Frequently Asked Questions

ValeCheck is an instant online vehicle history check for UK cars. Enter a registration and we check for write-offs, outstanding finance, stolen or scrapped markers, and mileage anomalies, using data provided by Experian, the DVLA and the DVSA, then show you a clear report in seconds.

ValeCheck covers vehicle history and provenance: write-off category, finance, stolen/scrapped status, keeper and plate change history, and full MOT and mileage history. ValeCheck Plus includes everything in ValeCheck plus a market valuation (trade, private and part-exchange estimates), a salvage auction history check, and the vehicle's tax cost — useful if you're also trying to work out whether the asking price is fair.

Vehicle summary, write-off history, finance, stolen/scrapped and keeper registration history are data provided by Experian. MOT and mileage history come directly from the DVSA, and tax status from the DVLA. We don't independently verify this data ourselves — if a provider hasn't returned a particular check, the report says so clearly rather than presenting the absence of data as a clean result.

Reports are generated automatically as soon as payment is confirmed, and are normally ready within a few seconds. You can view the report on the site immediately, and download a PDF copy from your account.

Yes. Payments are processed securely by Stripe — we never see or store your card details ourselves.

If a report fails to generate due to a fault on our part, we'll provide a full refund or restore any credit used. Since a report is delivered instantly, refunds aren't available simply because its findings weren't what you hoped for — see our Terms & Conditions for the full policy.

Completed reports, including the downloadable PDF, remain available in your account for a limited retention period shown on the report itself. We'd recommend downloading a copy if you want to keep it for longer.

Most UK-registered vehicles are covered, but if a plate genuinely can't be found, get in touch and we'll look into it — you won't be charged for a report that couldn't be generated.

Yes — enter a registration on the homepage for a free quick preview showing the vehicle's make, model, MOT and tax status, and mileage history, before deciding whether to buy the full report.

Yes, both ValeCheck and ValeCheck Plus include a finance check, a stolen/scrapped marker check, and full write-off category history, all sourced from Experian.

Since October 2017, UK insurers use four categories. Category A: scrap only — the vehicle must be crushed and no parts reused. Category B: broken for parts only — the body shell must be crushed and the vehicle must never return to the road. Category S: structural damage (to the chassis or frame) that has been professionally repaired and can legally return to the road. Category N: non-structural damage (for example cosmetic or electrical) that has been repaired and can return to the road. Older reports may still show the categories these replaced — Category C (roughly equivalent to S) and Category D (roughly equivalent to N). A Category S or N history doesn't mean a car is unsafe, but it's worth knowing about and reflecting in what you're willing to pay.