A five-minute check that can stop you buying a van that's stolen, written off, clocked, or still owned by a finance company.
| Outstanding finance | Confirms whether the van is still subject to an HP/PCP/lease agreement — buying it wouldn't give you legal ownership. |
| Write-off / insurance status | Shows Cat A/B/S/N write-off history, which affects safety, insurability and resale value. |
| Stolen marker | Cross-checks the Police National Computer stolen vehicle database. |
| Mileage discrepancy | Compares recorded MOT mileage readings to flag possible clocking. |
| Plate change history | Shows if the registration plate has been changed, which can hide a vehicle's true history. |
| Import / export status | Flags whether the vehicle was imported, which can affect parts availability and specification. |
If a van still has outstanding finance registered against it and you buy it from a private seller, you risk the original finance company repossessing the vehicle — even though you paid for it in good faith. This is the single most common reason to run a check before a private-sale purchase, and it's separate from (and just as important as) checking your own finance eligibility.
You can get limited free information from the DVLA (tax and MOT status, for example) but a full multi-database history check — including outstanding finance and write-off status — is a paid service from providers such as HPI, Experian AutoCheck, or via most major insurers and the AA/RAC. Expect to pay roughly £10–£20 for a single check.
