RAC Vehicle History Check

RAC Vehicle History Check: history reports for buying used cars

RAC Vehicle History Check is an online service integrated into the RAC offering aimed at those buying or selling a second-hand vehicle in the UK. Its function is to generate an instant report on a car's history from its registration plate, with the aim of detecting hidden problems before completing the transaction. The company presents itself as the most comprehensive vehicle history check in the UK.

The service relies on HPI data, a firm that has been verifying vehicle histories since 1938, and combines it with RAC's own breakdown information. According to the data handled by the site, one in three cars checked has a hidden history, one in eleven shows inaccurate mileage and one in five has had at least one registration plate change.

What the report includes

The standard report incorporates thirteen alerts on aspects such as outstanding finance, theft, write-offs, mileage discrepancies and other recorded problems. In addition, the document includes:

• Detailed vehicle tax check.
• MOT failure data and common breakdown problems based on RAC information.
• Average maintenance and running costs.
• Data guarantee of up to £30,000 for claims that meet the conditions.
• Discount vouchers of up to £55 for selected accessories in the RAC shop.

The report also verifies whether the registration number (VRM) and the vehicle identification number (VIN) match DVLA records, which can reveal attempts to hide the vehicle's past.

Three levels of check

The platform offers three report options with different scope and price. The Basic Check, for £9.98, covers theft, write-off, import or export and outstanding debt. The Full Check, for £14.99, adds RAC exclusive breakdown data, finance agreement details, mileage discrepancies, MOT history, £30,000 data guarantee, accident details, number of previous owners, CO₂ emissions, tax information, scrapped record, total cost of ownership, full plate-change history and estimated fuel cost. The Multi Check, for £29.97, is the most comprehensive option and includes all of the above plus £55 in vouchers for the RAC shop, applicable to products such as dashcams, car mats, European driving kits and the Noco GB50.

Context of use

The service is part of the RAC ecosystem for buying and selling vehicles, which also includes RAC Cars, a platform for buying and selling used cars, and RAC Approved Dealers. The proposal is aimed at both private buyers who want to reduce the risk of a bad purchase and sellers looking to certify the condition of their vehicle.