Buying a used car?
Don't risk making a mistake, trust the RAC
Get peace of mind with the UK’s most comprehensive car history check
The most comprehensive
car check in the UK
Get an instant vehicle history check
1 in 3 cars we check
have a hidden history
1 in 14 cars show
inaccurate mileage
1 in 250 cars are sold
after being scrapped
1 in 3 cars we check
have a hidden history
1 in 20 cars show
inaccurate mileage
1 in 250 cars are sold
after being scrapped
Free car check
There are several sources that can help identify part of a car’s history for free but these checks are not as comprehensive as a paid product. Free car checks will not identify whether a car has been stolen, written off or has existing finance which could result in the car being seized from you.
The RAC Vehicle History Check is the most complete check on the market from a brand you can trust and is the best way to have all the information you need when buying a car in one place, saving you time and effort using free sources online.
Free car history tools
If you want to research a car online for free then the following resources can be useful when looking to purchase a car.
How can I check a car's history for free?
Discovering a car's history is crucial when buying a vehicle, and while free sources can provide some information, they may not be as thorough as a paid product. Without a comprehensive car history check, you may not know if the car you're considering has a hidden past, such as being stolen, written off, or has outstanding finance. To ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision, it's essential to invest in a trusted vehicle history check. The RAC Vehicle History Check is the most complete option on the market, providing a comprehensive report on a car's past that you can rely on. With all the essential information in one place, you can save time and effort compared to using free sources online. Choose the RAC Vehicle History Check for peace of mind and a hassle-free car buying experience.
Vehicle MOT check
Discover the MOT history of any UK vehicle with the Gov.uk website free MOT history check service. Simply enter the registration number on the Gov.uk website to instantly find out if the car has a valid and up-to-date MOT certificate. In addition, the service provides a complete MOT history report, allowing you to view any previous faults or advisories. Plus, you can check for outstanding recalls that might impact your purchasing decision. Book an MOT online today with RAC at one of our local approved garages.
Vehicle Insurance check
askMID is an online service that can be used to check if a vehicle is currently insured. The MID (Motor Insurance Database) contains all the vehicles in the UK as well as their insurance status or alternatively whether a vehicle has been declared “off the road”. Entering the car registration into the free askMID search will either show that a vehicle is insured or more importantly when looking to purchase a car, if it has been declared “off the road” and for how long.
Car Valuation
To find out whether the price of the car you are looking to purchase is priced accordingly (to make certain that you are not paying over the market estimate) there are many services available that will value a car for free. One of these is the car valuation service on RAC Cars. However, all of these services will only provide their valuation while a RAC Vehicle History Check will provide a private sale valuation, market valuation and running costs.
Running costs and reliability
If you're in the market for a new car, it's essential to do your research on the vehicle's reliability and running costs to ensure you're making an informed decision. Luckily, there are plenty of online resources available, such as vehicle owner's forums, that can give you a better idea of what it's like to live with a particular car. When it comes to determining running costs, things can get a bit more complicated. While the manufacturer will provide data like average MPG, real-world driving conditions can cause significant variations. To get a more accurate estimate, consider using a RAC Vehicle History Check. This comprehensive report includes common breakdown reasons and MOT failures for the make and model you're interested in. Additionally, it provides an estimated fuel cost, so you can budget accordingly for owning and running the car.
RAC Recommends
With so many sources of information available when looking to purchase a car, we decided to dramatically reduce the risk for car buyers by creating our own RAC Vehicle History Check which includes checks not freely available to the public. We are so confident in our vehicle check that we guarantee the data in them up to £30,000 when purchasing a full vehicle check. While the RAC Vehicle History check is a paid for service, it is also the most comprehensive and could save you from a car with a hidden past.
More information to help you buy
Providing you have a reasonable cause, it is possible to request information on a vehicle’s registered keeper by contacting the DVLA, though this is available for a small fee. This also enables you to trace vehicle owners suspected of insurance fraud. You can also access a wealth of helpful information online to help you buy a used car safely. For guidance on buying and selling used cars, the RAC have issued a buying and selling guide.