Finance, write-offs, stolen & mileage — checked before you buy

What does a full car check include?

A full car check brings together the records that matter most when buying a used car — the financial, safety and identity history that a basic DVLA lookup does not show.

A CarVerify report cross-references official and commercial datasets to cover:

• Outstanding finance — whether money is still owed on the car.
• Insurance write-offs — any Cat A, B, S or N total-loss record.
• Stolen status — a live Police National Computer theft marker.
• Mileage history — every recorded reading, with anomaly detection for clocking.
• Previous keepers plus plate and colour changes.
• Import, export, scrapped and SORN records, and the MOT history.

Does a full car check show outstanding finance?

Yes. A full car check reveals whether a car still has money owed on it through a finance agreement. This matters because if finance is unpaid, the lender — not the seller — can legally repossess the car after you buy it.

Finance is one of the most common and costly hidden problems, drawn from credit datasets such as Experian. See the dedicated outstanding finance check for the full detail.

Does it reveal if a car has been written off?

Yes. A full car check surfaces any insurance write-off, including the category (Cat A, B, S or N), so you know whether a car that looks clean was once declared a total loss.

The category tells you how serious the damage was and whether the car should legally be on the road. Dig deeper with the write-off check, or the specific Cat S and Cat N guides.

Does it show if a car is stolen?

Yes. A full car check cross-references the Police National Computer for a stolen marker. Buying a stolen car means you can lose both the car and your money, even if you bought it in good faith.

Because the marker is checked live, you see the current theft status. Learn more on the stolen car check, and always confirm the VIN on the car with a VIN check to rule out cloning.

Does it check the mileage for clocking?

Yes. A full car check compares every recorded mileage reading and flags any that go backwards or jump implausibly — the signature of clocking, where the odometer has been wound back.

A free MOT lookup only shows readings taken at test time, so clocking between tests can slip through. Cross-referencing extra sources is what catches it; see the mileage check.

Is there a free car check?

A free check confirms the basics — make, model, colour, tax and MOT status — from DVLA data. But the high-stakes records (finance, write-off, stolen and mileage) are commercial data and need a paid full check.

The free basics are a useful first filter, but they cannot tell you whether a car is safe to buy financially or legally. See exactly where the line falls on the DVLA check.

Is a full car check the same as an HPI check?

"HPI check" is a brand name that has become shorthand for a car history check. A CarVerify full check queries the same underlying datasets — Experian, MIAFTR and the Police National Computer — so you get the same critical checks at a lower price.

You are not paying for a worse check, just a fairer price. The data sources behind the report are the industry-standard ones the big names use.

How do you run a full car check?

You run a full car check by entering the registration, reviewing the report, and confirming the details match the car in front of you before you buy.

The whole process takes a couple of minutes, and the report is generated instantly.

1. Enter the car's registration number above.
2. Review the report — finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and history.
3. Confirm the make, colour and VIN match the car and its V5C logbook.
4. Use any red flags to negotiate, or to walk away.

Why run a full car check before buying?

A used car is one of the biggest purchases most people make privately, and the most serious risks are invisible on a test drive. A full check turns those hidden risks into facts before you hand over any money.

For a few pounds, you confirm the car is not on finance, not a hidden write-off, not stolen and not clocked. Set against a potential four-figure loss, it is the cheapest insurance a buyer can get.