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Guide

UK car history checks compared

Several companies sell car history checks in the UK. They differ on price, on what each report says it covers, and on extras such as data guarantees. This page sets them side by side, using each provider's own public pages, so you can pick the one that fits the car you're looking at.

Prices checked 27 October 2026. Check the provider's site before buying.

We don't rate or review any provider here. We haven't bought their reports or tested their data. Each summary repeats what the provider says about its own check.

Published by CarCheckHQ · Updated . Written by the CarCheckHQ team.

Start with the free GOV.UK checks

Whichever paid check you choose, the free GOV.UK services come first. You can check a vehicle's MOT history, get vehicle information from DVLA and check for a vehicle recall. GOV.UK also lists checks to make when buying a used car.

These show MOT results, tax status, vehicle details and recalls. They don't show outstanding finance, theft or insurance write-off records. That's what a paid history check is for. Our guide to free MOT history vs a paid car history check explains the difference.

The providers

CarCheckHQ

Prices, from our pricing page:

  • 1 report: £9.49
  • 2 reports: £12.99
  • 3 reports: £15.74

What a report can include, where a connected source returns a record:

  • outstanding finance markers
  • stolen and other theft or legal markers
  • an insurance write-off marker and category
  • dated mileage readings
  • MOT history, as a summary of recorded mileage readings
  • number of previous keepers, keeper change dates, plate changes and V5C dates
  • a valuation estimate, which isn't a guaranteed price

Finance, theft and write-off markers come from a UK vehicle-data provider. You start with a UK registration and the current mileage. No subscription needed for one-off reports. Credits last six calendar months.

hpi check

Prices, from hpicheck.com:

  • Full check: £19.99
  • Basic Check: £9.99
  • MultiCheck: three full checks for £29.99

HPI's page says its full check covers stolen, insurance write-off, outstanding finance, previous owners, scrapped, logbook, mileage and number plate change checks, and searches for safety recall data.

It offers a guarantee of up to £30,000, subject to its terms. Its page says the Basic Check doesn't include the guarantee, mileage discrepancies or write-off details. We saw no subscription on its consumer pages. The site links to a free MOT history check. Its menus also list checks for motorbikes and vans.

RAC Vehicle History Check

Prices, from the RAC's vehicle check page:

  • Full Check: £14.99
  • Basic Check: £9.98
  • Multi Check: £29.97

The RAC's page says its check is powered by HPI and adds RAC breakdown data. The Full Check and Multi Check list finance agreement details, mileage discrepancies, MOT history, write-off details and previous owners. They also list plate changes, vehicle tax, running costs and an up to £30,000 data guarantee on qualifying claims.

The Basic Check lists stolen, insurance write-off, imported or exported, and outstanding debt (basic details only). We saw no subscription and no free check on this page.

AA vehicle history check

Prices, from the AA's vehicle check page:

  • 1 check: £14.99
  • 5 checks: £6 per vehicle

The AA's page says its checks are provided by HPI Limited. It lists outstanding finance, stolen, insurance write-offs, incorrect mileage, previous owners, plate transfers, scrapped by DVLA, specification, V5C match and VIN confirmation.

It offers a guarantee of up to £30,000 for inaccuracies, subject to terms. Results show instantly and a copy is emailed. The AA also sells a separate vehicle inspection, where an engineer checks the car's condition. We saw no subscription and no free check on this page.

Cazana

Cazana's own site describes vehicle data products for dealers, insurers, lenders, leasing firms and manufacturers, including valuations and market data. We didn't find a consumer car history check or a consumer price on its site. To use it, you'd contact Cazana as a business.

Experian AutoCheck

Prices, from autocheck.co.uk:

  • 1 AutoCheck: £7.99
  • MultiCheck: 5 AutoChecks for £16.99, to use within one year

Experian's page lists stolen, high risk, outstanding finance, accident and write-off, salvage, scrapped, plate change, import and export, colour change, previous keeper, mileage and MOT history checks. It also lists running costs, specifications and VIN verification.

