Vehicle Smart alternative
Vehicle Smart Alternative
A free app is handy for a quick look at DVLA, MOT and tax details. Carpeep adds the parts it leaves out — outstanding finance, write-off markers, stolen markers and mileage history — in one clear £15 report with a £30,000 data guarantee.
Included in your report:
- Finance check
- Write-off markers
- Stolen vehicle check
- Mileage & MOT history
- Ownership history
- Vehicle identity
Example Carpeep report
See exactly what Carpeep checks.
This is how the key risk checks appear in your report, set out plainly so you can read each result at a glance.
Carpeep report summary
Example snapshot
Example data shown. Your report will show the recorded history for the reg you check.
What Carpeep makes clear.
Each check is laid out in plain language, so you know where the car stands before you commit any money.
Outstanding finance shown plainly
See whether any active finance is recorded against the reg before you pay the seller.
Write-off category & markers
Spot recorded Cat S, Cat N and older write-off markers, with the category set out clearly.
Official data sources
Records come from DVLA, DVSA, police, finance and insurance, backed by our £30,000 data guarantee.
What a free app shows, and what it leaves out.
Free apps are great for a quick glance. The gap shows up on the checks that decide whether a car is safe to buy.
| Check | Typical free app | Carpeep £15 report |
|---|---|---|
| Make, model, MOT, tax | Usually shown | Included |
| Outstanding finance | Not usually shown | Included |
| Write-off markers (Cat S, Cat N) | Not usually shown | Included |
| Stolen markers | Not usually shown | Included |
| Mileage history | Limited | Included |
Still weighing up free against paid? Read our plain take on free vs paid car checks.
When a free app is enough, and when it is not.
A free app is fine when
- You are just curious about a car you saw
- You want a quick MOT or tax status
- You already own the car
Run a full report when
- You are about to pay a deposit or travel to view
- You are buying privately and want finance and write-off cover
- The price looks too good and you want the full picture
What you can check with Carpeep.
Finance check
See if money is still owed on the car.
Write-off check
Spot Cat S, Cat N and older write-off markers.
Stolen car check
Check police stolen markers before you pay.
Mileage check
Compare MOT mileage readings for signs of clocking.
Want a quick free look first? Try the free car check, then run a full car history check before you commit.
Run a full Carpeep check
Found a car you like?
Run a full Carpeep history check and read the finance, write-off, theft and mileage risks in one clear report before you commit.
- No signup
- £30,000 data guarantee
Where our data comes from.
Every Carpeep report draws from official UK data sources. We do not create, edit or estimate any data. We present the records as they are held.
DVLA
Vehicle registration, keeper history, import/export status and vehicle specifications.
DVSA
Full MOT test history including results, advisories, mileage readings at each test and expiry dates.
Insurance industry records
Recorded write-off markers such as Cat A, B, S and N from insurance industry records.
UK finance lenders
Outstanding finance agreements including HP, PCP and conditional sale records.
Police stolen vehicle records
Stolen vehicle markers originating from UK police databases, checked against the registration and VIN.
Vehicle identity checks
VIN and registration cross-referenced to flag plate changes, cloning or identity mismatches.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a paid alternative to the Vehicle Smart app?
What do free car check apps not show?
How much does Carpeep cost?
Do I need to download an app to use Carpeep?
Check a car before you buy
Don't buy a car you haven't checked.
Enter the registration and get the key facts a free app leaves out before you commit to the car.
- No app to download
- Apple Pay accepted
- £30,000 data guarantee