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DVLA holds registration, keeper counts, VED and technical detail. DVSA holds MOT tests and advisories. MIAFTR is the insurance industry's own total-loss register. Stolen-vehicle markers come from contracted UK data providers, which aggregate insurer theft notifications and police-issued alerts. The finance position comes from participating UK lenders. Each finding in the report names the register it came from, so nothing is presented as fact without a source.

An advisory is a note for the next test and does not fail the current one. A minor defect is the same — recorded, but not a fail. A major defect is a fail. A dangerous defect is a fail and means the vehicle cannot be driven away from the test station. The report distinguishes all four cleanly.

Diesel vehicles with a factory-fitted particulate filter fail outright if the filter has been removed or if the exhaust emits visible smoke of any colour. The tester will also fail a vehicle where there is evidence the filter has been tampered with, which is worth knowing before buying a car advertised as having had a 'DPF delete'.