We are cheaper than a HPI check

Our vehicle history check is an invaluable service that allows used car buyers to find out more about a car’s history before they commit to a purchase. Our car check consists of multitudes of information regarding your vehicle, providing peace of mind and helps to prevent any costly repercussions further down the line.

Contents:

What does our car check reveal?
What doesn't show up on our car check?
RAC Vehicle History Check

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What does our car check reveal?

Outstanding finance

Nearly 25% of vehicles that undergo our car check have outstanding finance. So you wouldn’t be the legal owner of the vehicle (the finance company would be), but you could still be liable for the debt. The finance company would also have the right to repossess the car, leaving you out of pocket and without a car.

Stolen

Every day, nearly 30 cars are identified as stolen and added to the Police National Computer. If your vehicle is one of them, the police have every right to seize it.

Written-off

4% of vehicles that undergo our car check have been written off as a result of damage or theft. These vehicles may have been repaired, but you need to see proof that they were repaired reliably and are now safe to drive.

Stolen V5 document check

If the V5 document accompanying a vehicle is part of a stolen batch, you can’t trust the legitimacy of the vehicle.

Vehicle Identity

A car check will confirm with the DVLA the make, model, door plan, vehicle's current colour & prior colour, transmission and engine size, as well as how many times it has changed hands. You need to ensure that the latter in particular matches the seller’s story.

Plate transfer

20% of cars that have had a vehicle check have had at least one plate change. Usually there is nothing to worry about, but a change of plates can be used to hide a car's past, so it’s worth asking questions about it.

Number plate and VIN/chassis numbers

A car check will tell you whether the VRM and VIN correspond to DVLA records. If they don’t, there could be a number of problems with the vehicle.

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What doesn’t show up on our car check?

There are some things that our car check doesn’t disclose. These include information on current or previous owners, but this wouldn’t reveal much about a vehicle’s safety and legitimacy anyway. The checks also won’t tell you about every accident a vehicle has been in or its service history, so these will be points to bring up when you view the car.

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RAC Vehicle History Check

Getting an RAC Vehicle History Check vehicle check is quick to do online – just provide a few details about the car you plan to buy.

Check now 

Read RAC Vehicle History Check terms and conditions.