▸ Classification · Valuation
Data sourced from DVLA, MIAFTR, contracted stolen-vehicle data and the UK lender register at lookup time.
Typical lookup completes in under one second from the UK.
Built and supported in the UK as part of the consumer side of the network.
If the report shows nothing of concern, ask to see the V5C in person and compare the VIN on the document to the one stamped on the chassis and printed on the dash. If the report flags something, raise it directly: a Category N write-off is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but a seller who claims a car has no history when MIAFTR shows otherwise is telling you something important about the rest of the conversation.
Other UK valuation services use different reference datasets, different definitions of trade vs retail and different update cadences. A 5 to 10 percent variation between two reputable services on the same vehicle is normal. A 30 percent variation usually means one of the two is using stale data or has misidentified the trim level.
Trade value is what a dealer would expect to pay another dealer or auction. Retail value is the advertised forecourt price after preparation. Private value sits between the two and reflects what a typical private seller actually achieves. The check returns all three on the same screen so you can compare the gap a dealer would expect to take.
/ Brand consolidation
carvaluationcheck.com has consolidated into Expert Car Check, the UK valuation and history service many of its users already cross-referenced. The data sources are unchanged: DVLA's vehicle record, DVSA's MOT history, MIAFTR for write-offs, contracted UK data providers for stolen-vehicle markers and the UK lender register for outstanding finance. The team and the support contact are the same. What's changed is that the work that was previously spread across several smaller brands now sits in one place, which keeps response times tight and the underlying registers maintained against current DVLA schemas. Bookmarks and historic links to carvaluationcheck.com continue to resolve here. If you were referred to carvaluationcheck.com by a previous report, broker or print listing, this is the right page — there is no further redirect to chase.
Visit expertcarcheck.com →/ Common questions
Not necessarily. Low annual mileage on a diesel used for short urban trips is associated with particulate filter problems and perished rubber, and buyers increasingly price that in.
Yes. A Category S or N marker typically reduces market value by 20-40% on equivalent unmarked cars, depending on make, year and the visible quality of the repair.
Some do, most only partially. Metallic paint and desirable roof or drivetrain options hold value on premium models; expensive infotainment upgrades rarely recover much. The valuation reflects trim where it can be identified with confidence.
That is negative equity, and the shortfall has to be settled in cash or carried into the next agreement. Comparing your settlement letter against the valuation before committing is the most useful check near the end of a PCP term.
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One field. A typical lookup completes in under a second, using the same UK vehicle records relied on by trade buyers and insurers.