Check any car
by reg.

Enter the registration to see finance, write-offs, theft, mileage and MOT history in one £15 report. Want the full explainer? Read our number plate check guide.

Works with:

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.

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Vehicle snapshot by reg

Core details and status by registration

Example
Make & model
Shown
DETAILS
MOT status
Valid
VALID
Tax status
Taxed
TAXED
History markers
Checked
CHECKED

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. You can also 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does a car reg check include?
A Carpeep reg check covers outstanding finance, insurance write-off history (Cat S, Cat N and older categories), stolen vehicle markers, mileage verified against MOT records, keeper changes, and core DVLA vehicle details. One report, £15.
How do I check a car by registration?
Type the registration into the box on the page. Carpeep checks it against DVLA, finance, insurance and police records. Takes a few seconds, and you don't need an account.
Can I check MOT history for free?
Yes. Carpeep offers a free MOT history check showing past test results, advisories and mileage readings. Finance, write-offs and stolen markers require a full paid check.
Why should I run a reg check before buying a used car?
Outstanding finance, write-offs and clocked mileage don't show on a test drive. Buy a car with finance still on it and the lender can take it back. A write-off marker alone can knock 20-40% off resale value. Worth checking before the money changes hands.
Where does the data come from?
Carpeep pulls data from DVLA, DVSA and MOT test centres for vehicle and MOT records, finance houses for outstanding agreements, insurance industry records for write-off categories, and police databases for theft markers.
What if the report data does not match the car?
Could be a previous plate change, a data entry error at DVLA, or something worse like a cloned identity. Cross-check against the V5C logbook. If things still don't line up, that's a reason to walk away or dig deeper.

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