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

Stolen vehicle check

Check the vehicle identity before you trust the deal.

A stolen vehicle can create a major financial loss for an innocent buyer. Theft information is most useful when combined with careful checks of the VIN, V5C, seller and physical identity of the car.

UK registration lookupMOT & tax contextBuyer-focused reports

A low price should not override identity concerns

If the seller, registration, VIN, V5C or vehicle details do not line up, stop and investigate. Pressure to pay quickly or meet away from the keeper's address deserves additional caution.

Check the VIN as well as the registration

Registration plates can be changed or copied. Compare the VIN or chassis number on the car with the V5C and look for evidence that identity plates or stampings have been disturbed.

Theft markers form part of the Buyer report

MyPlateCheck includes available stolen vehicle checking in the Buyer tier, alongside write-off and other history information, with Ultimate adding finance and salvage checks.

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.

Learn before you buy

Guides related to this check.

Use these practical guides to understand what the data can mean and what to verify with the seller or vehicle.

Vehicle historyStolen Car Checks: What to Verify Before Buying UsedLearn the identity and history checks that help reduce the risk of buying a stolen or cloned vehicle.Read guide →Vehicle historyHow to Check If a Car Is Stolen or Cloned Before BuyingPractical identity checks for spotting stolen or cloned vehicles, including registration, VIN, V5C and seller inconsistencies.Read guide →Vehicle dataVIN Check Before Buying a Used Car: What Should Match?How to compare the VIN with the V5C, vehicle identity and documents before buying a used car.Read guide →

Questions buyers ask

Useful answers before you check.

Can a stolen car have a valid MOT?+

Yes. MOT status does not prove legal ownership or confirm that a vehicle is not stolen.

Does the V5C prove ownership?+

The V5C records the registered keeper and vehicle information; it is not itself proof of legal ownership.

What should I do if the vehicle identity does not match?+

Do not pay until the discrepancy has been credibly explained and independently verified.

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.