Guides › What a free car check shows, and what it cannot

What a free car check shows, and what it cannot

A free car check reads two official sources: the DVLA vehicle record and the DVSA MOT history. That gives you tax status and due date, MOT status and expiry, every MOT result since 2005 with mileage and advisories, and the make, colour, engine size, fuel, CO2 and first registration date. It cannot tell you whether the car has outstanding finance, has been stolen or written off, or has had its plate changed. Those sit in insurance and finance databases and need a paid history check.

What the free check includes

Field	Source	Why it matters
Tax status and due date	DVLA	Untaxed or SORN tells you the car is not being used
MOT status and expiry	DVLA / DVSA	No valid MOT means no insurance and no road use
Full MOT history	DVSA	Mileage at every test, advisories and failures, the honest service record
Make, model, colour	DVLA / DVSA	Does it match the car in front of you and the V5C
Engine size, fuel, CO2	DVLA	Tax band, ULEZ status, running costs
Year and first registration	DVLA	Age, and whether it was imported later
Export marker	DVLA	A car marked for export should not be for sale here

What it cannot show

Outstanding finance. If the car is on finance, the lender owns it, and it can be repossessed from you. Held by finance companies, not the DVLA.
Stolen. The Police National Computer marker is not public.
Write-off. Insurers record Category A, B, S and N with the salvage register, not on the V5C.
Plate changes and previous keepers. The number of keepers is on the V5C; the dates and plate history are not public.
Mileage between MOTs. Service and auction readings that fill the gaps.

Which one you need

Use the free check first. If the MOT history is clean and the car matches its record, a paid history check for a few pounds covers the finance, theft and write-off markers that would cost you the car. On a £500 runabout, the free check may be enough. On anything you would mind losing, it is not.

Questions people ask

Is the free car check really free?

Yes. The DVLA and DVSA data is published for this purpose and BeakCheck does not charge for it or ask for an email address.

Can I check a car with just the registration?

Yes. The registration is enough for the DVLA and MOT records. A paid history check also uses the registration and will return the VIN for you to compare with the car.

Why does the model sometimes not show?

The DVLA record holds the make but not the model. The model comes from the MOT history, so a car that has never had an MOT, usually one under three years old, shows the make only.

Check a car now

Free DVLA and MOT check, plus the remap verdict for the engine actually fitted to your car.

More guides

MOT advisories explained: what they mean and what to do Write-off categories A, B, S and N explained How to check if a car has been clocked using its MOT history What is an ECU remap? Stages, gains, risks and insurance ULEZ check: is your car compliant and what you pay if not