How to Do a Background Check Using Vehicle Registration Number - AllCarIndex
Buying a used vehicle is always a gamble, no matter how vigilant you are or how trusty the seller seems. Being able to check the history of a vehicle is essential. You'll want to see whether the vehicle has been involved in any accidents, whether the seller was truthful about the information they provided, and more.
The good thing is that you don't need to chase dealerships and various shops to piece together the history of care you're interested in. As it turns out, you can get it done using nothing more than that vehicle's license plates. Here's how!
Why Do a Background Check on a Vehicle?
The only way to be absolutely sure of the reliability of a vehicle is to buy new. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a brand-new car. Purchasing a used vehicle brings all kinds of uncertainties. Checking for that vehicle's maintenance history is essential if you want to avoid any of the numerous potential issues with the car.
Not only that, but a proper background check can tell you whether the car was stolen, whether it was ever totaled, or even whether it has outstanding finance issues. In other words, a background check can save you a lot of money.
Can You Do a Background Check Using Vehicle Registration Number?
The answer to this question is yes. In the UK, the vehicle registration number can tell you a lot about a car. Doing a reg check is quite cheap as well, especially considering the amount of money such a thorough background check can save you. The key is finding a service that can pull up all the info you're interested in.
There are free alternatives, but those are extremely limited in terms of the information they offer. In most cases, you'll only gain access to info regarding the current registration status of a car, and maybe whether it has passed MOT. Then again, the way UK license plates work can tell you when the car was first registered and where.
What Do You Need to Complete a Background Check?
The best thing about doing a background check on a vehicle is that you can do it anonymously. The owner of the car doesn't need to know that you've decided to check the details of their vehicle. You don't need any of their information aside from the license plate of the car you're interested in.
Most of the places that offer background checks will have you type the reg number into their search bar, select the type of check you want them to perform, and click a button to confirm. It's as easy as that.
How Deep Can You Go?
Performing a background check would be fairly pointless if you couldn't get the complete picture of a specific car. Granted, different services offer different levels of information, which is why you should shop around for one that has a proven track record.
Gaining an insight into a car's history doesn't guarantee anything, but at least you'll know what you're getting into if the car has had a turbulent past.