Know what you’re buying
Check the car behind the advert
You’ve found a car you like. Before you arrange a viewing or make an offer, a buying report can help you check what the advert says, spot unanswered questions and prepare for the conversation with the seller.
See a sample report · One report £19.99 · No subscription
What can you learn from an advert check?
Start with a link to a UK car advert, or enter the details yourself. CarDiligence brings together the records it can find about the car, its MOTs, mileage, servicing, finance and price. It also checks salvage records, which can show damaged vehicles offered for sale, and recalls, where a manufacturer asks for a safety issue to be fixed.
The report helps you prepare, but we do not examine the car in person. You’ll still need to check its condition, and the report does not provide a warranty.
| What the advert says | What to compare it with | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| “Full service history” | Service records and the manufacturer’s recommendations | Ask for invoices showing any missing or major work. |
| “Fresh MOT” | Past MOT results, mileage readings and advisory notes about issues to keep an eye on | If earlier tests found faults, ask what was repaired and what records are available. |
| “Priced to sell” | Price estimates and adverts for similar cars | Ask whether condition, equipment or work that may soon be needed explains the difference. |
These examples show the kind of questions worth asking. They are not findings about your car. We treat what the seller says as a claim until records support it, and we won’t call a check clear if the information is missing.
Can you use the advert you found?
You can paste a public UK dealer or marketplace listing, or choose Enter details manually on the order form. Some adverts are easier to read than others. Have the registration number ready if you can; the title, photos or model name may not be enough to identify the right car.
- Auto Trader and MOTORS: some listings provide only partial details. You may need to supply the registration or use manual entry.
- eBay UK: the listing may omit a registration. When we can read the listing, we may ask you to confirm the registration before payment.
- Dealer websites: websites vary, so we may be able to read one dealer’s advert but need your help with another.
- CarGurus and Cazoo: use manual entry; the current form explains this when it recognises the source.
For manual entry, supply the registration, advert description and mileage if known. You can also add the advert link for reference. We use the registration to identify the car and treat the description as the seller’s words, not confirmed facts. Please leave out personal contact details.
CarDiligence is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by these marketplaces. Their own checks and buyer protections are separate from this report.
Know what you are paying—and what could come next
A price comparison is most useful when the cars have similar engines, equipment, mileage and sellers. We may only find a few suitable adverts. Their asking prices don’t tell us what they eventually sold for, and a cheaper car may still cost more to maintain.
When earlier adverts are available, Vehicle Sale Story shows changes in asking price, recorded mileage and seller details. The records may not cover every advert. Seeing a car advertised again can give you a useful question to ask, but it does not tell you why it was relisted or prove there is a problem.
An estimated servicing and repair budget helps you plan for the next 12 months. It is a forecast, not a confirmed bill or a prediction that a particular part will fail. Read what the budget includes and excludes.
What happens when you order?
- Paste the advert link or enter the car’s details. Add your postcode for nearby price comparisons and your email for the report.
- Check your details, read the terms and confirm that you want us to start after payment. Then pay once through secure checkout. We may ask you to confirm the registration first.
- We’ll email your private report link when it’s ready. It explains what we found, what still needs checking and what you can ask the seller.
If we cannot identify the car, your private order page explains how to try again or ask for a refund. Read the current ordering FAQ and terms before paying.
Checking a link is not the same as checking a car
Read what a history check leaves for you to verify , then review the report’s checks and limitations.
Checking whether a link works tells you how to send us the advert. It does not tell you about the car’s history or condition. Our sample report is free to read and uses example data; it is not a free check of your car.
AI explains the checked evidence. It doesn’t invent the vehicle facts. Use the buying checklist to combine the report with documents, a viewing and independent physical inspection.