Two useful links

OKenora

Buying a car from the UK (either from a dealer or importing yourself) is a simple task but one that worries a lot of people. Safest thing to do is a HPI check to reveal some of the cars history, but this can quickly become expensive if you are looking at a lot of cars. there are 2 free sites that help you gain some small amount of information about the cars for free though. While i would still suggest getting a full HPI on the car you buy before purchase, these sites can quickly weed the chaff from the wheat and show cars possibly clocked, best thing is they are free.

MOT info, only shows computerised MOT's but can still reveal a clocked car to you, or faults that you can then check the car for having fixed if it was a UK failure at MOT

and Click vehicle enquiry on the left

Here's an example of what they return....car used is my own...I have blanked out the full reg and chassis number, but they appear on the websites in full.

Full Test History, starting with first recorded vehicle and test results

Registration mark: AYLXXXT
Make/Model: PORSCHE / Not Shown
Colour: GREY
VIN/Chassis No: xxxxxxxx45
Approximate date of first use: 08/03/1979
Type of fuel: Petrol

Date of test: 17/03/2007
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading: 74,108 Miles <---- VERY VERY HELPFUL
Test number: 121586477034
Test station name: ROXBORO GARAGE
Test station number: 77230
Test station telephone number: 0146062174
Test class: IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside headlamp aim too low (1.6)
Offside headlamp aim too low (1.6)
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
Nearside Front tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.C.1a)
Offside Front tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.C.1a)
Exhaust system has a mounting that it does not fully support the exhaust system (7.1.1b)
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.2b)
No Advisory Notice issued

Date of test: 17/03/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 74,108 Miles
Test number: 370026477039
Test station name: ROXBORO GARAGE
Test station number: 77230
Test station telephone number: 0146062174
Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 16/03/2008
No Advisory Notice issued

The vehicle details for AYL XXXT are:

Date of Liability 01 11 2007
Date of First Registration 08 03 1979
Year of Manufacture 1979
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1984CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour GREY
Vehicle Type Approval null

Tipsy Mac

Cheers man, I'm going to scout carzone and post some clocked specials

JHMEG

Unfortunately you cannot find the mileage (or other info) from the MOT site unless you have the Test number from MOT Certificate or failure notice, or Reference number from DVLA registration certificate (V5C), neither of which can be had online.

Useful tho if you get that info from the seller.

OKenora

I agree, total pain but a legit dealer will be happy to provide this info. It's not too hard to obtain the number off the V5 anyway, it's not too abnormal to ask can you inspect the V5 on an imported UK car.

To read the number quickly...it's bottom left corner of the main vehicle details page, looks something like..."Doc Ref. No 1234 123 1234" just below the red declaration section on the V5.

IMO it would be reasonable to ask to see the V5 to confirm the VIN and you could reasonably ask to see it to get and confirm the VIN for a HPI check, HPI checks by registration are not always accurate, especially if a car has changed registration in the past.