Every used car has a past. Read it before you buy.
Type the number plate for a free MOT history check in plain English: the red flags, the mileage, repair bills coming up and what to ask the seller.
Official DVSA records. Free, no sign-up, and it works on your phone.
Rust flagged 3 MOTs in a row
- Rust flagged 3 MOTs in a row
- Brakes advised two years running
- Mileage goes up steadily
Official MOT records from DVSA, the government agency that runs the MOT.
On your phone or beside the ad. Type a reg here, or let the Chrome extension read the ad for you.
Free. No account needed and nothing to sign up for.
Browsing ads on a computer? Carplorer checks every one.
Add it to Chrome and it sits beside car ads on AutoTrader, eBay, Gumtree, Cazoo and Facebook Marketplace. You get the insurance group and a price check straight away, and the MOT check as soon as you have the reg.
Coming soon to the Chrome Web Store.
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Add it to Chrome
One click. No account needed and nothing to fill in.
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Open any car ad
On AutoTrader, eBay, Gumtree, Cazoo or Facebook Marketplace, Carplorer slides in beside the ad with the car's details already read.
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Get the verdict
Carplorer finds the number plate in the ad or its photos where it can (or you type it) and gives you a score, the red flags and what to ask.
The stuff sellers leave out of the ad.
Every MOT since a car turned three is on public record: the mileage, what failed, what the tester warned about. It reads like a till receipt. Carplorer reads it for you and pulls out what matters.
- Mileage that goes backwards
- Years with no MOT at all
- Problems flagged again and again
- Repairs coming up, with rough prices
- Unfixed safety recalls
- An ad that doesn't match the official record
The mileage went backwards. Ask why.
No MOT for 24 months. Was it off the road?
Rust again, and it hasn't been fixed.
Insurance can cost more than the car.
It's the bit most first-time buyers find out too late. Every car sits in an insurance group from 1 (cheapest) to 50. Carplorer shows the group on every ad, before you type anything, and ranks it against the other cars you've looked at.
When you're ready, compare real quotes in one click.
Partner link. We may earn a commission if you buy a policy, at no extra cost to you.
Cheaper to insure than 2 of the 3 other cars you've looked at.
- 52017 Volkswagen Polo £6,750
- 92016 Toyota Yaris this car
- 102018 Ford Fiesta £5,990
- 282015 BMW 3 Series £8,999
Know exactly what to ask.
Carplorer turns what it finds into questions for the seller. Copy them into a message before you travel, and see how the answers come back.
Rust has been flagged at three MOTs. Has any of it been treated?
The last MOT advised worn front brake discs. Has that been sorted?
Is the logbook (V5C) in your name, at this address?
SellerEr… I'll have to check.
Free. So what's the catch?
The MOT check is free. So are the red flags, the repair estimates and the seller questions.
We earn from insurance. If you buy a policy through one of our partners, they pay us a commission. Your price stays the same.
Full history checks are coming. Outstanding finance, stolen and written-off checks for a few pounds.
Your details stay with you. What you tell Carplorer is kept in your own browser, unless you sign in to keep your saved cars on every device. No tracking, and we never sell data.
Questions
Is Carplorer really free?
Yes. The MOT check, red flags, repair estimates and seller questions cost nothing. We earn a commission from insurance partners, and later we'll sell optional full history checks.
Where does the information come from?
MOT history comes from DVSA's official MOT records. The car's details and insurance group come from the ad you're looking at. The value check uses the ad's write-off category, the car's miles for its age, the repairs its MOT flagged, and the similar cars you've looked at, compared like for like. Repair prices are rough guides to help you negotiate, not quotes.
Is it the same as a full history check?
No. MOT records show a car's condition and mileage over the years. A full history check also covers outstanding finance, theft and insurance write-offs. That's the paid check we're adding.
Does it replace a mechanic's inspection?
No. Carplorer tells you which cars are worth seeing and what to look at. For an older or more expensive car, a proper inspection is still worth it.
Which websites does it work on?
AutoTrader, eBay, Gumtree, Cazoo and Facebook Marketplace. AutoTrader and Cazoo ads show the insurance group; on the others, Carplorer reads everything else the ad shows. Facebook changes its pages often, so if Carplorer can't read a Marketplace ad, it stays out of the way.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. The free MOT check on this website works on any phone: just type the reg. The extension, which reads the ads for you, needs Chrome on a computer for now. A version for Safari on iPhone is on our list.
Where do I find the number plate?
Most ads show it in the photos or the details. If it's hidden, ask the seller: an honest seller will happily give it to you. Haven't found a car yet? Try the car finder.
Is Carplorer part of AutoTrader?
No. Carplorer is independent and isn't connected to Auto Trader in any way.