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Live DVSA & DVLA data

Don't buy a lemon.
Get the knowledge of a mechanic friend in seconds.

Paste the reg or the advert. We read the whole thing and flag hidden faults, dodgy history and what to pay, free, in 60 seconds.

Official DVSA & DVLA dataFree, no accountResults in 60 secondsCars, vans, motorbikes & motorhomes
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We read the advert, not just the number plateThe seller's own words, photos and price, checked for things that don't add up.
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Backed by official UK recordsLive DVSA MOT history, plus finance, write-off, stolen and mileage data.
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We know the common faults for that exact carModel-specific problems to look for, not generic advice.
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Free to start, results in 60 secondsNo password, no subscription, real value before you pay.
✓ No card✓ No email✓ Official data
More options: mileage, asking price, seller notes →See a full sample report first →

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Watch it work

This is what we see in a “great little runner”.

A real advert pattern, scanned live. We cross-check every claim against MOT history, service intervals and our known-faults database for that exact model.

0
RISK SCORE
⚠ PROCEED WITH CAUTION

5 claims checked · 3 need answers before you travel

Cold-start rattle matches the T6's known DMF failure - a £1,100+ repair.
“No advisories” - MOT history shows 2 advisories in Nov 2025.
Ask for invoices: “serviced regularly” with no receipts is a £0 claim.
⚠ OUTSTANDING FINANCE⚠ CAT S - REPAIRED WRITE-OFF⚠ CLOCKED MILEAGE⚠ STOLEN & RE-PLATED⚠ CAMBELT NEVER DONE⚠ HIDDEN MOT ADVISORIES⚠ OUTSTANDING FINANCE⚠ CAT S - REPAIRED WRITE-OFF⚠ CLOCKED MILEAGE⚠ STOLEN & RE-PLATED⚠ CAMBELT NEVER DONE⚠ HIDDEN MOT ADVISORIES
1 in 3 used cars has hidden history.*

Finance, write-offs, clocking, hidden faults. The kind of thing that costs you thousands.

  • ⚠Outstanding finance still owed
  • ⚠Written off and rebuilt
  • ⚠Clocked mileage
  • ⚠Stolen and re-plated
  • ⚠A timing belt overdue and never done
  • ⚠Pricey MOT advisories the seller skips over

The seller won't tell you. The data will.

*Source: HPI

Where our data comes from
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Official DVSA and DVLA records

Your full MOT history straight from the DVSA: every pass, fail, advisory and recorded mileage, plus DVLA vehicle details like engine, tax status and CO2.

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Industry provenance registers

Outstanding finance, stolen markers from the PNC, write-off and total-loss records from MIAFTR, keeper and mileage history, and salvage photos where they exist. The same registers the big plate-checkers use.

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Our own known-faults database

183 documented faults across 41 manufacturers and 155 models, each with the mileage it usually strikes, a real repair cost, and the advert phrases that hint at it. Built and maintained by us from recall data, specialist mechanics and owner forums.

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The advert, and everything you add

The listing text, your messages with the seller and any photos or screenshots. Nobody else reads these. The more you give us, the sharper the report.

How it works

Four steps. One very awkward conversation for the seller.

01
Tell us about the carPaste the reg and the advert, or just upload screenshots of the advert from Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree or anywhere else. Add any messages or photos from the seller too. The more you add, the sharper the report.
02
We cross-reference everythingLive MOT history, finance, write-off and stolen records, matched against manufacturer service intervals and known model faults.
03
Get your buyer's guideRisks, upcoming bills, negotiation leverage and the exact questions to ask the seller.
04
Update as you learn moreAsk the seller those questions, then drop their answers and photos back in. We sharpen the report and hand you the next things to ask.
Your viewing game plan

Walk in knowing exactly what to ask.

Most buyers turn up and take the seller's word for it. You'll turn up with a script: like having a mechanic mate in your pocket.

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Ask before you travel

The questions that weed out a dud from your sofa, so you do not waste a Saturday.

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Ask at the viewing

The specific things to put to the seller face to face, based on this car's actual history.

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Tick-off inspection checklist

What to physically check, point by point. Send it to your phone and tick as you go.

See a real action plan in the sample report →
⚡ Instant investigation

Uncover what the seller might be hiding.

Sellers sometimes hide the expensive truth in plain sight. We cross-reference the advert against live MOT data, manufacturer service intervals and known model faults to surface missing service histories and masked mechanical issues, the gaps a basic check will not catch, before you travel to view it.

  • ✓Spots missing cambelt and oil changes.
  • ✓Translates vague MOT advisories into actual repair costs.
  • ✓Flags suspicious phrases and scam hallmarks.
Car Advert Check verdict card showing the risk scoreTop findings section listing the biggest risks found in the advert
⚠ Negotiation leverage

Reduce the risk of overpaying for someone else's problem.

Don't negotiate blind. If a van has £650 of pending suspension repairs and an overdue cambelt, you need to know before you make an offer. We hand you the exact questions to ask to drop the asking price.

  • ✓Calculates expected maintenance costs for the next 12 months.
  • ✓Provides specific, actionable questions to ask the seller.
  • ✓Gives you the leverage to walk away or negotiate hard.
Negotiation and cost analysis: a suggested offer against the asking price, and what the car really costs to own
↻ Iterative updates

Got more info from the seller? Refresh your report.

