Car History Reports...?

billy few mates

What's the best service to use when looking for a car that's a UK import...?
My son is looking for a car at the moment and has his eye on a couple he wants to go look at but he just wants to make sure they're kosher before he heads off.
Cartell reports are €35 each but are there any other options that do the same job but a bit cheaper...?
He doesn't mind spending the money for a report before he hands over his money but he doesn't want to spend a fortune on reports for every car he looks at.

Atlantic Dawn

Is it a UK import with UK reg still on it? Selling from a dealer or private?

billy few mates

Dealer with the U.K. Reg still visible...

Also another on a private sale, some guy selling his girlfriends car who's moved down from the north.

bazz26

My advice is go ask the seller questions about it first, then arrange a viewing/test drive. If all goes well with that and he is serious about buying then do a history report and arrange a mechanic to inspect it.

SCOOP 64

You can start off with this https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ its free to check mileage , i think car has to over 3 yrs old to get a result.

billy few mates

SCOOP 64 wrote: »

You can start off with this https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ its free to check mileage , i think car has to over 3 yrs old to get a result.

Sweet, thanks for that, very useful link, the mileage looks about right.
Thanks for the suggestion Bazz, I'll get him to do that, the problem is the cars he has eyes on are in various different counties, he didn't want to drive half way around the country to look at a car that then didn't add up on a Cartell report...

Pete123456

If he's looking on autotrader they do 5 checks for 25 pounds which I think is a good deal. Just use a uk postcode. Also handy because there's a link to check the vehicle directly from the ad instead of copying regs etc. It threw up a finance outstanding notification on my car which made me glad I checked it and it also gives the mileage etc.

Example:

http://imageshack.com/a/img921/3123/oNlyWo.jpg

bazz26

billy few mates wrote: »

Sweet, thanks for that, very useful link, the mileage looks about right.
Thanks for the suggestion Bazz, I'll get him to do that, the problem is the cars he has eyes on are in various different counties, he didn't want to drive half way around the country to look at a car that then didn't add up on a Cartell report...

It works both ways unfortunately. You can spend time and money on fuel travelling around the country looking at pieces of $hit described as mint by their sellers too. This is why you really need to set out some boundaries around search criteria first.

Mintoe

billy few mates wrote: »

What's the best service to use when looking for a car that's a UK import...?
My son is looking for a car at the moment and has his eye on a couple he wants to go look at but he just wants to make sure they're kosher before he heads off.
Cartell reports are €35 each but are there any other options that do the same job but a bit cheaper...?
He doesn't mind spending the money for a report before he hands over his money but he doesn't want to spend a fortune on reports for every car he looks at.

Motorcheck do a 3 full checks bundle for €65, better than €35 a pop, they'll also give you a discount code if you call or email them info@motorcheck.ie.

If your buying from a UK dealer, whether it's a main dealer or independent, in the UK EVERY SELLING DEALER IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO RUN A HISTORY & finance check on the car. Ask dealer for report as it won't cost you anything & then run a Motorcheck before you part with any money on the car you actually want to buy to satisfy yourself by doing your own check.

Hope this helps