What to check before buying a used car in the UK
Follow this practical checklist to inspect a used car, verify its history and avoid costly problems before you buy.
Our report provides essential information about the vehicle, including its make, model, year of manufacture, body type, fuel type, engine specifications, and transmission. This ensures the car's declared specifications match the actual details, giving you a clear picture of what you're buying.
We check for writeoffs, mileage clocking, and other issues.
Skip countless test drives and wasted hours. Filter through offers efficiently by knowing the vehicle's true condition upfront.
Access the full vehicle history to ensure you're not buying a money pit. Our comprehensive reports uncover hidden issues before they become your problem.
Once you find your dream vehicle, use the detailed information from our report to confidently negotiate a fair and lower price.
Around 1 in 7 used cars in the UK shows signs of mileage tampering or identity fraud.
CBD · 2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0In 2023 there were 1,624 road fatalities in Great Britain — the lowest ever recorded outside of COVID lockdown years.
CBD · 2023 · Open Government Licence v3.0An estimated 498,000 vehicles on UK roads have no valid Vehicle Excise Duty — that's 1.2% of the entire fleet.
DfT · 2023 · Open Government Licence v3.0More than 40% of cars on UK roads are at least 10 years old.
DfT · 2024 · Open Government Licence v3.0There are now over 1.39 million zero emission vehicles on UK roads — a 37% increase in a single year.
DfT · end 2024 · Open Government Licence v3.0Enter the REG and see a detailed report that will help you make a confident decision.
The Check Buy Drive blog
News, stories and practical ideas for buying, checking and owning a car.
Follow this practical checklist to inspect a used car, verify its history and avoid costly problems before you buy.
Learn why outstanding finance matters, what a vehicle history check can reveal, and what to do before paying for a used car.
Compare MOT records, service history and vehicle condition to identify mileage inconsistencies before buying a used car.