Has This Car Been in an Accident? Car Accident Check

How to check if a car has been in an accident

There is no public UK register of every accident a car has had. What you can check, by registration, are the records that serious accidents leave behind:

• Insurance write-offs: when an insurer writes a car off after an accident, the category (Cat S, Cat N, or the older Cat C and D) and the date are recorded for life. The write-off check in the full report shows them, with the damaged areas where recorded.
• Salvage auction records: damaged cars are often sold through salvage auctions. A salvage record usually means the car was damaged, even when no write-off was recorded.
• MOT history: free with every check. Look for advisories or failures about damage, corrosion around repairs, airbag warning lights or suspension and steering faults that appear suddenly.
• Colour and plate changes: a respray or a new registration soon after a gap in the record is worth asking about.

Enter the registration in the search box above: the free check shows the MOT history straight away, and the full report adds write-off, salvage, finance and stolen records.

Accidents that leave no record

Many accidents never reach any database a buyer can search: a repair paid for privately, or an insurance claim where the car was repaired rather than written off. Insurers share claims among themselves, but those records are not public. So a clean history check means no write-off or salvage record, not that the car has never been damaged. That is why the physical checks below still matter.

Signs of accident damage to look for

• Panels in slightly different shades, best seen in daylight from an angle.
• Uneven gaps between the bonnet, doors, boot and wings.
• Overspray on rubber seals, trim or glass, and paint runs.
• Newer parts than the rest of the car: headlights, bumpers, the radiator, or bolts on the wings with scratched paint where they were undone.
• Glass with different dates or makers' marks, and a windscreen replaced together with other damage.
• Airbag or other warning lights on the dashboard, and seat belts that do not retract smoothly.
• Uneven tyre wear, or a car that pulls to one side on a straight road.

If you are unsure, pay for an independent inspection. Our test drive checklist covers what to check on the road.

Is it a problem if a car has been in an accident?

Not necessarily. A minor accident repaired properly is common and need not put you off. What matters is whether the damage was structural, how well it was repaired, and whether the price reflects it. Ask the seller directly and for repair invoices. A seller who says the car has never been damaged when a write-off is recorded is a reason to walk away.

Car accident check FAQs

Can I check a car's accident history for free?
The free check shows the MOT history, which can show signs of damage. Write-off and salvage records are in the full report.

Does a car history check show all accidents?
No. It shows write-offs and salvage records, the accidents serious enough to be recorded. Minor repairs paid privately are not recorded anywhere a buyer can see.

Does the V5C show if a car has been in an accident?
No. The V5C does not list accidents, and it does not always show a write-off.

Does an accident show on the MOT history?
Only indirectly, through defects and advisories the tester records, such as damage or corrosion.

Will a car that has been in an accident cost more to insure?
An accident repaired without a write-off usually does not change the price. A recorded write-off can, and you must tell your insurer about it.