10 free guides
Vehicle check guides
Everything you need to know about MOT history, car tax and buying a used car with confidence.
How to check a car's MOT history for free
Every UK car's MOT record is public. Learn how to check a full MOT history for free, what the results mean and the warning signs before buying.
Read the guideCar tax (VED) explained: rates, checks and SORN
What UK vehicle tax is, how the bands work, why tax no longer transfers when you buy a car, what SORN means, and how to check any vehicle's tax status for free.
Read the guideCar clocking: how to spot a clocked car
Mileage fraud costs UK used-car buyers thousands. Learn how clocking works, how to use free MOT mileage records to spot it, and what to do if a car has been clocked.
Read the guideUsed car buying checklist: what to check before you buy
A practical UK used car buying checklist: the documents to inspect, free history checks to run, what to check on the test drive and how to negotiate.
Read the guideHow to check if a car is taxed and has a valid MOT
Check any UK vehicle's tax and MOT status for free using just the registration. What the results mean, the penalties for driving without either, and the traps when buying.
Read the guideInsurance write-off categories: Cat A, B, S and N explained
What each insurance write-off category means, which cars can legally return to the road, how Cat S and Cat N affect value and insurance, and how to protect yourself when buying.
Read the guideUK number plates explained: how to read a reg plate
How to decode any UK registration: the current two-letter, two-number format, age identifiers, older prefix and suffix plates, and the legal rules a plate must meet.
Read the guideThe V5C logbook explained: buying, selling and lost logbooks
What the V5C actually proves (and what it doesn't), how to transfer it when buying or selling, how to replace a lost logbook, and the V5C frauds to watch for.
Read the guideOutstanding finance on a used car: what it means for buyers
A car on unsettled finance still belongs to the lender. What outstanding finance means, the risks of buying a car that has it, and how to protect yourself before you pay.
Read the guideMOT advisories explained: which ones actually matter
An advisory isn't a fail, but it can be a warning. What MOT advisories mean, the ones that signal expensive trouble, and how to use them when buying a used car.
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