How to get the cheapest car check

What a cheap check should still include

A cheap car check is only worth running if it still shows the records that protect your money. Don't settle for the free DVLA basics — make sure a budget car check still covers finance, write-off, stolen and mileage.

The checks that actually matter to a used-car buyer are:

• Outstanding finance — money still owed on the car.
• Insurance write-off — Cat A, B, S or N.
• Stolen marker — a live Police National Computer check.
• Mileage anomalies — signs of clocking.

How to get the cheapest car check for £4.99 — step by step

Follow these five steps to run a full car check for £4.99 and avoid paying any more than you need to.

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

1. Enter the car's registration on the CarVerify home page.
2. Start CarVerify+ for £4.99. This gives you 7-day access and unlocks your first full report — finance, write-off, stolen, mileage, MOT and keeper history.
3. Checking more than one car? Run additional checks at £4.99 each — the member price, half the standard £9.99 single-report price.
4. If you only needed it for one purchase, cancel within 7 days — from your account, the cancellation page, or by email — and you won't be charged the £9.99 renewal.
5. Keep your reports. Any check you've already run stays available to you.

What you get for £4.99

For £4.99, a CarVerify report brings together the full history of a used car — the same records the premium checks show, at a fraction of the price.

Your report covers:

• Outstanding finance, insurance write-off (Cat A/B/S/N) and stolen markers.
• Mileage anomaly detection and the full DVSA MOT history with advisories.
• Keeper timeline, plate and colour changes.
• Salvage auction history, with photos where a record exists, and an ex-taxi check.
• Backed by the £30,000 data guarantee.

What does it cost after the 7 days?

CarVerify+ is £4.99 for the first 7 days, then £9.99 every 4 weeks unless you cancel. You can cancel anytime — including within the 7 days to pay nothing further — and you keep any reports you've already run. There are no hidden fees.

If you check cars regularly it can be worth keeping (extra reports stay at the £4.99 member price and basic checks are unlimited). If it was a one-off, cancel before the 7-day access ends. Full details are in our Terms.

Is the cheapest car check any good?

Yes. A lower price doesn't mean lower-quality data. CarVerify draws on established official and commercial sources — DVLA, DVSA, Experian, MIAFTR and the Police National Computer — and backs every report with a £30,000 data guarantee.

CarVerify is an independent, lower-cost alternative to the well-known HPI check and is not affiliated with HPI Limited. What you save is on price, not on the checks that keep you safe.

Tips for the cheapest, safest check

A few habits get you the most value and the best protection for your £4.99.

• Run the check as close to purchase as possible, so the data is current.
• Check every car on your shortlist while you have access — extra reports are £4.99 each.
• Always match the VIN on the car (windscreen and door pillar) to the V5C and the report.
• Set a reminder to cancel before day 7 if you only needed a one-off check.