Car buying is a conversation. When the seller sends you photos of the service book or a recent garage invoice, drop them straight into your existing report. We will instantly recalculate the risk and adjust your leverage.

📷 Upload interior/exterior photos
🧾 Attach service history receipts
✅ Instantly adjust risk scores
⚡ Gain newly found leverage
Update form for pasting the seller's reply and re-analysing the report
Us vs plate-only checks

A normal check runs the plate.
We read the whole deal.

Plate-only
checksHPI, carVertical
Car Advert
Check
Live MOT history and mileage✓✓
Finance, write-off and stolen checks✓✓
Reads the actual advert✕✓
Reads your messages and photos from the seller✕✓
Known faults for that exact make and model✕✓
Tailored questions to ask and what to check at the viewing✕✓
Predicted repair bills and negotiation leverage✕✓
Updates when the seller sends you more✕✓
Free to start, no account to create✕✓
HPI and carVertical charge before you see anything. Comparison based on publicly listed features as of June 2026.
From a real buyer

“It gave us a bargaining chip to knock a grand off.”

★★★★★

Genuinely so thankful for this site!!! We've been looking for a VW Transporter for a while now and the free version of this site was actually super helpful in avoiding scams or duds. When we found one we liked, we took a punt and paid the tenner, definitely worth it. It not only found things we never would have thought about, but gave us a bargaining chip to knock a grand off the asking price. Ended up with a great van and a much better price than we would have without it. Highly recommend to anyone buying a used vehicle, especially if you're not an expert like us!

H
Harry, ExeterBought a VW Transporter Campervan, April 2026
↓ Negotiated £1,000 off the asking price
Pricing

Start free. Pay only if it's useful.

No subscription, no auto-renew. Swipe to compare.

Free Scan
£0
Verdict, score and your biggest finding
  • Risk score & verdict
  • Full MOT history & mileage
  • Your single biggest finding
Start free
Most popular
Smart Check
£3.99
The full buyer's guide
  • Every finding, fully explained
  • Model-specific known faults, costed
  • Seller questions + viewing checklist
  • Negotiation strategy
Get Smart Check
Provenance Check
Includes Smart Check
£19.99
Everything, plus official records
  • All of Smart Check
  • Outstanding finance check
  • Stolen marker (PNC)
  • Write-off & salvage records
Get Provenance
🛡Useful, or it's free:if your Smart Check tells you nothing the advert didn't, reply to your receipt within 7 days and we refund it. No forms, no argument.

Start free. Only upgrade if it is genuinely useful to you.

See full comparison (26 features) →
Questions

Before you check a car

Everything you need to know before you check a car.

Is the free check really free?
Yes. You get a verdict, a risk score, your biggest finding, plus full MOT history and mileage analysis, with no password and no card. You only pay if you want the full breakdown.
How is this different from an HPI check?
A standard HPI style check runs your number plate against history records. We do that too, but we also read the advert, your messages with the seller and any photos, then flag faults specific to that model and tell you exactly what to ask. HPI and carVertical also charge before you see anything, while our scan is free to start.
How accurate is it?
We use live data from official sources like the DVSA, plus established provenance providers, so the underlying facts are solid. We also use AI to pull all of that together into one clear report, and like any AI it can occasionally get something wrong. The combination of our own software and verified data makes that unlikely, and we always show you the source data so you can check anything yourself.
How long does it take?
Around 60 seconds for the free scan.
Do I need the registration, or just the advert?
Either works. The reg unlocks official MOT and history data, the advert and photos unlock the seller analysis. Together you get the fullest picture.
Do I have to copy and paste the advert text?
No. Screenshot the advert on your phone and upload the screenshots. We read the advert text, the seller's photos and the details from the images. Pasting text works too if that is easier.
Can I just get a normal HPI style check without the advert analysis?
Yes. If you just want the official history data, simply enter the number plate and leave the advert text completely blank. You will get the full MOT, finance, write-off and provenance data just like a standard check.
Can I add messages or photos from the seller later?
Yes. Paste their replies or upload photos and invoices at any point and we re-score the report instantly.
Does it work for vans, motorbikes and motorhomes?
Yes. If it has a UK number plate with MOT and DVLA records, we can check it. Cars, vans, motorbikes and motorhomes all run through the same checks and advert analysis.
How can I tell if a used car has outstanding finance?
You cannot tell from the advert. Finance stays with the car, not the seller. Our Provenance Check runs an official finance search and shows you plainly if anything is still owed.
What is the difference between a Cat S and a Cat N write-off?
Cat S is repaired structural damage, Cat N is non-structural. Both must be declared, and your report tells you if this car has a recorded write-off.
How do I spot a clocked car?
Compare the mileage across the MOT and service history for any drops or unrealistic jumps. You do not have to do this by hand: our report charts the mileage over time and flags anything that looks inconsistent.
What should I check when buying a car privately?
See the V5C logbook in the seller's name and address, match the VIN in three places, view the car in daylight, and never pay before you have inspected it. Your report turns this into a tick-off checklist for the exact car.
What if the report doesn't tell me anything new?
Then it's free. If your Smart Check tells you nothing the advert didn't already say, reply to your receipt within 7 days and we refund it. No forms, no argument.

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