CACar Assistant
UK vehicle intelligence

Know the vehicle.
Make the call.

Turn a registration or number-plate photo into clear vehicle facts, explained history and a better-informed buying decision.

Check a vehicle freeExplore every check
Free facts firstVehicle confirmed firstNo invented certainty
Free vehicle snapshot

What vehicle are we looking at?

Enter the registration, or upload a clear photo of the number plate. You will confirm anything read from an image before a check runs.

JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC · 8 MB maximum

Images are processed only to find registration candidates and are not retained by Car Assistant. We do not extract other V5C details.

One vehicle. Multiple attributable datasets.

One answer. Unknowns stay visible.

One fair price. VAT included.

01 / THE IDEA

A vehicle check should give you an answer, not another pile of data.

Car Assistant brings records together and explains what matters, what is missing and what you should investigate next. Unknowns remain unknown—we never turn incomplete source data into false certainty.

02 / SAMPLE RESULT

Know what the report tells you.

A useful vehicle check should answer the buyer’s real question: what looks reassuring, what needs attention and what is still unknown?

This example uses representative sample data to show how a Car Assistant report is presented. It is not a live vehicle check.

SAMPLE DATA · NOT A LIVE CHECK
Buyer Decision Report

Sample vehicle report

AB21 ABC · Nissan Qashqai Acenta Premium Dci · 2020 · Diesel

Sample report snapshot generated 4 September 2026 at 12:00 BST
High-risk findings
High risk3 findings — pause before purchase
  • Registration match
  • Current export status
  • Scrapped status
Warnings6 checks recommended
  • Outstanding finance
  • Insurance condition history
  • Import history
  • Salvage history
  • Keeper and plate history
  • Recorded colour history
2 reassuring results3 high-risk findings6 warnings1 result not returned
What this sample containsVehicle data translated into buyer-focused findings
Data provided by Experian
No issue returnedWarning / checkHigh riskNot returned
Registration matchData provided by ExperianThe registration does not match the vehicle details — confirm the vehicle's identity before relying on its history
Vehicle detailsData provided by ExperianNissan Qashqai Acenta Premium Dci · 2020 · diesel · red
Outstanding financeData provided by ExperianOutstanding finance is recorded — clarify the lender's current interest before paying for the vehicle
Current stolen statusData provided by ExperianNo current stolen marker was found
Insurance condition historyData provided by ExperianA recovered, non-structural damage record was found
Import historyData provided by ExperianThe vehicle is recorded as imported — review the registration date and supporting import documents
Current export statusData provided by ExperianThe vehicle is currently recorded as exported — contact DVLA and do not proceed while this marker remains active
Scrapped statusData provided by ExperianThe vehicle is recorded as scrapped — confirm its identity and current registration status before any purchase
Salvage historyData provided by ExperianA salvage-auction listing was found — include this information in any independent condition inspection
Keeper and plate historyData provided by ExperianThe history shows 1 keeper change and 1 registration-plate change
Recorded colour historyData provided by ExperianThe vehicle was originally blue and is now recorded as red. 1 colour change is recorded
Not returned: mileage anomaly checkThe sample does not include a separate mileage-anomaly result, so it remains unknown rather than being shown as clear.
£10,000 data guarantee shown in the sample12 months · eligibility, covered data and compensation remain subject to the Experian data guarantee terms and conditions.
Your action planWhat to do next
  1. 1
    Confirm the vehicle identity

    Compare the VIN shown on the vehicle with the V5C, MOT history and seller’s documents before relying on the returned history.

    Prompted by: Registration mismatchView guide →
  2. 2
    Verify the vehicle and documents

    Check the V5C, the VIN or chassis numbers on the vehicle and the MOT history all refer to the same vehicle.

    Prompted by: Scrapped markerView guide →
  3. 3
    Do not proceed while the scrap marker is active

    If the seller cannot provide concrete, independently verifiable evidence that the marker is an administrative error, do not pay a deposit or purchase the vehicle.

