Vehicle Check — Check Any UK Car by Registration
Enter a reg for a free vehicle check covering specification, MOT history, mileage and tax status. Upgrade for the full history — outstanding finance, insurance write-off, stolen and mileage checks — backed by a data guarantee.
- Official DVLA & DVSA data
- Finance, write-off & stolen checks
- Data guarantee on full reports
What a vehicle check includes
Start free with the vehicle's official specification, MOT and tax record. Add the full history check before you buy to uncover the hidden problems that cost buyers thousands.
Free — on every check
- Make, model, colour, engine size & fuel type
- Year of manufacture & first registration
- Full MOT history & recorded mileage since 2005
- Mileage clocking alert
- Road tax (VED) status & SORN
- CO₂ emissions & tax band
- ULEZ & Clean Air Zone compliance
Full history check — paid upgrade
- Outstanding finance check (Experian)
- Insurance write-off category (Cat A/B/S/N)
- Stolen vehicle markers (Police National Computer)
- Salvage & scrapped records
- Mileage anomaly detection
- Plate & colour change history
- Import, export & previous keeper count
- VIN & MIAFTR insurance check
Cat A, B, S and N — what each write-off category means
If an insurer has ever declared a car a total loss, that write-off category stays on its record permanently via the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR). Knowing the category tells you whether a car is safe, repairable or scrap-only — and it should always be reflected in the price.
Scrap only
So badly damaged the whole vehicle must be crushed — not even parts can be salvaged. Must never return to the road.
Body shell destroyed
Extensive damage; the body shell must be crushed, though some serviceable parts may be reused in other cars.
Structural — repairable
Structural/chassis damage (formerly Cat C). Can be professionally repaired and re-registered with the DVLA before it's road-legal.
Non-structural
Cosmetic or electrical damage (formerly Cat D). Repairable and road-legal, but the write-off marker stays on record for life.
A Cat S or N car isn't necessarily a bad buy — but it should be priced 20–40% below an equivalent clean car, come with evidence of a professional repair, and ideally an independent inspection. A Motorscan full check confirms the category, the insurer, the loss date and the recorded damage areas.
How to run a vehicle check
Free, instant, and around ten seconds from reg to result.
Enter the registration
Type any UK number plate into the search box above — cars, vans, motorcycles and motorhomes are all supported.
See the free vehicle report
Instantly view the DVLA specification, full MOT history, recorded mileage, tax status and emissions — with a clocking alert built in.
Check the history before you buy
Upgrade to reveal outstanding finance, write-off category, stolen markers and mileage anomalies drawn from Experian, MIAFTR and the Police National Computer.
Buy with confidence
Every full report is backed by a data guarantee, so you can commit to a purchase knowing exactly what you're buying.
Vehicle check — frequently asked questions
What does a vehicle check show?
A vehicle check confirms a car's DVLA-registered details (make, model, colour, engine, fuel, CO₂, year) plus its MOT and tax status for free. A full history check adds the provenance data that matters most when buying used: outstanding finance, insurance write-off category, stolen markers, mileage discrepancies, plate and colour changes, import/export status, scrapped status and the number of previous keepers.
What are the car write-off categories A, B, S and N?
Category A is scrap only — the vehicle and all its parts must be crushed. Category B means the body shell is destroyed but some parts may be reused. Category S (formerly Cat C) is structural damage that has been professionally repaired. Category N (formerly Cat D) is non-structural or cosmetic damage. A Cat S or N car can legally return to the road, but should be priced accordingly and inspected carefully.
Where does the write-off and stolen data come from?
Insurance write-off and theft markers come from the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR), maintained by the Motor Insurers' Bureau, and the Police National Computer. Outstanding finance data is supplied by Experian. Once a write-off marker is recorded on MIAFTR it stays against the vehicle permanently — even after a full, high-quality repair.
Why is checking outstanding finance so important?
If a car still has outstanding finance, the finance company — not the seller — legally owns it. If you buy it and the debt isn't settled, the vehicle can be repossessed and you could lose both the car and your money. An estimated 1 in 4 vehicles checked has some form of hidden history, so a finance check before you pay is essential when buying privately.
Can a vehicle check detect mileage fraud (clocking)?
Yes. Every MOT records the odometer reading, so a full check plots the mileage timeline and flags any drop or implausible jump between tests. A reading that falls between two MOTs is physically impossible under normal use and is a strong sign the odometer has been wound back — a practice known as clocking that affects roughly 1 in 14 used cars.
Is the free car check really free?
Yes. The specification, MOT history, mileage and tax status are free with no sign-up or card required. Only the full provenance report — finance, write-off, stolen, keeper history and running costs — is a paid upgrade, from £10.99 with a data guarantee.
Does a vehicle check reveal the owner's details?
No. Under UK data-protection law, no vehicle check can disclose the personal identity of a registered keeper. A check can tell you how many previous keepers a vehicle has had and when ownership changed, but never who they were.
What information do I need to run a check?
Just the number plate (VRM). Enter the UK registration and Motorscan returns the vehicle's full DVLA and DVSA record instantly. The VIN and other details appear in the results — you don't need them to start.
Explore Motorscan's other free checks
Every check runs on the same official DVLA and DVSA data. Enter a registration on any of them free.
Full free car check covering MOT, tax, mileage, specs and clocking alerts in one report.
Every MOT test since 2005 — pass/fail, recorded mileage, advisories and clocking alerts.
Look up any UK number plate for specification, history and plate-change records.
Check ULEZ and Clean Air Zone compliance for any registration — free.
DVLA vehicle enquiry — tax status, MOT, CO₂ emissions and registered details.
Decode the original manufacturer build sheet — trim, packages and optional extras.
Was it sold at a UK salvage auction? Auction records, damage photos and categories.
How many owners has it had? DVLA keeper count, change dates and plate history — free.
Is a car insured? How askMID works, plus tax, MOT, write-off and stolen status by reg.
Transfer a car's registered keeper online or by post — and what to check before you do.
What the green slip is for, how to tax with it, and what to do if it's lost.
Lost V5C? The fastest replacement route, costs and timings — and buying a car without one.
What you can and can't find out about a keeper, and when the DVLA will release details (V888).
Importing a UK car to Ireland, Malta, Cyprus or beyond? Check the UK record by reg or VIN first.