UK Car History Check for Cyprus: Check Before You Import

Check a UK car before it comes to Cyprus

Cyprus drives on the left, like the UK, and right-hand-drive used cars from the UK have long been a popular buy. The problem is distance: you may never see the car before it is shipped, and once it is registered in Cyprus its UK records stay behind. A UK car history check, done before you pay, shows what the seller may not tell you.

What our UK check shows

• Outstanding finance: a car with finance owing can still belong to the lender in the UK. Never pay for one until the finance is settled.
• Insurance write-offs: Cat S and Cat N cars can be repaired, but you should know about the damage before you ship. Salvage auction records show cars sold after an accident.
• Police stolen marker and the high risk register.
• Mileage and MOT history: every MOT since 2005 with the recorded mileage, failures and advisories, and our check for readings that go down.
• Keepers, plate changes and log book dates, and whether the car is already marked as exported.

Check by reg or by chassis number

While the car is still in the UK, check it with its UK registration. If it has lost its UK plates, use the 17-character VIN (chassis number): choose "VIN / Chassis No." above the search box, or decode it first with our VIN decoder. The VIN on the car, the V5C and the report should all match: a mismatch can mean a cloned car.

Paperwork to ask for

To register a car from the UK, the Road Transport Department in Cyprus asks for the original UK registration certificate (the V5C log book), among other documents, and the car needs a Cypriot roadworthiness test. Ask the seller for the original V5C before you pay, and check that its details match the car. Import rules for cars from outside the EU, including age and approval rules, change from time to time, so check the current rules with the Road Transport Department before you buy.

Read our guide: Importing a used car from the UK to Cyprus: what to check, and see a sample car history report.

UK car check for Cyprus: FAQs

Can I check a UK car from Cyprus?

Yes. The check runs online from anywhere: enter the UK registration or the VIN, and the report opens on screen and arrives by email.

Will the check show if the car has been exported?

Yes. The full report shows whether the car is marked as exported and when, as well as its UK history up to that point.

Does the check cover the car's history in Cyprus?

No. It covers UK records. Once a car is registered in Cyprus, its new records are kept by the Road Transport Department.