What a vehicle history check is
A vehicle history check is for buyers who need more than a walk-around and a valid MOT. It asks whether the car still belongs to a lender, whether it has been recorded stolen, whether an insurer wrote it off, and whether it has appeared at salvage auction.
VehicleScore splits that into two steps. First you run a free registration check and land on the VehicleScore dashboard. Then you can buy a Hidden History Check if you need finance, stolen, write-off or salvage records before you pay for the car.
What the free VehicleScore includes
The free check uses the same registration lookup as the homepage. After we recognise the plate you see:
- A VehicleScore out of 999, with make and model context where we have it
- Current MOT status, expiry, passes, fails and advisories
- Tax or SORN status
- Core specification such as make, model, fuel type and colour
- MOT mileage readings plotted over time
The free dashboard does not reveal outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off categories or salvage auction records. Those sit in the paid Hidden History Check. Verified dealer service records are a separate product — see the service history check.
What the paid Hidden History Check includes
Hidden History is the full vehicle history report. Depending on the records held for that registration, it can show:
- Outstanding finance agreements, including agreement type and finance company when the data provider returns them
- Stolen markers, including status and police force details when present
- Insurance write-off category (Cat A, B, S or N) when recorded
- Salvage auction history and salvage images where we hold them
- Previous keeper count and last keeper-change date
- Import and export flags
- VIN confirmation, colour changes and previous number plates
- An eight-point market valuation
- Experian data cover of up to £10,000 where that guarantee is included on the report
Not every field appears on every vehicle. The report only shows data the providers return for that registration.
Free VehicleScore vs Hidden History
| Check | Free VehicleScore | Hidden History Check |
|---|---|---|
| VehicleScore /999 | Yes | Yes, with a fuller score breakdown |
| MOT, tax and mileage timeline | Yes | Yes |
| Outstanding finance | Not shown | Yes, when a finance record exists |
| Stolen marker | Not shown | Yes, when a stolen record exists |
| Insurance write-off | Not shown | Yes, including category when recorded |
| Salvage auction and images | Not shown | Yes, where auction records or images exist |
| Keepers, import/export, VIN | Limited identity data only | Keeper counts, import/export flags, VIN confirmation |
Outstanding finance
If a car is still on hire purchase, PCP or another finance agreement, the lender usually remains the legal owner. Paying the seller does not always clear that debt. Read the outstanding finance check for HP and PCP risks, and what the report actually lists.
Stolen markers
A stolen marker means the vehicle has been recorded as stolen on the industry data we receive. It is not a live police terminal and it does not prove who is entitled to sell the car. See what a stolen marker means and what to do if one appears.
Insurance write-off history
Insurers use categories A, B, S and N when a car is written off. That is different from a salvage auction sighting. A car can have one, both, or neither. Understand Cat A, B, S and N before you buy a repaired write-off.
Mileage history
The free dashboard already plots MOT odometer readings. Sudden drops or long gaps are worth questioning. They do not prove clocking on their own. How we use MOT mileage to spot clocking.
Previous keepers
Hidden History can show how many previous keepers are recorded and the date of the last keeper change. It does not list keeper names or addresses. A high keeper count is a prompt to ask more questions, not proof the car is a problem.
Import and export
The paid report can flag whether the vehicle is recorded as imported or exported. It does not list customs duty or taxes paid.
Salvage history and auction images
Salvage records come from auction and salvage-yard sightings. Where we hold them, the report can include lot date, location, damage description, recorded mileage and salvage images. Why salvage history is not the same as a write-off.
VehicleScore out of 999
The free score is VehicleScore’s own rating. It is not an MOT result and it is not a finance clearance. Use it to compare similar cars, then open Hidden History when you are close to buying.
If you were looking for an HPI check
HPI is another company’s vehicle history product. VehicleScore is not HPI, is not an HPI check, and is not affiliated with that brand.
People searching for an HPI-style check usually want the same categories Hidden History covers: finance, stolen markers, write-offs and related title history. VehicleScore also adds its own score, MOT mileage timeline, and salvage auction records with images where available. We do not claim to be the same service, or to be more accurate than HPI. See the HPI Check alternative page for a factual comparison.
What to do when a problem is found
- Do not transfer money until you understand the record.
- Ask the seller for written evidence — a finance settlement letter, repair invoices, or proof a stolen record has been closed.
- For write-off or salvage history, get an independent inspection before you commit.
- If a current stolen marker appears, stop the purchase and contact the police. Do not confront a seller in person.
- Walk away if the paperwork does not match the report.
Checking more than one car
If you are comparing a shortlist, or you need checks for stock, you can buy Hidden History packs and use the credits within 12 months. See Hidden History packs for buyer and dealer pricing.
Enter a registration to open the free VehicleScore. You can buy Hidden History from the dashboard if you need the full report.