How to check a used car before buying

Start with what you can see and what the MOT record says. Add paid checks only when you need that extra record.

A sensible order

Confirm the registration, then read the free vehicle report. It shows MOT expiry, mileage readings, pass and fail results, and advisories from DVSA MOT history.

Look at the car and drive it. Photos and a test drive of at least 30 minutes are part of the Motor X Checks appraisal app for dealers.

Factory X Extras is £4.49, Service X History is £5.99, and Provenance X Check is £8.99. This site does not take payment for those checks yet.

What the free report does not decide

An MOT advisory is a note from a test, not a promise about the car's condition today. A mileage note on the report only says a later reading is lower than an earlier one. It does not say why.

Questions

Where do I start?

Run the free Motor X Checks vehicle report with the registration, then inspect and drive the car.

Do I have to buy a paid check?

No. Paid checks are optional. Public purchasing on this site is not switched on.

Next step

Run the free Motor X Checks vehicle report, or read Factory X Extras, Service X History and Provenance X Check. Buying those checks on this site is not switched on.

The appraisal app trial is 14 days. No card is needed to start. Start free trial / Register interest.