What the free check shows
- Make, model and full derivative
- Year, fuel type, engine size and power
- Colour and other identity details where available
- NCT due date
- Number of previous owners, where recorded
- Whether the car is marked as imported
Why check the registration before you view a car?
Most private ads are honest, but a listing can describe a different car to the one being sold — wrong engine, wrong colour, or a registration that belongs to another vehicle. Checking takes about ten seconds and costs nothing, so it's worth doing before you spend an evening driving across the country to look at a car that isn't what it claims to be.
It also gives you something to open the conversation with. Asking a seller a specific question about the car shows you've done your homework, which tends to make a dodgy seller lose interest quickly.
What the free check does not cover
The free check does not look at outstanding finance, write-off records or mileage history. Those come with the full report for €29.99 (down from €35), which you can unlock straight after the free check. If you want to understand what each one catches, these guides go into them in more detail:
- Outstanding finance check — someone else may still be paying for the car
- Insurance write-off check — whether an insurer has already written the car off
- Mileage and clocking check — whether the odometer matches recorded readings
- UK import check — what to look for on a car that came from the UK
- NCT due date check — when the next test is due
Warning signs to watch for on a viewing
- The seller won't let you take the car for an independent inspection
- The price is well below similar cars for sale
- The seller is vague about where the car came from or how long they've had it
- The logbook is missing, damaged or in another name
- Paint that doesn't quite match between panels, or uneven gaps around doors and bonnet
- Service history with gaps, or no stamps for a car that should have them
- Pressure to pay a deposit to "hold" the car before you've checked anything
Questions to ask the seller
- "Is the registration on the car the same one you've advertised?"
- "Can I see the logbook and a photo of the VIN plate?"
- "How long have you owned it, and did you buy it new or second-hand?"
- "Is there any finance still owing on it?"
- "Has it ever been in an accident or had an insurance claim?"
- "Do you have the service book, old NCT certificates and receipts for any repairs?"
- "Can I have it looked at by a mechanic before I pay?"
- "Why are you selling it?"
How a seller answers matters as much as what they say. Hesitation, a story that changes, or irritation at being asked reasonable questions is worth paying attention to.
How to use the free check
- Enter the registration from the ad or from the car itself
- Compare the make, model, engine, colour and NCT date with what's in front of you
- Ask the seller about anything that doesn't line up
- Unlock the full report for €29.99 before you pay a deposit
Do it before you hand over any money. A deposit is the point where walking away starts to cost you something.
Free car reg check — questions
Is the free check really free?+
Yes. There's no signup, no card details and no trial. Enter a registration and you'll see the vehicle's identity records straight away.
Do I need an account to use it?+
No. The free check works without an account. You can create one later if you want to keep hold of reports you've bought.
What's the difference between the free check and the €29.99 report?+
The free check confirms who the car is: make, model, engine, power, colour, NCT due date and previous owners where available. The full report for €29.99 (down from €35) adds the records that catch expensive problems — outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and recorded mileage readings.
Can I check more than one car?+
Yes. Check as many registrations as you like — it's worth doing for every car on your shortlist, not just the one you're leaning towards.
I'm buying from a dealer. Do I still need a check?+
Dealers can be a good buy, but a car with finance still owing on it or a write-off past is a problem wherever it comes from. A quick check before you commit costs nothing.
The details don't match the car in front of me. What now?+
Ask the seller to explain before you go further. A different engine, colour or model to the one the registration returns is one of the clearest reasons to slow down and ask questions.
Does a clean free check mean the car is safe to buy?+
No. The free check only confirms identity. It doesn't look at finance, write-off or mileage records, and it isn't a mechanical inspection. Use it as the first step, then get the full report and a physical inspection.
Check the car before you hand over money
Free identity check, then a full report for €29.99.