Vehicle guide
What ‘not returned’ means in a vehicle report
Missing coverage is an unknown result—not evidence that the vehicle is clear.
Not returned means the requested answer is unavailable from that check. It must remain an unknown rather than being presented as evidence that no issue exists.
Read the coverage
A result can be unavailable because a dataset was not included, the provider had no matching record, the vehicle class was unsupported or a source was temporarily unavailable. Those situations must not be converted into ‘no issue found’.
Choose the next check
- 1
Identify which decision depends on the missing result.
- 2
Use an appropriate official service, documentary check, specialist dataset or physical inspection.
- 3
If the missing information is material and cannot be obtained, make the decision with that uncertainty clearly understood.
Your practical checklist
Tick each item as you work through the vehicle, documents and evidence. An unticked item stays open—it does not become a clear result.
Useful sources and next steps
Questions buyers ask
Does ‘not returned’ mean no problem was found?
No. It means the answer was unavailable from that check. The result must remain unknown until an appropriate alternative source provides it.
Should I repeat a check when data was unavailable?
A fresh check may help after a temporary source issue, but first identify whether the dataset was included and supports that vehicle. Use another suitable official, documentary or specialist route where necessary.
Check the vehicle in this guide
Start with the free official-data snapshot. We will keep anything not returned clearly marked as unknown.
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.
Images are processed only to find registration candidates and are not retained by Car Assistant. We do not extract other V5C details.