Car Accident Check
Enter any UK registration to check car accident history. We search insurer total loss records to show whether a car was written off after a crash, and what damage would never appear.
The basics
What Is a Car Accident Check?
There is no central UK database of every car accident. Nobody has one: a crash is only recorded somewhere searchable if an insurer paid out and declared the vehicle a total loss. That is what a car accident check searches. Enter a registration and we look for the insurer write-off marker and its category, Cat A, B, S or N, which tells you how badly the car was damaged and whether it was ever meant to return to the road. Repairs paid for privately, or claims settled without writing the car off, leave no entry anywhere, which is why the second half of this page covers what to look for yourself. The accident check is included in every full vehicle history report, alongside stolen, finance and write-off checks.
Check Car Accident History
Enter a registration to check car accident history in seconds. You see whether an insurer recorded the vehicle as a total loss, and the date it happened.
See the Damage Category
Cat A and B never return to the road. Cat S means the chassis or frame was damaged and repaired. Cat N means the damage was cosmetic or electrical, not structural.
Know What Is Not Recorded
A car damage history check cannot show a bumper replaced out of pocket or a claim settled without a write-off. We tell you where the data stops so you know what to inspect.
Free to Start, Included in Full
Start free to identify the vehicle. The accident and write-off data comes with your full history report, alongside stolen, finance, mileage, MOT and ownership checks.
Compare the categories
When accident damage becomes a write-off category
Not every accident leaves a marker, but once an insurer writes a vehicle off it gets one of these four. Tap through to see what each category actually means.
Category A: scrap only
The most severe category there is. The damage is bad enough that nothing may be reused, not even a wing mirror or a set of wheels. The whole vehicle has to be crushed, frame and all.
- Damage
- Severe, beyond any repair
- What happens to it
- Crushed whole, no parts salvaged
- Effect on value
- None. It has no legal value as a vehicle
- If you are buying
- A Cat A vehicle cannot legally be sold to drive. If one is advertised, walk away and report it
Category B: break for parts
The body shell or frame must be crushed, but usable parts can be stripped and sold on. The vehicle itself can never go back on the road, though its components legally can.
- Damage
- Extensive structural damage
- What happens to it
- Shell or frame crushed, parts recycled
- Effect on value
- Only the value of the parts on it
- If you are buying
- Never roadworthy again. A Cat B on anything being sold to drive is a serious red flag
Category S: structural damage
Structural damage serious enough for the insurer to write the vehicle off, but which can be professionally repaired. Cat S vehicles are legal to repair, re-register and sell, and plenty are on the road right now.
- Damage
- Structural, to the chassis, frame or subframe
- What happens to it
- Repairable, and legal to sell once repaired
- Effect on value
- Typically 20 to 40 percent below an unrecorded equivalent
- If you are buying
- Ask for the repair invoices and an independent inspection. A good repair is fine, a cheap one is not
Category N: non-structural damage
The least severe of the modern categories. The damage did not affect the chassis or frame, but repairing it cost more than the insurer thought the vehicle was worth. That can mean cosmetic damage on an older van, or electrical and safety component faults on anything.
- Damage
- Non-structural: cosmetic, electrical or safety components
- What happens to it
- Repairable, and legal to sell once repaired
- Effect on value
- Typically 10 to 25 percent below an unrecorded equivalent
- If you are buying
- Check what was actually damaged. Non-structural still covers brakes, steering and airbags
These four categories apply to any vehicle an insurer writes off, cars, vans, motorbikes and motorhomes alike. They replaced the older C and D markers in October 2017, and anything written off before then still carries its original category, so both sets turn up on a history check.
Step by step
How to Check Car Accident History
Want to check car accident history before you buy? Enter the registration into Car Owl and our car accident check searches insurance write-off databases. You'll see if the vehicle was in an accident that resulted in an insurance write-off, included in your full vehicle history report.
- Not Written Off
- No Damage Marker
- Identity Verified
- Year
- 2019
- Colour
- Blue
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Engine
- 1,997 cc
Enter the Registration
Type any UK registration into our car accident check tool above. Works with cars, vans, and motorbikes.
Check If Car Has Been in Accident
Your report shows whether the vehicle was in an accident and declared a write-off by insurers, including the write-off category.
Full Report Included
Your car accident check comes as part of a full history report, also covering stolen status, finance, mileage, MOT, and ownership.
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Inside the report
What an accident check actually shows you
Damage that was claimed for leaves a record even when the repair looks perfect. Start on the write-off panel, then work across the rest.
Is the vehicle still on finance?