It offers a data guarantee of up to £30,000 for specified inaccuracies. You can buy as a guest without an account. It also checks motorcycles, vans and other vehicles. We saw no subscription and no free check on its pages.

MotorCheck

Prices, from MotorCheck's pricing page:

  • Single Check: £9.99
  • Bundle 3: three checks for £14.99
  • Bundle 5: five checks for £19.99

MotorCheck's page lists vehicle identity (VIN and logbook), finance, write-off and scrapped, mileage, keeper changes, stolen, plate change, engine replacement and colour change checks. It also lists road tax, taxi use, a valuation, manufacturer recalls and MOT checks.

It says every Full Check Report has a data guarantee of up to £30,000 for non-trade users. It covers the UK and Ireland. It advertises a free car identity check, and we saw no subscription.

Where other checks cover more than ours

We'd rather you knew this before you buy:

  • Data guarantees. HPI's full check, the RAC Full and Multi Checks, the AA, Experian AutoCheck and MotorCheck's Full Check each say they offer up to £30,000, subject to terms. Our report doesn't come with a data guarantee.
  • MOT test results. The RAC, Experian AutoCheck and MotorCheck list MOT history in their reports. Our report summarises recorded mileage readings only, so use the free GOV.UK MOT history for test results and advisories.
  • Recalls. HPI and MotorCheck mention recall data. Our report doesn't include recall status, so use the free GOV.UK recall check.
  • Other vehicles and Ireland. HPI and Experian AutoCheck list motorbikes and vans. MotorCheck covers Ireland too.
  • Starting from a VIN. Our check needs a UK registration.
  • Condition. No history check can tell you the car's condition. The AA sells a separate inspection for that.

Who each check may suit

  • CarCheckHQ: a UK-registered car where you mainly want finance, theft, write-off, mileage and keeper records, and a report that says plainly when a section has no data.
  • hpi check: you want HPI's own report, a logbook cross-check and a guarantee, or you're checking a motorbike or van.
  • RAC: you want MOT history and RAC breakdown insights in the same report as the finance and write-off checks.
  • AA: you want an HPI-based report with a guarantee, and may book an AA inspection too.
  • Cazana: a business that needs vehicle data or valuations at scale.
  • Experian AutoCheck: you want a long list of checks, including salvage, colour change and import or export, or you're checking several vehicles.
  • MotorCheck: you want a valuation, taxi-use or engine-change checks, or the car has a history in Ireland.

Questions buyers ask

How much does a car history check cost in the UK?

On 27 October 2026, one check cost between £7.99 and £19.99 on the providers' own sites. Basic versions cover less than full ones. Most providers sell packs that bring the cost per check down. Check the provider's site before buying, as prices change.

Do I need a subscription for a car history check?

Not for the checks on this page. None of their consumer pages mentioned a subscription when we checked. At CarCheckHQ, no subscription is needed for one-off reports.

Which car history checks come with a data guarantee?

HPI's full check, the RAC Full and Multi Checks, the AA, Experian AutoCheck and MotorCheck's Full Check each say they offer up to £30,000, subject to their terms. HPI's and the RAC's basic checks don't include it. CarCheckHQ doesn't offer a data guarantee.

Are the free GOV.UK checks enough?

They're a good first step. They show MOT history, vehicle details, tax status and recalls. They don't show outstanding finance, theft or insurance write-off records, so a paid check adds those.

Is CarCheckHQ connected to any of these providers?

No. CarCheckHQ is a brand of DESKLINK LTD. It isn't affiliated with any provider on this page.

What this comparison can't tell you

We've compared what each provider says on its own public pages. We haven't bought their reports, and we don't rate any of them. A report shows what its sources return at the time you run it. No history check can prove a car is clear.

CarCheckHQ is a brand of DESKLINK LTD. It isn't affiliated with HPI, the RAC, the AA, Cazana, Experian, MotorCheck, DVLA or DVSA.

Sources