Check any car
by reg.
Enter a number plate to check any UK car by registration. See finance, write-offs, theft, mileage and MOT history in one clear £15 report.
Included in your report:
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off markers
- Stolen status
- Mileage issues
- MOT history
- Keeper history
Example reg check section
See the reg check snapshot before you buy.
This is how the vehicle snapshot appears: the core details and status pulled by registration, at a glance.
Vehicle snapshot by reg
Core details and status by registration
Example data shown. Your report will show the recorded reg check details for the reg you check.
What a reg check helps you spot.
A registration is enough to pull the core details and the key status markers, so you can sense-check the advert before you commit.
Vehicle details by registration
See make, model and core specification pulled straight from the reg.
MOT & tax status
Check whether the car has a valid MOT and is currently taxed.
Finance / write-off / mileage risk markers
Flag the key recorded risk markers to dig into before you buy.
One report, every record
What a reg check reveals.
Carpeep checks DVLA, DVSA, police, finance and insurance databases against the registration. One report covers all of it, run as part of a full car history check.
Outstanding finance
HP, PCP or lease agreements still attached to the car. If a lender has an interest, you need to know before you pay.
Insurance write-offs
Cat S, Cat N and older Cat C / Cat D markers. Shows if the car was ever written off by an insurer.
Stolen markers
Active theft records from police databases. If the car is flagged, it can be seized regardless of whether you paid for it.
Mileage verification
Mileage readings checked against every MOT test on record. If the numbers jump, drop or have gaps, you'll see it.
MOT history
The full timeline of passes, fails, advisories and dangerous items from DVSA test centres, not just the latest result.
Keeper and vehicle details
Previous keeper count, plate changes, colour changes, VIN validation and DVLA registration data.
How a reg check works.
Enter the plate, we pull the records, you read the report. No account, no waiting for an email, the report loads straight on screen.
Enter the registration
Type the number plate into the search box. Works for cars, vans and motorbikes.
We pull the records
We check it against DVLA, DVSA, police, finance and insurance databases. Takes seconds.
Read the report
It flags the risks first. You decide whether to go ahead, negotiate or walk away.
Why check before you buy.
Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocked mileage. None of it shows up on a test drive. A car can look and drive perfectly and still have thousands in debt attached to it, or a write-off marker that tanks its resale value. A reg check catches all of this before money changes hands. Takes about 30 seconds and costs £15.
Finance can repossess the car
If a car has outstanding finance and you buy it, the lender can repossess it. You lose the car and the money.
Write-offs cut resale value
Cat S and Cat N write-off markers knock 20-40% off resale value, even after a proper repair.
Clocked mileage is common
Clocked mileage still turns up regularly on used car lots. The MOT mileage trail makes it obvious.
Stolen cars can be seized
Stolen markers mean the police can seize the car whenever they find it. Doesn't matter that you paid for it.
Free vs full
A reg check is only as good as what it covers.
A free car check shows basic vehicle specs, tax status and MOT history. For the make, model, engine size and BHP, see our car spec check, or run a free MOT history check on its own. The full reg check adds finance, write-offs, stolen markers, mileage verification and keeper history.
Those paid checks are the things that actually cost you money if you miss them. The full report is backed by a £30,000 data guarantee and needs no account.
Where our data comes from.
Always from official records, the same databases dealers, insurers and lenders use. We do not create, edit or estimate any data.
DVLA
Registration, keeper history, tax, V5C and vehicle identity.
DVSA and MOT test centres
Test history, mileage readings and advisories from every recorded MOT.
Police databases
Theft markers and stolen vehicle records, checked against the registration and VIN.
Insurance industry records
Write-off categories and recorded damage history from insurer records.
Finance houses
Outstanding HP, PCP and lease agreements from UK finance lenders.
Auction and trade records
Vehicle movement and sale history used to flag plate changes and identity mismatches.
Reg Check FAQs
What is a reg check?
A reg check uses a car's number plate to pull its records so you can check it before you buy. Carpeep checks the registration against DVLA, DVSA, finance, insurance and police data and shows the result in one report.
Can I check a car by reg?
Yes. The registration is all you need. Enter it and Carpeep finds the vehicle and runs the checks. There is no need for the V5C logbook or an account.
What does a car reg check show?
Free basic details such as make, model, MOT and tax status, plus the paid checks in the full report: finance, write-offs, stolen markers, mileage and owners.
Is a reg check the same as a number plate check?
Yes. A number plate check and a reg check are the same thing. Both start from the registration to identify the vehicle and pull its records.
Can I look up a vehicle by registration number?
Yes. A vehicle lookup by reg returns the make, model, year and core specification, along with current MOT and tax status. The full report adds the risk checks.
Can I verify a car registration online?
Yes. Enter the plate and Carpeep confirms the registered details against DVLA records, so you can verify a car registration matches the car you are looking at.
Does a reg check show the make and model?
Yes. The make, model, year, colour, fuel type and engine size are part of the free basic details shown when you enter the reg.
Does a reg check show MOT and tax status?
Yes. Current MOT status and tax status are shown for free. The full report adds the complete MOT history with past results, advisories and the mileage recorded at each test.
Does a reg check show finance?
Recorded outstanding finance is part of the full report. A plate lookup alone will not show it, because finance data comes from UK lenders rather than DVLA.
Does a reg check show write-off history?
The full report shows recorded insurance write-off markers, including Cat S and Cat N. These come from insurer records, not the basic registration data.
Does a reg check show stolen status?
The full report checks the registration against police stolen vehicle records. If a car is flagged as stolen it can be seized, so this is worth confirming before you pay.
Why do I need a full report after checking a reg?
Basic plate details confirm what the car is, but not the risks. Finance, write-offs, stolen markers and mileage problems are the things that cost money, and they only show in the full car history check report.
Check a car before you buy
Check a car now.
Enter the reg to see finance, write-offs, theft, mileage and the full vehicle history before you pay.
- Instant results
- No account required
- £30,000 data guarantee