If a lender still has an interest in the vehicle, they can repossess it from your driveway. The seller keeps your money.
- Searched against
- The UK finance register
- Agreement types
- PCP, HP, lease, unit stocking
- Report shows
- Agreement type, date and status
- Recorded by
- The lender, not the seller
Source: UK Finance Register
Has it been written off?
Insurers record a category when a vehicle is damaged badly enough to be uneconomical to repair. Cat S and Cat N vehicles can legally return to the road.
- Searched against
- MIAFTR, the insurance loss register
- Categories covered
- A, B, C, D, S and N
- Report shows
- Category, and the date of loss
- Also covered
- Salvage and total-loss records
Source: MIAFTR
Does the mileage add up?
Every MOT reading is on record. A reading that goes down, or a jump that does not fit the pattern, is the clearest sign of a clocked vehicle.
- Readings used
- Every MOT reading on file
- Looking for
- Readings that fall, or jump
- Report shows
- The full run of readings, in order
- Also covered
- Average miles a year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is it recorded as stolen?
A car reported stolen and never recovered stays flagged on the Police National Computer. Buying one means losing the vehicle and the money.
- Searched against
- The Police National Computer
- Marker covers
- Vehicles reported and not recovered
- Report shows
- Whether a theft marker is held
- Also covered
- The vehicle's registration status
Source: Police National Computer
How many hands has it passed through?
Frequent keeper changes can mean a problem car being passed along. The V5C record shows every change of keeper since first registration.
- Source record
- The DVLA keeper record
- Report shows
- How many keepers it has had
- Dates given
- First registration and last change
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
Has it crossed a border?
An import can be fine, but it changes the history you should expect to find, and an exported marker on a vehicle still being sold here is a red flag.
- Markers checked
- Imported and exported
- Covers
- Vehicles first registered abroad
- Report shows
- Which marker is held, and when
- Also covered
- Whether UK history starts late
Source: DVLA
Has it been scrapped?
A certificate of destruction means the vehicle should not exist on the road. Vehicles with cloned plates borrow the identity of scrapped vehicles.
- Markers checked
- Scrapped, and destroyed
- Covers
- Certificates of destruction
- Report shows
- Whether the record was closed, and when
- Also covered
- Whether the VIN matches the record
Source: DVLA
Has the plate been changed?
Plate changes are legal and common, but they are also how a past identity gets buried. The full history lists every registration the vehicle has worn.
- Source record
- The DVLA registration record
- Report shows
- Every plate the vehicle has worn
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- Personalised plates added and removed
Source: DVLA
What does the MOT record say?
Every test, pass, failure and advisory since the vehicle's third year. Advisories are the useful part: they are a mechanic telling you what was already wearing out.
- Tests listed
- Every test on record
- Report shows
- Result, date and mileage for each
- Also covered
- Advisories and reasons for failure
- Goes back to
- The vehicle's third year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is there an outstanding safety recall?
Manufacturers issue recalls when a fault could be dangerous. The work is free, but it only happens if somebody books it in, and a recall can sit unactioned for years.
- Searched against
- The DVSA recalls database
- Report shows
- Recalls affecting this vehicle
- Also covered
- Recall history for the model
- Cost to put right
- Free, at a franchised dealer
Source: DVSA recalls database
Has it been resprayed?
A recorded colour change can be a personal choice. It can also be how accident repairs or a previous identity stop being obvious at a glance.
- Source record
- The DVLA vehicle record
- Report shows
- Every recorded colour change
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- The colour at first registration
Source: DVLA
Does the vehicle match its paperwork?
The VIN on the vehicle should match the one on the record. When it does not, you are looking at a cloned or altered identity, and everything else in the history belongs to a different car.
- Compared
- The VIN against the DVLA record
- Report shows
- Whether plate, VIN and record agree
- Catches
- Cloned and altered identities
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
What will it cost to tax?
The rate depends on emissions and registration date, and the difference between bands is large enough to change which vehicle you should buy.
- Source record
- The DVLA tax record
- Report shows
- Tax status, and the date it runs out
- Rate given
- The annual rate for this vehicle
- Based on
- Emissions and registration date
Source: DVLA
What is actually under the bonnet?
Engine size, power, fuel type and economy, taken from the manufacturer record rather than the advert. Useful for checking a listing describes the vehicle it is actually selling.
- Taken from
- The manufacturer record
- Report shows
- Engine size, power and fuel type
- Also covered
- Economy, emissions and gearbox
- Useful for
- Checking the advert is accurate
Source: Manufacturer data
What will it cost to keep?