    Prompted by: Scrapped markerView guide →
  4. 4
    Require the seller to challenge any claimed error

    If the seller says the marker is wrong, ask them to contact DVLA and the vehicle-history provider and show written confirmation of the corrected record before you reconsider.

    Prompted by: Scrapped markerView guide →
  5. 5
    Contact DVLA about the active export marker

    Do not buy the vehicle or pay a deposit while it remains recorded as exported. If the seller says it was re-imported, require an updated V5C and official confirmation of its current UK registration status.

    Prompted by: Active export markerView guide →
  6. 6
    Clarify the current finance position

    Delay the purchase until the lender confirms its interest has ended. Ask for official settlement confirmation and verify it with the lender using independently sourced contact details before handing over money.

    Prompted by: Outstanding finance reportedView guide →
  7. 7
    Review the import documents

    Check that the registration date, V5C and supporting import paperwork are consistent with the reported history.

    Prompted by: Import history reportedView guide →
  8. 8
    Consider an independent inspection

    Give the inspector the salvage and recovered-condition findings so they can focus on previous repairs and current condition.

    Prompted by: Salvage-auction recordView guide →
  9. 9
    Inspect the car

    Look closely in daylight for paint overspray on rubber seals, window trims or badges, and check inside the door shuts and under the bonnet.

    Prompted by: Recorded colour changeView guide →
  10. 10
    Check panel gaps

    Uneven gaps between the doors, bonnet and wings can point to previous repairs that deserve closer inspection.

    Prompted by: Recorded colour changeView guide →
  11. 11
    Ask for evidence

    Request receipts, invoices or photographs from a professional bodyshop explaining why the colour change took place.

    Prompted by: Recorded colour changeView guide →

About this sample: all vehicle details and findings shown are sample data. No live vehicle lookup was performed for this example. It demonstrates the immutable snapshot format; a purchased report will show its report time, source check times, unavailable data and the terms accepted at checkout.

03 / SERVICE HISTORY

Specialist check

Lost the service book? The useful history may still exist.

Car Assistant is preparing a dedicated manufacturer service-history search. Where participating sources have records, it may return dated dealer visits, recorded mileages and recorded work where the source supplies it—useful evidence that an MOT history cannot provide.

How to check service historyView the service-history check
Dealer visits

Dates and servicing locations recorded in participating manufacturer systems.

Mileage evidence

Another dated mileage source to compare with MOTs, invoices and adverts.

Work carried out

Service types and recorded actions where the source supplies that detail.

Coverage made clear. A result may contain multiple visits, limited entries or workshop remarks only, depending on the participating source and vehicle. Independent-garage work may not appear, and a missing result will never be presented as proof that a vehicle was not serviced.

04 / WHAT WE CHECK

Start free. Add the depth your decision needs.

FREE

Essential facts

A useful first look at a UK vehicle before you spend anything.

  • Vehicle identity and current registered colourIncluded in the launch scope
  • Current MOT status where the official record confirms itIncluded in the launch scope
  • MOT history with plain-English interpretationIncluded in the launch scope
  • Outstanding safety-recall status where suppliedIncluded in the launch scope

Available now. Enter a registration or upload a number-plate photo to start.

CORE CHECK

The buying decision

Our main paid report: adverse history, market context, an evidence-led findings summary and tailored next checks.

Frequently used
  • Outstanding finance, stolen, write-off and scrapped markersIncluded in the launch scope
  • Import, export, registration-plate and recorded-colour historyIncluded in the launch scope
  • MOT history, recorded mileages and available recall evidenceIncluded in the launch scope
  • Current valuation using the mileage suppliedIncluded in the launch scope
  • Joined-up MOT, history and value risk analysisIncluded in the launch scope
  • A combined evidence-led buyer reportIncluded in the launch scope
Not included in the £7.99 first report
  • Separate salvage-auction history or imagery
  • Keeper-duration and additional industry-mileage add-ons
  • Previous adverts, taxi or other previous-use data
  • EV battery, tyre, service-history or factory-build datasets
These require a separate future check and are not implied by vehicle coverage.

