Free: vehicle details
Compare available make, model, fuel, colour and other identity information with the advert and the car you are viewing.
FREE VS FULL CAR CHECK
Free car check or full history check: what do you actually need?
A free vehicle check is useful for screening a car before a viewing. When you are serious about buying, a full provenance check answers different questions about finance, stolen status and insurance write-off history. UKVEC lets you start free and unlock the £5.99 Full UKVEC Report only when you need the deeper checks.
Free first lookNo account requiredFull buyer report £5.99
Free first look · No account required
WHAT TO CHECK
What changes when you move from a free check to a full report
The free and paid checks serve different stages of the buying decision. Use the free first look to decide whether a vehicle deserves more attention, then use the full report before committing money.
Free: MOT history
Review available MOT status, test history, failures and advisories to understand maintenance and roadworthiness signals.
Free: mileage progression
Compare recorded mileage across available MOT records and investigate obvious inconsistencies before travelling or paying.
Full: outstanding finance
The £5.99 Full UKVEC Report includes licensed finance data where supplied, helping you identify a finance marker that needs resolving before purchase.
Full: stolen status
Licensed stolen-status data is included where supplied. Treat an unresolved stolen marker as a reason not to proceed.
Full: insurance write-off history
The full report includes licensed write-off information where supplied so you can investigate the category, damage and repair evidence.
When is a free car check enough?
Use a free check when you are comparing several adverts, deciding whether a car deserves a viewing, or checking basic MOT, mileage and identity information. It is a screening step rather than a complete provenance investigation.
When should I buy the full history report?
Run the full report before paying a deposit or purchase price on a serious candidate. That is the point where finance, stolen and write-off information can materially change your decision.
What does the £5.99 Full UKVEC Report add?
It adds licensed provenance information where supplied by the provider, including finance, stolen and insurance write-off markers, alongside the vehicle information already used in your buying decision.
Why not rely on MOT history alone?
An MOT is valuable, but it is not an ownership or provenance check. A valid MOT does not tell you whether finance is outstanding, whether a stolen marker exists or whether the vehicle has recorded insurance write-off history.
A sensible used-car checking sequence
Start free, shortlist the vehicle, inspect the advert and seller, then run the full provenance report before committing money. Match the registration and VIN, review the V5C and service evidence, and consider an independent mechanical inspection for a serious purchase.
FREE VS FULL
Start free. Go deeper only when the car is worth pursuing.
Free UKVEC first look
- Available vehicle identity details
- MOT status and available history
- Recorded mileage progression
Full UKVEC Report — £5.99
- Outstanding finance markers where supplied
- Stolen vehicle markers where supplied
- Insurance write-off markers where supplied
- Buyer-focused provenance review
Missing supplier data is shown as unavailable rather than treated as a clean result. UKVEC is a data-based buyer aid, not a mechanical inspection or guarantee of vehicle condition.
BUYER ACTION
Check the vehicle before money changes hands
Start with the free UKVEC first look. If the vehicle is worth pursuing, unlock the £5.99 Full UKVEC Report for licensed provenance checks where supplied by the provider.
Free first lookNo account requiredFull buyer report £5.99
COMMON QUESTIONS
Buyer FAQs
Is a free car check the same as a full history check?
No. The free UKVEC first look focuses on available vehicle, MOT and mileage information. The £5.99 Full UKVEC Report adds licensed provenance data where supplied.
How much is the Full UKVEC Report?
The Full UKVEC Report costs £5.99 as a one-off vehicle report.
Does the free UKVEC check include outstanding finance?
No. Licensed finance data is part of the Full UKVEC Report where supplied by the provider.
Does the free check include stolen and write-off history?
No. Those licensed provenance checks are included in the Full UKVEC Report where supplied.
Should I run the full report before paying a deposit?
Yes, if the vehicle is a serious purchase candidate. It is better to identify material provenance issues before committing money.
Can any history check guarantee a good car?
No. A data report should be combined with document checks, seller verification, VIN checks and a physical or professional inspection.
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