Electric Car Check: Check a Used EV by Registration

Electric car check: check a used EV by registration

Enter the registration in the search box above. The free check shows the car's fuel type (electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid), its year, tax and MOT status and the full MOT history with the mileage at every test. The full report adds the records that matter most on a used electric car: outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, previous keepers and the manufacturer's specification.

What's different about checking an electric car

• Finance is more common. Most EVs were sold new on PCP or lease, and many are sold on while an agreement is still running. Of the cars our customers checked in full between March 2023 and October 2026, 56.7% of those under three years old had finance recorded. The finance check shows the lender and agreement.
• Write-offs cost more. Battery packs are expensive, so insurers write off EVs after damage that a petrol car would survive. Repaired Cat S and Cat N EVs are back on the market; the write-off check shows the category and the date.
• The battery isn't on any record. No national database holds battery health. Ask for a state-of-health report from a dealer or a specialist, and check the manufacturer's battery warranty (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles) against the first registration date.
• MOT history still counts. EVs are MOT tested like any other car: tyres, brakes, suspension and lights. The mileage at each test shows how the car has been used.

What to check on a used EV

1. History: finance, write-off, stolen and keepers, in the full report.
2. Battery health: a dashboard readout or a specialist's report, and the warranty start date.
3. Charging: both cables present, the charge port undamaged, and a test charge if you can.
4. Tyres: EVs are heavy and wear tyres faster; check the brands match and the wear is even.
5. Software and recalls: see the recall check, and ask whether updates are up to date.

Our guide to buying a used electric car goes through each step, including what a battery report should show.

Tax, ULEZ and running costs

Electric cars pay vehicle tax since April 2025, including the expensive car supplement on models with a list price over £40,000; the car tax check shows the status and the full report the yearly cost. Every EV meets ULEZ and clean air zone standards (see the ULEZ check). The running costs estimate in every check compares electricity, tax and MOT costs for the car.

What the free check shows, and what the full report adds

Electric car check FAQs