Fuel, servicing, insurance group and tax in one place, so the monthly cost of owning the vehicle is visible before you commit to it rather than after.
- Report shows
- Fuel, tax, insurance and servicing
- Fuel worked out from
- The vehicle's own economy figures
- Adjustable
- By the mileage you actually drive
- Also covered
- Typical service and MOT costs
Source: Car Owl running-cost model
What will it be worth later?
What the vehicle is worth now and what it is likely to be worth in three years. Depreciation is usually the largest single cost of owning a vehicle, and the easiest one to ignore.
- Report shows
- What the vehicle is worth today
- Ranges given
- Private sale and trade
- Projected to
- Three years ahead
- Based on
- Age, mileage and market data
Source: Car Owl valuation model
What has happened to this vehicle?
Keeper changes, MOT tests, mileage readings and plate changes on one timeline. Patterns that are invisible in a list of dates tend to be obvious once they are in order.
- Events shown
- Keepers, MOTs, mileage and plates
- Ordered by
- Date, from first registration
- Also covered
- Stretches with no record at all
- Drawn from
- DVLA and DVSA records
Source: DVLA and DVSA records
What should you check in person?
A checklist built around this specific car, including what its own MOT advisories say to look at. It turns a viewing into something you can work through rather than guess at.
- Built from
- This car's own MOT advisories
- Also built from
- Known faults for the model
- Report shows
- What to check, in viewing order
- Includes
- Questions to ask the seller
Source: Car Owl
Also in every full report: VIC marker · Unpaid loan records · Common faults and typical repair costs · Fuel cost calculator · Priority support · 100% money-back guarantee
Where the data stops
What a Car Accident Check Can and Cannot Tell You
This is the question the accident check has to answer honestly, because it decides what you do next. Two of the three answers below are about the limits of the data, and the third is what to do about them.
Is there a UK database of car accidents?
No, and this is the single most useful thing to understand before you buy. There is no register of every bump, prang and repair in the UK. What exists is a record of vehicles that insurers declared a total loss, held on the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register, and that is what a car accident check searches. So the check answers one question precisely: was this car damaged badly enough that an insurer decided it was not worth repairing? That is the damage that matters most and the damage most often hidden from a buyer. A clear result is genuinely good news. It is not the same as proof the car has never been touched.
Will a repaired accident show up?
Only if an insurer wrote the car off. A repair paid for out of pocket to avoid a premium rise leaves no trace on any searchable record. Neither does a claim the insurer settled by repairing the car rather than writing it off, which is what happens to most accident damage. That is why a car with a clean accident check can still have had a front wing replaced. The record is not lying to you, it simply never captured that event. The practical answer is to treat the check as the first of two steps. It rules out the worst outcome in seconds and for free, then you look at the car.
How to check for accident damage the data misses
Start with the MOT history, which is free and often more revealing than people expect: advisories about corrosion, uneven tyre wear or suspension alignment on a recent car can point at a repair that was never declared. Then look at the car in daylight. Mismatched paint between panels, uneven gaps around the bonnet and doors, overspray on rubber seals and fresh underseal in one area are all signs of body repair. Our full guide on how to check if a car has been in an accident walks through the bodywork, the test drive and the paperwork in detail.
Protect Yourself
Check Accident History Before You Buy
A repaired write-off can look perfect on a forecourt. The marker stays with the car for life, so it will follow you to resale and it will affect what the car is worth, whether or not the seller mentions it.
A car accident check takes seconds and searches insurer total loss records for exactly that marker. Enter the registration above, and if the result is clear, spend ten more minutes on the MOT advisories and the panel gaps before you pay.
Run a Car Accident CheckWhy it matters
Check Car Crash History Before You Buy
Car Owl helps UK buyers check car crash history by revealing vehicles that were written off after an accident. Our car accident check is included in every full vehicle history report.
Detect Insurance Write-Offs
Our car accident check reveals vehicles that were written off after an accident. See the write-off category and understand the severity of the damage.
Vehicle Crash History Check
A vehicle crash history check searches official insurance databases to show whether a car was in an accident that resulted in a write-off.
Avoid Hidden Damage
Many accident-damaged cars are repaired and resold. Check accident history to avoid vehicles with hidden write-off records.
RAC, AA and HPI
How We Compare To Competitors
40 features, side by side. 26 of them are where the providers actually differ.
