← Back to Sorted Before you drive or buy

Check a vehicle before you drive or buy.

Enter the reg and run the three official free UK checks in under two minutes — MOT history, tax status and whether it's showing as insured — then take the honest before-you-buy checklist with you to the viewing.

Free · No login · The reg never leaves your device — we just open the official checkers

What to check before buying

  1. The V5C logbook is present — and matches. The seller should have the V5C (registration certificate) in their name at the address you're viewing at. No V5C, or a name/address that doesn't match the seller, is a walk-away sign. Check the VIN on the V5C against the plate stamped on the car (usually at the base of the windscreen or under the bonnet).
  2. MOT gaps. In the free MOT history, look for years with no test — a long gap can mean the car was off the road (declared SORN), broken, or somewhere it shouldn't have been. Ask the seller to explain any gap.
  3. Mileage consistency — the clocking check. Every MOT certificate records the mileage on the day. Read them oldest to newest: the number should only ever go up, in believable steps (a typical UK car does roughly 6,000–10,000 miles a year). A mileage that drops between tests, or jumps oddly, suggests the odometer may have been wound back ("clocked"). Other clocking signs in person: a worn steering wheel, pedals and driver's seat on a "low-mileage" car, and service-history stamps that don't line up with the dashboard reading.
  4. Outstanding finance. If the previous owner still owes money on the car, the finance company may have a claim on it — even after you've paid. The free checks above can't see finance; only a paid history check can. If you're spending serious money, a paid check (usually under £20) is worth it. We don't recommend any particular provider — compare a couple before you pay.
  5. Safety recalls. Check for outstanding manufacturer recalls free at gov.uk/vehicle-recalls-and-faults. A recall repair is free at a main dealer — but an ignored recall on a car you're buying tells you how it's been looked after.
One-tap full checks are coming. Pulling the MOT history, tax status and vehicle details straight into this page needs registered access to the DVSA and DVLA APIs — which we're applying for now that SortedUK Ltd is filed. Until then, this page routes you to the official checkers and never shows you a verdict we can't back with real data.

If something's already wrong

  • Bought a car that turned out faulty or misdescribed? You may have rights under the Consumer Rights Act (dealers) — see Can I claim? and write the letter.
  • DVLA letter about tax or SORN? The Letter Machine has a dedicated DVLA path.
  • Seller seems off? Run the ad, the messages or the "finance company" through the scam check before you transfer a penny.