Free vehicle tools

Pick a check

• MOT check: Status, expiry date and every test on file, with the advisories and failure reasons written at each one.
• Car tax and SORN check: Whether a vehicle is taxed, when the tax runs out, and whether it is declared off the road.
• London ULEZ checker: Check Euro emissions standards and London Ultra Low Emission Zone compliance by registration number.
• Check car insurance: Open the official askMID Motor Insurance Database check for your own vehicle. No insurance quotes sold here.
• Car tax calculator: The 12 month and 6 month road tax figures for a specific registration.
• Mileage check: Every recorded reading in date order, with drops and unusual jumps flagged.
• Specification check: Engine, power, fuel, gearbox, body, colour and emissions as recorded, not as advertised.
• Registration lookup: Type any UK plate and read the whole free record right here: MOT, mileage, tax and specification.
• VIN tools: What a 17 character VIN decodes to, and why it is the number worth matching on the car itself.

What is not free?

Three checks come from paid commercial registers rather than the public record: outstanding finance, write-off and damage categories, and a stolen marker. Those sit in the £6.99 premium report, along with previous keepers, plate changes, import and export markers, VIN identity and a value guide. One payment, no subscription, and two reports for £9.99 if you are looking at more than one car.

Which check do I actually need?

If you are checking your own car, the free tools cover it: MOT, tax and mileage answer almost everything. If you are about to hand money to a stranger for a used car, run the free checks first, then buy the premium report before you pay a deposit. See how to check a used car before you buy for the order to do it in.