Every free car check on CarCheckUp now opens with a vehicle score from 0 to 100. It sums up what a used car's MOT history, mileage readings and DVLA status say about it, and, in a full report, its finance, write-off and stolen records too. This guide explains how to read those records yourself and exactly how the score is worked out, point by point.
The short answer: what the vehicle score is
The score starts at 100 and loses points for each warning sign in the car's records. The more serious the sign, the more points it costs. The result falls into one of five bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 85 to 100 | Excellent | A clean record with few or no warning signs |
| 70 to 84 | Good | Minor points worth a look, nothing serious |
| 55 to 69 | Fair | Several signs to ask the seller about |
| 40 to 54 | Poor | Clear warning signs: check carefully before buying |
| 0 to 39 | Very poor | Serious records or many warning signs |
Under the score the report lists every point lost and what counts in the car's favour, so you can see why it scored what it did.
Reading the MOT history: what matters most
The MOT history is the best free record of how a car has been looked after. Across the 492,751 vehicles checked on CarCheckUp, 77% of MOT tests were passed and the average test recorded 1.5 advisories. When you look at a car's own history, focus on these:
- The latest test. A recent fail, or a dangerous defect, is the clearest sign of work still to be done. A pass with no advisories is the best result there is.
- Advisories on the latest test. Advisories are defects that are not yet a failure: tyres close to the limit, worn brake pads, light corrosion. A long list means a bill is coming. In our data the most common advisory areas are tyres, brakes, suspension and corrosion.
- Repeated fails. One fail years ago means little. Several fails in the last two years suggest a car that keeps needing work.
- Corrosion. Corrosion on brake pipes, subframes or sills can be expensive, and it gets worse with time.
- Outstanding recalls. A safety recall the manufacturer is still waiting to fix.
You can see a car's full MOT history, every test with its advisories and failures, in our free MOT history check.
Mileage: the reading that should only go up
Every MOT records the odometer reading, so a car's mileage history should only ever rise. 5.7% of the vehicles we checked have a reading lower than an earlier one. That can be a typing error or a replaced instrument cluster, but it can also be a clocked car, so it is the single biggest deduction in the free score. Our free mileage check compares every reading.
Total mileage matters too: past 80,000 miles, wear items such as the clutch, suspension and timing belt start to come due. The typical car in our data covers about 7,500 miles a year, so a car averaging over 15,000 has been worked hard. A gap of more than two years between readings is worth asking about.
Age, tax and MOT status
Older cars lose a few points simply because more parts are near the end of their life. The DVLA status matters for a different reason: a car with no valid MOT can't legally be driven on the road (except to a booked MOT), and a car that is untaxed or declared off the road (SORN) needs sorting before you can drive it away. The free check also shows the car's tax date, an estimate of its road tax and whether it is likely to meet the London ULEZ standard.
What the full report adds, and why it weighs most
A free check can't show the records that cost buyers the most money. These come from Experian and the Police National Computer and are only in the full report. Across 4,403 full reports run on CarCheckUp:
- 16.7% had outstanding finance. If a car still belongs to a lender, it can be taken back. See our finance check.
- 13.4% had an insurance write-off record. A Category S or N car can be repaired and sold, but the record lowers its value. See our write-off check.
- 34.1% had a number plate change. Usually a private plate, but it can separate a car from its history.
- Stolen markers are rare, 17 of the 4,403 reports, but buying a stolen car can leave you with neither the car nor your money. See our stolen car check.
Because these records matter most, they carry the heaviest deductions in the full score. The free check's score leaves them out and says so: a car with a clean MOT history can still have finance owing or a write-off on record.
The formula: every point, in full
These are the deductions from 100. The score can't go below 0.
Free check: MOT history, mileage and DVLA status
| Warning sign | Points |
|---|---|
| A mileage reading lower than an earlier one | −25 |
| The latest MOT was a fail | −15 |
| A dangerous defect at the latest MOT | −10 |
| Advisories at the latest MOT: 1 to 3 / 4 to 6 / 7 or more | −3 / −7 / −12 |
| Other failed MOTs in the last 2 years (each) | −5, up to −15 |
| Corrosion noted at one of the last two MOTs | −5 |
| MOT pass rate (3 or more tests): 70 to 84% / under 70% | −5 / −10 |
| An outstanding manufacturer recall | −5 |
| Mileage: over 80,000 / over 100,000 / over 150,000 | −3 / −6 / −10 |
| Over 15,000 miles a year | −4 |
| A gap of over 2 years between mileage readings | −4 |
| Age: over 6 / over 10 / over 15 years | −2 / −5 / −8 |
| No valid MOT | −10 |
| Untaxed or SORN | −3 |
Full report: everything above, plus the vehicle's records
| Record | Points |
|---|---|
| Recorded as stolen | −60 |
| Insurance write-off: Category A or B / C / S or D / N | −60 / −35 / −30 / −20 |
| Recorded as scrapped | −40 |
| Outstanding finance | −30 |
| On the high risk register | −20 |
| Signs of taxi or private hire use | −8 |
| Previous keepers: 3 to 5 / 6 or more | −3 / −6 |
| A Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) on record | −5 |
| Exported or marked for export | −5 |
| Imported | −3 |
| Colour changed | −3 |
What counts in a car's favour, such as a clean latest MOT, no fails in two years, normal yearly mileage or a single previous keeper, is listed in the report but doesn't add points: the score only moves down from 100.
What the score can't tell you
The score reads records, not the car in front of you. It can't see how the car drives, whether the service history is genuine or what has been fixed since the last MOT. Use it to decide which cars are worth a closer look and which questions to ask, then inspect the car, take it for a test drive and check the V5C log book matches. Our guide to questions to ask when buying a used car helps with that part.
Frequently asked questions
Is the vehicle score free?
Yes. Every free car check shows a score from the MOT history, mileage and DVLA status. The full report's score also counts finance, write-off, stolen and keeper records.
Why did a car with a clean MOT score lower in the full report?
Because the full report found a record the free check can't see, such as outstanding finance or a write-off. Those carry the heaviest deductions.
Does a high score mean the car is safe to buy?
No score can promise that. A high score means its records show no warning signs; you should still inspect the car and check its paperwork.
Where do the figures come from?
MOT and mileage data come from the DVSA, vehicle details and tax status from the DVLA, and the full report's records from Experian and the Police National Computer. The percentages in this guide come from our UK Used Car Risk Report.
Check a car now: enter its registration for a free car check with its vehicle score, or see a sample full report to see everything the full check includes.