Check these before committing
| Check | What to compare | Limit to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Registration, VIN, vehicle and V5C | A plate alone does not establish identity. |
| MOT | Dated results, failures, advisories and retests | A pass is not a full mechanical inspection. |
| Mileage | Listing, odometer and available dated readings | A conflict needs explaining; it is not proof of fraud. |
| Finance, stolen and write-off records | Coverage selected and records returned | Unavailable is not the same as no marker found. |
| Earlier damage | Categories, dates and available salvage photographs | A category does not certify repair quality. |
| Keepers and adverts | Dates, asking prices and mileage | Keepers are not every owner; adverts are not confirmed sales. |
| Maintenance | Actual service records and invoices | An MOT pass does not prove servicing. |
| Condition | Photos, declared damage and physical inspection | Hidden faults can remain unknown. |
| Total cost | Price or bid, fees, VAT, transport, repairs and reserve | Estimates need scope and quote checks. |
Start with identity and the free records
Follow GOV.UK’s used-car checks and read the MOT history as a sequence.
If the identity is unclear, stop before building a valuation. For repeated findings, use the MOT advisory guide. For conflicting readings, use the mileage checklist.
Read the coverage you actually bought
Free MOT records do not clear finance, stolen or write-off markers. Different paid products and Custom selections cover different questions.
Previous Advert History is separate for auction buyers. Manufacturer service records are Custom-only. A section in the illustrative sample is not an inclusion in every live report.
Compare free and paid evidence and read the sample’s history.
Inspect what the records cannot establish
View in daylight. Check visible condition, tyres, leaks, warning lights and a cold start where allowed. Take a test drive or arrange an independent inspection when access permits.
The MOT test does not assess engine, clutch or gearbox condition. Photos also cannot establish physical battery health or hidden damage.
At auction, work with the access available before the sale. Read the venue’s terms and avoid assuming you can contact a previous keeper or return the car later.
Work out the full cost, then decide
Check repair scope, parts fitment, labour, delivery and applicable charges. Keep the repaired valuation, uncertainty reserve and target saving separate. See the maximum-bid example.
An unresolved identity, history or condition concern can be enough to choose another car, even when the budget works.
Use the viewing checklist, explore the auction sample, or start a check.
