Your step-by-step guide to checking a car’s history before you buy

If you’re in the market for a new car, you want to make sure the one you buy has no hidden problems. One good way to limit any potential issues is by doing a thorough check of the car’s history before you buy.

If you want to know exactly what you should watch for, you can use this short guide as a quick checklist.

Gather key details

Before you begin any type of checks, we recommend getting the car’s registration number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). While the registration number is easily visible, you can usually find the VIN on the dashboard near the windshield or around the door openings.

These details should match the V5C logbook and all other documents. If they don’t, then there is a cause for concern, and you shouldn’t proceed further. You will also need these details for multiple different checks, and these checks are key to ensuring your intended vehicle is as good as it seems.

Run a comprehensive car history check

Your next step should be to run a car history check. While you can run a surface-level check, this is unlikely to give you much detail about the car itself. Instead, a comprehensive check will give you a much more thorough breakdown of the vehicle’s history.

This check should include various details, such as whether or not it’s been stolen, written off, has outstanding finance, and sometimes will list the mileage too. You might also be glad to know that these checks can flag if a car’s identity has been altered or if it’s been imported from abroad.

There are many free and paid checks to choose from, so we recommend you search online for the features and price that suits your needs.

Check MOT and service history

If you want to be alerted to any major issues, you need to check the MOT and service history. The MOT will show if the car has been consistently roadworthy, or if there are regular issues. It’s also a great way to see how well the car’s been maintained, since regular passes and changing advisories note that the owner is taking care of their vehicle.

We do recommend you get an MOT history check for any vehicle you’re considering, since this can give you a clear idea of the vehicle you intend to buy.

Verify previous ownership and legal status

The ownership history of the car is another crucial aspect you need to check. That’s because any gaps in the history could indicate use as a taxi or fleet vehicle. Cars used in this way typically rack up high mileage and can be subject to many issues.

Fortunately, there are DVLA-backed owner check services which provide official records. These are ideal for verifying a car’s ownership, and can help you identify if the seller is the registered keeper.