Data sources & methodology

A vehicle history check is only worth running if you can trust where the data comes from. Here is exactly what we use and how we handle it.

Where the data comes from

• DVLA vehicle record — via Vehicle Data Global

  Licensed

  Identity & specification

  Make, model, year, colour, fuel, engine size, tax and MOT status, plus the vehicle image where available. Drawn from the DVLA vehicle record and supplied under licence by Vehicle Data Global.

• DVSA MOT history

  Licensed

  MOT test history

  Every recorded MOT test, pass/fail, recorded mileage and advisories — from the official DVSA MOT History (Trade) API.

• Total Car Check

  Licensed

  Provenance & risk

  Write-off, stolen markers, scrapped status, mileage history, keeper history, imports/exports, and — on Gold — outstanding finance and log-book loans.

  Finance check is powered by Experian

  Data provided by Total Car Check

• One Auto API — CarGuide Taxi Check

  Licensed

  Taxi & private-hire history

  Searches council licensing registers through the One Auto API CarGuide service for a record that this vehicle has been licensed as a taxi or private-hire vehicle. Included on Gold and Guided Gold reports. Where a council does not publish a register, the report says so rather than showing a tick.

Our honesty rules

• ✓No fabrication. If a fact isn't in the record, we say so. We never invent one.
• ✓No fake all-clears. Some datasets aren't available to us for every vehicle. Where that happens the report says “N/A — not available on this check” rather than showing a reassuring tick we can't stand behind.
• ✓Point-in-time. Reports reflect the record at the moment you run them. Re-run before purchase.
• ✓Digital, not mechanical. We report the official vehicle records — nobody visits the car. It can't replace a physical inspection of the vehicle itself.