Vehicle History Check
Unlock peace of mind with our comprehensive car history checks. Over 100+ data points to drive your confidence.
Feel more confident when making a significant purchase with our comprehensive vehicle check, putting your mind at ease.
What do our vehicle reports offer?
Our reports, powered by officially licensed data from the DVLA and other trusted sources, offer accurate and current information on vehicle history. This ensures that you can make well-informed decisions when purchasing a used car.
- Full vehicle info
- Car Specifications
- Stolen Check
- Write-off Check
- Damage Check
- Finance Check
- Recall Data
- Mileage Check
- Owner History
- Salvage Check
- Tax Calculation
- Vehicle Value
- Plate Changes
- Auction images
- Fuel Consumption
- 100+ Data points
Vehicle Finance Check
At RPC, we conduct thorough vehicle checks to identify any outstanding finance linked to the vehicle. Our checks generally include the following:
Vehicle Finance Agreement Status: We confirm whether the vehicle has any outstanding hire purchase (HP), personal contract purchase (PCP), or existing leasing agreements.
If we discover that there are outstanding finance agreements, it means the vehicle is still legally owned by the finance company, and any debt must be fully paid off before the vehicle can be sold legally.
Vehicle Identification: We carry out a variety of thorough checks to verify the vehicle’s information, such as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), registration number, and make/model, by cross-referencing with well-known finance databases to confirm the correct car is being assessed.
Data from Finance Companies: We tap into information from the leading finance companies and lenders throughout the UK. This enables us to uncover any current financial obligations linked to the vehicle.
Vehicle Write-off/Damage Check
Our Write-Off and Damage Check provides several key benefits to help you make informed and secure choices when buying a used vehicle:
Motor Insurers Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR): This database, managed by the insurance industry, includes records of vehicles that have been written off or reported stolen by insurers.
The Police National Computer (PNC): This central database monitors stolen and recovered vehicles throughout the UK, ensuring that any vehicle you’re considering hasn’t been written off after being stolen.
Vehicle History Databases: We also gather information from other industry-specific providers to reveal past accidents, repairs, or any structural damage that could impact the vehicle’s safety or value.
Accident History: Our check offers details on any reported accidents, including the severity and the repairs that were made. This helps you gauge the extent of the damage.
Insurance Write-Off Category: We clarify whether the vehicle has been classified as a total loss and specify the write-off category (Category A, B, C, or D), providing insight into the level of damage incurred.
Damage Assessment: We point out any significant damage to the vehicle that could affect its value or safety on the road.
Comprehensive VIN and Registration Plate Check:
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) Verification: We thoroughly check the VIN and engine number against official records to confirm that there have been no alterations or tampering.
Registration Plate Check: We ensure that the registration plate aligns with all details in official databases, which helps to verify that the vehicle hasn’t been cloned or faced other issues.
With our Write-Off and Damage Check, you receive complete insight into a vehicle’s history, enabling you to make a safe and informed purchase.
Stolen Vehicle Check
Our stolen vehicle check offers several key benefits that help you make informed and secure choices when buying a vehicle:
Police National Computer (PNC): This database holds records of stolen vehicles throughout the UK.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA): The DVLA provides information about a vehicle’s registration history, including its current tax status and MOT records.
Motor Insurers Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR): This database, maintained by the insurance industry, lists vehicles that have been written off or reported stolen to insurers.
Our stolen vehicle check features a comprehensive VIN cross-verification process that boosts the accuracy and reliability of our report.
VIN and Engine Number Checks: We compare these numbers against official records to ensure there has been no tampering.
Registration Plate Check: We verify that the number plate corresponds with all vehicle details in databases like the DVLA.
Discover the full story behind your potential car purchase with our premium vehicle check.
Why use our vehicle check?
Experience peace of mind with our thorough vehicle search, utilizing officially licensed data from the DVLA and other reliable sources.
Our detailed reports deliver accurate and current information on a vehicle’s history, helping you make well-informed choices when buying a used car.
How do we gather our vehicle data?
We collect our vehicle data from reputable sources across the UK, including the DVLA for registration details and ownership history, MIAFTR for records of insurance write-offs and stolen vehicles, and finance companies for outstanding financial information.
Additionally, we utilize ABI data to classify total loss vehicles, the Police National Computer for checks on stolen vehicles, accident repair databases to verify major repairs, and industry-specific providers for further insights on accidents, valuations, and mileage verification.
What is a vehicle history check, and why is it essential?
Our vehicle check offers vital information about a car’s past, including any outstanding finance, accident history, write-offs, changes in number plates, and the number of previous owners.
This information is crucial to help you steer clear of purchasing a vehicle with hidden issues that could be expensive or even hazardous.
Vehicle Check FAQ
Our premium vehicle search allows you to perform an outstanding finance check on the vehicle. This will confirm if the vehicle is still under a financial agreement, such as hire purchase or lease, meaning it legally belongs to the finance company until it is fully paid off.
A vehicle write-off occurs when a car has been damaged and the cost of repairs is not economically viable for the insurer. Insurance companies categorize write-offs as Category A, B, S, or N. Category A and B vehicles cannot return to the road regardless of the outcome, while Category N and S can be repaired and used again.
Our vehicle owners check will show how many previous owners the car has had, how long each owner kept the car, and whether it was privately owned or part of a fleet. This helps assess how the vehicle has been used and maintained over time.
Yes, our plate change check will reveal if the vehicle has had any previous registration numbers. This is important to know, as frequent plate changes may require a closer look into the vehicle’s history.
Our write-off & damage check will show any reported incidents involving the vehicle, including if it has ever been classified as a write-off. It’s an important part of assessing the vehicle’s overall condition and value.
Legally, a vehicle with outstanding finance still belongs to the finance company until the debt is fully paid. Purchasing the vehicle could result in repossession by the finance company the vehicle belongs to, so it’s absolutely crucial to ensure the finance is cleared before completing any vehicle purchase.
It’s always a good idea to run a vehicle history check before purchasing any used car, even if it looks to be in excellent condition. This step can provide you with peace of mind and uncover any hidden problems that might influence your decision.
Changes in number plates can happen for valid reasons, such as getting a personalized plate. However, multiple changes might suggest an effort to conceal the vehicle’s history, so it’s crucial to factor this into a thorough history check.
We source our data from reliable entities like VOSA/DVSA and DVLA, the Association of British Insurers, the Police National Computer, VDI Valuations, Experian Automotive, and UK Finance companies.
This enables you to perform a DVLA vehicle check to access basic information about a car, including its make, model, engine size, and MOT status. You can do this for free through our online vehicle check or directly on the DVLA website. However, for a complete history check, we suggest opting for our premium vehicle check for a more detailed insight into a vehicle’s background.
Our Basic Vehicle Check is completely free and gives you essential details like the car’s make, model, MOT and tax status.
If you need more in-depth information, we have two paid report packages, Vehicle Check Plus and Vehicle Check Premium. These advanced checks provide varying levels of information, such as accident history, outstanding finance details, previous ownership records, and much more, depending on what you’re looking for. We’ve designed these options to give you flexibility and peace of mind based on how thorough you need your vehicle check to be.