Run a car finance check before you buy
Enter a UK registration to reveal any outstanding finance recorded against the vehicle. We check live agreements from major UK lenders so you never pay for a car that still belongs to a finance company.
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What the car finance check covers
Our car finance check cross-references the registration against records held by Experian, the UK’s leading vehicle finance database, alongside DVLA keeper and tax data and DVSA MOT history. If a Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase or logbook loan agreement is live, it will be flagged on your report with the lender name, agreement type and the date it was registered.
Finance data is refreshed directly from participating UK lenders, so the information reflects agreements recorded at the point of your check. For context on how regulated car finance agreements work, the Financial Conduct Authority sets out your rights and the lender’s obligations.
Why an outstanding finance check matters
If a seller still owes money on a car under HP or PCP, the vehicle legally belongs to the finance company until the final payment clears. Buy it without checking and the lender can repossess the car, leaving you with no vehicle and no automatic right to a refund from the seller.
A finance check on the car reveals this risk in seconds, long before you hand over a deposit. Guidance from MoneyHelper is clear that running a history check is a core step when buying privately or from a small trader.
What to do if finance is found
A finance marker is not always a reason to walk away, but it does shift the process. Ask the seller for a written settlement figure from their lender, dated within 7 days, and confirm they intend to clear the balance in full before transfer of ownership.
The safest route is to pay the settlement amount directly to the finance company and the remainder to the seller, then run a fresh check to confirm the marker has been cleared. The official GOV.UK guide on buying a vehicle covers the DVLA paperwork once you are ready to complete the sale.
What’s included in your report
Outstanding finance agreements, with lender and date
Write-off and salvage history (Cat A, B, S, N)
Police stolen marker via the PNC
Mileage verification and MOT history
Keeper timeline and previous owner count
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How it works
Enter the registration
Type the UK number plate of the car you want to check. We match it instantly to DVLA records.
Confirm and pay
Review the make, model and year we’ve found, then complete a secure £9.99 checkout, or start CarVerify+ at £4.99.
Get your full report
Your finance status and full vehicle history land in your inbox in seconds, ready to share or print.
Common questions
Is there a free car finance check?
Free tools can confirm a car is taxed and has a current MOT, but outstanding finance data is held by commercial lender databases, not a public register. A paid car finance check is the only reliable way to see live HP, PCP and logbook loan agreements.
What happens if I buy a car with outstanding finance?
The finance company retains legal ownership of the car until the agreement is settled. If the seller defaults, the lender can repossess the vehicle from you, and recovering your money from the seller may require legal action.
What information do I need to run the check?
Just the UK registration number. You do not need the V5C, VIN or the seller’s permission to run an outstanding finance check on a car.
How accurate is the finance data?
Data is sourced from participating UK finance providers and refreshed continuously. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 Data Guarantee covering the finance information we supply.
Will the seller know I’ve checked the car?
No. The check is run against the registration only and does not notify the keeper, the seller or the finance company.
How quickly do I get the report?
Reports are generated instantly and delivered to your email within seconds of payment, so you can review the finance status while you’re still with the seller.
Know the finance status before you pay a penny
Run a car finance check now and buy with confidence, backed by our £30,000 Data Guarantee.
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