deeper only when you need to.

Run a Free Vehicle Check

Free vs paid vehicle checks

Know what you can check for free and what deeper data is worth paying for.

Free vehicle information is useful for confirming the basics. Paid reports become valuable when you need information that public MOT, tax and registration data cannot answer, such as theft, write-off, finance or salvage history.

UK registration lookupMOT & tax contextBuyer-focused reports

What free checks are good at

Use a free car check for core vehicle details, MOT status and history, tax status, recorded mileage and useful public vehicle facts. These checks can rule out obvious problems before you spend anything.

What paid history checks add

Paid data is most useful for risks that are not visible in public vehicle records. Buyer adds deeper history such as stolen and write-off checks, while Ultimate adds outstanding finance and auction or salvage information.

Pay when the risk justifies it

The more expensive the vehicle, the more significant the potential loss from missing a hidden history problem. Start free, then choose the deeper report only when the purchase deserves it.

How to use this information

MyPlateCheck combines available vehicle data into buyer-focused checks. Data can contain omissions or recording errors, so use it alongside the V5C and VIN, service history, seller evidence and a physical inspection. Resolve material inconsistencies before paying for a vehicle.

Compare report coverage

Free, Buyer and Ultimate side by side.

Compare the checks that are actually included rather than choosing from a headline alone. Start with free public vehicle facts, use Buyer for the core paid history checks, and use Ultimate when you also need finance and auction or salvage information.

CheckFreeBuyerUltimate
MOT, tax and core vehicle detailsIncludedIncludedIncluded
MOT and recorded mileage historyIncludedIncludedIncluded
Stolen and insurance write-off checks—IncludedIncluded
Keeper, plate and V5C history—IncludedIncluded
Outstanding finance——Included
Auction and salvage history——Included

Use the comparison to match the report to the purchase.

A free check is useful for confirming public facts before you spend anything. Buyer adds the paid history checks that can reveal theft, write-off and ownership-related context. Ultimate adds the finance and salvage information that is not included in Buyer.

Report data should still be checked against the V5C, VIN, service history, seller evidence and the physical vehicle. See current report pricing and bundle options.

Questions buyers ask

Useful answers before you check.

Can a free car check show outstanding finance?+

Not through MyPlateCheck's free report. Outstanding finance is included in Ultimate.

When is a paid car history check worth it?+

It becomes more valuable when the purchase price or uncertainty makes hidden history risks significant enough to investigate before payment.

Do I need to pay before seeing any vehicle information?+

No. MyPlateCheck is designed so you can start with free vehicle facts first.

Start with the registration

Check the vehicle before you commit.

Run the free vehicle check first, then choose deeper history checks if the purchase needs them.