Everything in the free vehicle check
Basic car check
Check identity and history risks for less
Use the Basic report when the free check looks promising but you still need keeper, import, scrapped, VIN and engine evidence before viewing or negotiating.
4.7 on TrustpilotDVLA · DVSA · Experian · Police National Computer · SMMTSecure payment
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See exactly what you’ll get before you buy
Open a sample report with the same structure, evidence hierarchy and buying-decision sections used in the live check.
Included
What you see in the report
Previous keeper and plate-change evidence
Imported, exported and scrapped markers
VIN and engine details to check against the car and the V5C
Vehicle specification and identity detail
Low-cost confidence before committing to a full finance check
Compare
Included here, locked below
MOT, tax and vehicle timeline
IncludedKeeper, import and identity checks
IncludedFinance, stolen and write-off checks
LockedEvidence
Designed for a buying decision
ID
Identity confidence
Compare registration, VIN, engine and specification details before a viewing or deposit.
£1.99
Low-cost risk screen
Use Basic as the practical middle step when you need more than MOT history but not the full Experian report yet.
Is the car what the seller says it is?
Most used-car problems aren't dramatic. They're small mismatches between the car in front of you and the car on paper, and they're the thing a Basic check is built to surface.
Previous keepers is the obvious one. A three-year-old car with five keepers has a story, and it's worth asking what it is. Plate changes matter for a different reason: a private plate can be perfectly innocent, and it can also make a car's history harder to follow than the seller realises. Either way you want to know before you're negotiating.
Then there are the markers that change what you're buying. An import isn't a fault, but it can affect parts availability, insurance and resale, and a lot of sellers genuinely don't know their car was imported. A scrapped or exported marker is more serious — it means the record says something the car in the driveway contradicts.
None of this requires the full finance and theft data. If you're early in a search, comparing a few cars, or looking at something low-value where the downside is limited, Basic is the proportionate check: enough to catch an identity problem, without paying for evidence you don't need yet.
FAQ
Before you run the check
Is Basic enough before buying?
Basic is useful for identity and history checks. Use Comprehensive if you need finance, stolen, write-off or valuation evidence.
Does Basic include the free report?
Yes. It includes the free MOT, tax and timeline information plus additional identity and history checks.
Will I see the report instantly?
Yes. The report is available immediately after checkout completes.