Experian attribution Where a result is supplied by Experian, the affected field or section is identified using the customer-facing wording approved for that dataset.

One-time pricing is shown before secure checkout.

SPECIALIST CHECKS

Specialist answers

Targeted service-history, factory-data and recovery services when the core report is not enough.

Recommended
View all specialist services
  • Sourced depreciation forecast using date and mileage assumptionsAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Recorded remaining manufacturer warrantyAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Tax, fuel, maintenance and insurance cost estimatesAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Performance, economy, emissions and technical dataAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Euro NCAP and other attributable safety ratingsAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Towing capacities, weights and dimensionsAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Historical valuation for a supported date and mileageAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Irish-import and available overseas-history searchesAvailable where vehicle coverage allows
  • Licensed auction, salvage and advert imagery where foundAvailable where vehicle coverage allows

Priced separately and supplied only where coverage, authority and licensing allow.

05 / PRICING

Pay for the decision—not a pile of raw data.

Prices shown include VAT. We identify the vehicle before checkout. The paid report then searches the listed sources and returns the relevant data available for that vehicle, with anything unavailable labelled “not returned” rather than clear.

Vehicle Snapshot

Free

Official identity, interpreted MOT history and available recall status. Current tax status is shown only where an official route is connected.

Available nowStart free

Buyer Decision Report

£7.99

Supported history and valuation evidence brought together in one clear report, with practical next checks linked to the findings that prompted them.

Not available to buy yet. Explore the report details to see what it will include.View this check

Three-vehicle Shortlist

£17.99

Three Buyer Decision Reports arranged side by side so that findings, valuations, market context and remaining checks can be compared without losing each vehicle’s unknowns.

Not available to buy yet. Three-vehicle comparisons are coming later.View this check

Service History

£12.99

Search participating manufacturer and franchised-dealer records for maintenance evidence that may not appear in the service book or MOT history.

Not available to buy yet. Service-history coverage will depend on the vehicle and manufacturer.View this check

Factory Build Sheet

£7.99

Check available build-level evidence for original paint, trim, factory options and option packs, using the VIN where stronger identification is needed.

Not available to buy yet. Factory information will depend on the vehicle and available records.View this check

Radio-code Recovery

£5.99

Identify the fitted audio unit, validate whether recovery is supported and use the appropriate code or official recovery route where available.

Not available to buy yet. Recovery will be offered only for supported audio units.View this check

Buyer-report checkout remains closed until identity, terms, payment and fulfilment are ready. Specialist services also require their own availability check.

06 / QUESTIONS

Straight answers before you check.

What is included in the free check?

Official vehicle identity, available MOT status and history interpretation, plus recall status where the official record supplies it. Current tax status is included only when an official route is connected. Anything unavailable is shown as not returned rather than guessed.

Why might checkout remain unavailable?

Checkout stays closed if the vehicle cannot be identified or the configured terms, payment or secure report-delivery route is not ready. Specialist services may also require a separate availability check. In a Buyer Decision Report, any individual result that is unavailable stays visibly unknown.

Do you store number-plate or logbook photos?

Car Assistant’s image-intake flow is designed to identify registration candidates without retaining the image. You confirm the registration before a search runs, and unrelated V5C fields are ignored.

What can a manufacturer service-history check find?

Depending on the make, vehicle and source coverage, it may return dated franchised-dealer visits, mileages, service types and recorded work. It will not necessarily include independent-garage servicing, and limited or unavailable coverage will be labelled clearly.

Is a clear report a guarantee?

No. It means the connected sources returned no marker at the stated check time. It does not replace a physical inspection, title investigation, warranty or professional advice.

07 / HOW IT WORKS

From registration to a clearer decision.

  1. 1

    Identify

    Enter the registration or VIN and confirm the vehicle.

  2. 2

    Check

    Choose free essentials, the core buying report or specialist additional support.

  3. 3

    Understand

    Get a plain-English account of findings, gaps and next questions.

Car Assistant is currently preparing for staged public launch.

Contact the team →