Is a free vehicle check enough?

A free vehicle check is enough to screen a car, but not enough to buy one. It confirms the car's details, tax and MOT status and mileage from official data. It does not show outstanding finance, stolen or write-off status, keeper history or a valuation. Use the free check on every car you consider, and a deeper check on the one you are about to pay for.

What a free check covers

A free check built on official DVLA and DVSA data tells you:

That is genuinely useful. It lets you catch a mismatch between an advert and the car's real details, spot a mileage pattern that does not add up, and see what repairs the car has needed over the years. The GOV.UK MOT history service publishes the same test records. For a full breakdown, see what a vehicle history check shows, and what it can't.

What it does not cover

Some of the most expensive problems with a used car are not in the official records:

These come from industry data, and they are the facts a seller cannot be relied on to volunteer. What Car? notes that a history check is what reveals past write-off status, theft and outstanding finance.

The decision rule

This keeps the cost down. You are not paying for a deep check on cars you will reject at the viewing, only on the one you are serious about.

Common mistakes

Is a paid check worth it?

Think about the numbers. A used car is often a four- or five-figure purchase. A history check costs a small fraction of that, and the problems it can reveal, such as outstanding finance or a hidden write-off, can cost far more than the car is worth. It is one of the cheapest forms of protection in the whole transaction.

What no check replaces

A check cannot tell you how the engine sounds, how the gearbox feels or whether the seller is honest. Always view the car, test drive it and ask for service invoices. If you are spending serious money, add an independent inspection.

Common questions

Is the free check official data?

The SMART check uses official DVLA and DVSA data for vehicle details, tax status and MOT history.

Do I need to register?

No sign-up is needed for the SMART check.

Is a Full Check worth it on a cheap car?

Finance and write-off risks exist at any price, and cheap cars are the ones buyers are most tempted to skip checking. Compare the cost of the check with the price of the car and the cost of getting it wrong.

What is an AI report?

It is an AI-written maintenance outlook for a specific car based on its MOT defects, with a downloadable PDF. It is an estimate, not a diagnosis, and costs £1.99 per car.

Start free, upgrade when it counts

Run the free SMART check at vinfo.app on every car you consider, with no sign-up. When you reach the car you want, a Full Check adds finance, stolen and write-off status, keeper history and a valuation. Credits are bought online as one-off payments, with no subscription.