How to run the free check
The free government vehicle check is available at GOV.UK. You do not need an account. You need the vehicle's registration number and nothing else. Results are instant.
The check is run through the DVLA's vehicle enquiry service. Separately, the DVSA publishes full MOT history (every test since 2005) through the MOT history checker at GOV.UK. Both are free. Both cover any vehicle, not just your own.
The two links below go directly to each service.
What the free check shows
The DVLA vehicle enquiry service shows the following for any UK-registered vehicle.
MOT status. Whether the vehicle currently has a valid MOT and when it expires. If the vehicle has no current MOT, that is shown too.
Tax status. Whether the vehicle is currently taxed for road use, when the tax expires, or whether it has been declared SORN (taken off the road).
Make, model, colour, and engine size. The details registered with DVLA at the time of registration.
Date of first registration. When the vehicle was first registered on UK roads.
Number of previous keepers. How many times the vehicle has changed registered keeper. This is a count, not names or contact details.
The MOT history checker at GOV.UK gives you the full detail behind the MOT status: every pass, fail, and advisory since 2005, along with the mileage recorded at each test. The vehicle enquiry service and the MOT history checker are separate tools. Run both.
What the free check does not show
The DVLA vehicle check is useful and free, but it has clear limits. It does not show:
Outstanding finance. If the vehicle is subject to a hire purchase or PCP agreement, the finance company is legally the owner until the debt is settled. Buying a vehicle with outstanding finance means you could have it repossessed, even if you paid a fair price in good faith.
Insurance write-off history. Category A, B, S, and N write-offs are not visible in the free check. A Category B vehicle has been written off and should never return to the road. A Category S (structural damage) or N (non-structural damage) vehicle may have been repaired, but the history should be declared.
Stolen status. Whether the vehicle has been reported stolen is not in the DVLA data.
Number plate changes. If the vehicle has had a different plate in its history, the free check will not flag this.
Accident history. No record of insurance claims or reported accidents appears in DVLA data.
For all of the above, a paid check from HPI, Experian AutoCheck, or the AA is the route. These typically cost £10 to £30 depending on the level of detail. On any significant purchase, that is a reasonable cost.
Using MOT history to spot a clocked car
This is the most practically useful thing you can do with the free check, and most people do not know about it.
Every MOT since 2005 records the mileage at the time of the test. This creates a timestamped mileage log spanning the vehicle's entire testable history. If the odometer has been wound back, the history will show it.
If the mileage at test four is lower than the mileage at test three, the odometer has been tampered with. If a car supposedly covering 8,000 miles a year suddenly shows 25,000 miles between two consecutive tests, that is inconsistent and worth challenging. Mileage that stays completely flat for two or three years and then jumps sharply is also a warning sign.
Calculate the implied annual mileage between each test. It will not be perfectly even year to year, but the pattern should make sense for the type of vehicle and how it was used. A city runaround doing 15,000 miles a year is unusual. A former fleet car doing 3,000 miles a year is unusual in the other direction.
The check is free and takes under a minute. Do it on every used car you consider buying, before you visit the seller.
Should I still get an HPI check?
Yes, if the purchase price is significant. The free checks tell you about MOT and tax status, mileage history, and basic vehicle details. They do not show outstanding finance, write-off status, stolen status, or plate changes.
On a car costing £3,000 or more, spending £10 to £15 on an HPI or equivalent check is sensible risk management. Outstanding finance is the most common issue found, and one of the most financially damaging for a buyer who did not know about it.
HPI, Experian AutoCheck, and the AA all offer vehicle history checks. Prices and detail levels vary by provider. The free DVLA check is always the starting point. The paid check adds the data the free one does not cover.
Used car buying checklist and guides on what to look for before you hand over any money.
Common questions about the DVLA vehicle check
Is the DVLA vehicle check really free?▾
Yes, completely free. The DVLA vehicle enquiry service at GOV.UK shows MOT status, tax status, and basic vehicle details for any registered vehicle. Some third-party sites charge for this information. You do not need them. Go directly to gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla.
What do I need to run the check?▾
Only the vehicle's registration number. No account, no login, and no personal information required. The results are returned instantly.
Can I check any vehicle, or only my own?▾
Any vehicle. The check is a public record. Prospective buyers, insurers, and anyone else can check the status of any UK-registered vehicle using its registration number.
What is a V5C and why does it matter when buying a used car?▾
The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate, also called the log book. It shows the registered keeper and key vehicle details. When you buy a vehicle, the V5C should be updated to reflect you as the new keeper, and DVLA must be notified of the change. The V5C does not prove legal ownership. It shows who is responsible for registering the vehicle. A seller who cannot produce the V5C should be treated with caution.
What does SORN mean in the check result?▾
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. A SORN declaration means the registered keeper has told DVLA the vehicle is not being used on public roads and will not be taxed or insured. A SORN vehicle cannot legally be driven on the road. If you are buying a SORN vehicle, it will need to be taxed and insured before you drive it away.
What is the difference between a free DVLA check and an HPI check?▾
The free DVLA check shows MOT status, tax status, basic vehicle details, and (via the MOT history checker) a full mileage record since 2005. An HPI check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen status, and number plate change history. Both are useful. The free check is always the starting point. A paid HPI check is worth doing on any significant purchase.
Can I check if a car has outstanding finance for free?▾
No. Outstanding finance is not included in the DVLA free check or the MOT history checker. To check for outstanding finance you need a paid check from HPI, Experian AutoCheck, or similar. This typically costs £10 to £30 and is the most important thing a paid check adds over the free service.
What does it mean if a car has had many previous keepers?▾
It depends on the type of vehicle. A car with seven keepers in six years should prompt a question about why it changed hands so frequently. A fleet car or rental vehicle might legitimately have multiple keepers in a short period without being problematic. Cross-reference the number of keepers with the vehicle type, age, and mileage history to see if the pattern makes sense.