Whole market · prices from each provider's own site
Best car check UK
The cheapest full car history check we found is Autotrader vehicle check at £6.95; the best-known, HPI Check, costs £19.99. We compared 12 UK providers on price, data source, guarantee and reviews on 8 November 2026.
By what you need
The right check for your car
Side by side
Every UK car history check, cheapest first
| Provider | One full check | Packs | Guarantee | Data source | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autotrader vehicle check | £6.95 | None stated | £18,000 for 12 months | Autotrader's own data, with Experian for finance | – |
| Experian AutoCheck | £7.99 | 5 for £16.99, used within 365 days | £30,000 | Experian | – |
| MyCarCheck | £8.49 | 5 for about £4 each, 20 for £3 each, 80 for £199.99 | Not stated | Insurance industry data | 4.5 (299) |
| Total Car Check | £9.99 | Gold 3 at £4.99 each, 5 at £3.99 each | £30,000 (Gold) | Insurers' write-off register (VS&TD) direct; Experian finance | 4.3 (6,310) |
| MotorCheck | £9.99 | 3 for £14.99, 5 for £19.99 | Up to £30,000 (non-trade) | Not stated | 3.6 (82) |
| Check Car Details | £10.99 | 3 Full Checks (price not stated) | None stated | DVLA and DVSA, plus insurance, finance and auction data (suppliers not named) | 4.6 (2,081) |
| Motorscan | £10.99 | Not stated | £30,000 | Experian (finance) | 4.8 (1,065) |
| CarVeto | £12.95 | None seen | £10,000 finance guarantee (Platinum) | Experian | 4.8 (595) |
| AA Car Check | £14.99 | 5 at £6 each | £30,000 | Not stated | – |
| RAC Car Check | £14.99 | Multi Check £29.97 | £30,000 (qualifying claims) | Experian | – |
| HPI Check | £19.99 | 3 checks for £29.99 | £30,000 for 2 years (£15,000 cap on write-off claims) | HPI's own registers, including the National Mileage Register | 2 (1,307) |
| carVertical | £39.99 | 2 for £51.98, 3 for £62.97 | None; a report return if no data is found | Records from 45+ countries; no UK data supplier named | 3.7 (24,479) |
Prices include VAT, read from each provider's own site and its own Trustpilot page on 8 November 2026. Re-checked every month.
Our check
GetFreeCarCheck: the facts
We run GetFreeCarCheck. Here is our own check, on the same facts as everyone above.
- One full check
- £9.99
- Packs
- 3 Full Checks £14.99; Finance & Stolen Check £4.99
- Free check in front
- Full MOT history, mileage analysis, ULEZ, tax, recalls and model reliability
- Data source
- Experian (finance, stolen, write-off, keepers, plates); DVSA (MOT)
How to choose
What to look for in a car history check
- The big three: outstanding finance, stolen and write-off. Every check worth paying for covers all three; some cheaper tiers drop write-offs.
- A named data source. Experian or HPI hold the finance and theft records. A provider that names neither is worth asking about.
- The guarantee's small print. Look at the cap, how long it lasts and whether private buyers are covered.
- Mileage. The MOT record shows mileage free; HPI's National Mileage Register adds readings from other sources.
Questions
Car check questions
What is the best car check in the UK?
It depends on what you need. The cheapest full check we found is Autotrader vehicle check (£6.95); for a £30,000 guarantee, Experian AutoCheck (£7.99). Every provider below shows finance, stolen and write-off records.
Are cheap car checks as good as HPI?
Most UK checks read the same two sources for finance, theft and write-offs: HPI's registers or Experian's. Price differences come from extras such as guarantees, mileage registers and valuations.
Do I need a data guarantee?
A guarantee pays out if the check misses finance or a write-off it should have found. It matters most on expensive cars; check the cap and the claim rules.
Is there a free car history check?
No provider gives finance, stolen and write-off records free, because those searches cost money. MOT history, mileage and tax checks are free.
Start with the free check
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.