How it works
From the listing to the deal. In three steps.
Check the car before you travel, inspect it properly at the viewing, then know exactly what to offer.
Step 1 · Free
Check it before you travel.
Type in the reg, or paste the listing. In seconds you'll know whether the car is worth the trip.
- MOT history and mileage at every test
- Tax, recalls and advisories
- Known faults for that engine
- A verdict before you travel
No sign-up for your first two checks.
Check a car for free2 advisories in 2023 to ask the seller about
- No open recalls
- Taxed
Verdict
Worth viewing
Ask the seller about the 2023 advisories before you go.
What it's really worth comes with the £5.99 inspection, once every fault is priced for your area.
Example check. Made-up car.
Step 2 · £5.99
Inspect it at the viewing.
Your phone walks you round the car, one check at a time. Try it: tap through an inspection of the demo car.
Everything we check, at the car
- Walk-round
- Close-ups
- Tyres and wheels
- Warning lights
- Mileage
- Oil
- Coolant
- Leaks
- Engine sound
- Steering
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Vibration
- Known faults
- MOT advisories
- VIN check
1. Walk round
Film one slow lap, then snap anything you spot. Every mark gets a repair cost, priced for your postcode.
Example inspection. Made-up car, example prices.
Step 3 · In your report
Know exactly what to offer.
Your report scores the car in six areas, prices every fault it finds at garage rates near you, and turns it into a grade and a clear verdict.
What counts most
How much each area adds to the score.
- Mechanical and powertrain
- Safety, brakes, tyres and steering
- Bodywork and exterior
- Interior and cabin
- Electrical and warning lights
- Documents and history
Serious faults cap the grade. A confirmed safety fault can't score above a D, however good the rest of the car is.
Grades and verdicts
Every report ends with one of five. Tap a grade.
Buy with caution and a meaningful discount.
The demo car above scored 62.
- Every fault priced at garage rates near you
- A grade and a clear verdict
- A negotiation playbook, with what to say
- Photos and notes saved to your account
In every inspection report
Priced for where you live.
Garage labour costs nearly twice as much in London as in Newcastle. Add your postcode before the inspection and every repair on your report is priced at garage rates near you.
So the figure you put to the seller is what the work would really cost you, not a national guess.
- London£195
- South East£170
- UK average£150
- Scotland£135
- North East£125
AutoFinder's repair price, adjusted for typical independent garage labour rates in each region (2026): from about £58 an hour in the North East to £110 in London.
Full Check · £14.99
Add a history check for the things you can't see.
Everything in the inspection, plus an Experian check for outstanding finance, theft, write-off, and keeper and plate changes.
Where the data comes from.
- DVLA
- Make, colour, engine, tax and registration details.
- DVSA MOT history
- Every MOT test, with the mileage, failures and advisories.
- Experian
- Finance, theft, write-off, keeper and plate checks, with Full Check.
- AI photo analysis
- Spots damage in your photos and reads the dashboard.
Ready to check a car?
Start with the reg. It's free and takes seconds.