- Car Owl 40 of 40
- RAC 18 of 40
- AA 15 of 40
- HPI 18 of 40
| Feature | Car Owl |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial 3 differ | ||||
| Outstanding Finance Check | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Unpaid Loan Check | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Accident & Write-Off History | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Insurance Write-Off Status | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Stolen Car Check | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Mileage Discrepancies | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Scrapped Car Check | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Imported/Exported | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Clocked Mileage Alert | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Cost of Ownership Calculator | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Future Value Prediction | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Assurance 5 differ | ||||
| Provide Excellent Service | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Clear & Actionable Insights | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Compatible With Any Browser | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Priority Support | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| 24/7 Customer Assistance | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Unlimited Free ULEZ Checks | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Maintenance 9 differ | ||||
| Mileage Verification Check | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Full MOT History | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| MOT Red Flags | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| Fuel Cost Calculator | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Vehicle Known Issues | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Colour Change Detection | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Recall Status Check | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Manufacturer Recall Alert | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Unlimited MOT History Checks | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Current Estimated Mileage | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Ownership 5 differ | ||||
| Previous Keepers | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Plate Changes | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Logbook Check | Included | Not included | Included | Not included |
| Cheapest Fuel Finder | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Ownership History | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| V5C Count | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| VIN Verification Tool | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Technical 4 differ | ||||
| Fuel Economy Insights | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Running Costs | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Road Tax Info | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| CO2 | Included | Included | Not included | Included |
| Technical Specifications | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Engine Details | Included | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Feature lists compared from each provider's own published information. Correct at the time of writing.
Why it matters
What a history check turns up
1 in 3
Used cars have hidden issues like finance debt or previous accidents.
109
Stolen cars flagged daily using our detailed car history check.
1 in 3
Cars are still on finance. Buy the wrong one, and it could be repossessed.
1,815
Cars flagged daily for mileage discrepancies. Don't fall for tampered odometers.
2,205
Written-off cars found every day, as shown in our premium vehicle report.
1 in 4
Cars have had plate changes. Our reports reveal hidden problems instantly to ensure complete a car history check.
See it first
What’s Included in Your Vehicle Check?
We set a fair price for our car history check. This allows you to make informed decisions and save time. Knowing your vehicle history is key when car buying.
Our vehicle stolen check has full access to the UK PNC (Police National Computer) service. This guarantees your vehicle is not reported as stolen before you purchase. Get total peace of mind knowing this important information.
View Sample Report
AA19 MOT
Ford Focus RS
Overall outcome:
PASS
All checks:
- No Finance
- Not Written Off
- Not Stolen
- Not Imported
- Not Scrapped
- Mileage Verified
At a glance
Car Accident Check UK
Check Car Accident History, Instantly
Enter any UK registration to check car accident history. We search insurer total loss records for the write-off marker and its category, and tell you plainly which accident damage never reaches a database at all.
Official Insurance Records
Every car accident check pulls data from official insurer write-off databases. See if a car was in an accident and written off.
Check Any UK Vehicle
Run a car damage history check on any UK-registered car, van, or motorbike. Included as standard in every full vehicle history report.
Run a Car Accident Check Now
Enter any UK registration above to check car accident history. Our accident check reveals insurance write-off records and is included in every full history report.
Still unsure?
Car Accident Check FAQs
How do I check if a car has been in an accident?
Enter the registration into the box at the top of this page. We search insurer total loss records and show whether the vehicle was written off after a crash, along with the damage category and the date. It takes a few seconds and identifying the vehicle is free.
Is there a UK database of car accidents?
No. There is no register of every accident in the UK. Insurers report vehicles they declare a total loss to the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register, and that is the record a car accident check searches. Accidents repaired without a write-off are not held on any searchable database.
Will a repaired accident show on a history check?
Only if an insurer wrote the car off. Damage repaired privately, or a claim the insurer settled by paying for repairs, leaves no entry. This is why a clean accident check should be paired with a look at the MOT history and the bodywork before you buy.
What is the difference between an accident check and a write-off check?
They search the same insurer records. An accident check is the question a buyer asks, and a write-off check is the answer the data gives. If you already know a car carries a marker and want the category explained, the write-off check page covers it in more detail.
What do Cat A, B, S and N mean?
Cat A is scrap, the whole vehicle is crushed. Cat B is body shell crush, though salvageable parts may be sold on. Cat S means structural damage that was repaired, affecting the chassis or frame. Cat N means non structural damage, which can still mean significant electrical or cosmetic repair.
Can I check a car's accident history for free?
Identifying the vehicle and confirming its make, model, MOT and tax status is free. The accident and write-off data comes with the full vehicle history report, which also covers outstanding finance, stolen status, mileage and previous keepers.
Does a written off car stay on the record forever?
Yes. A write-off marker is attached to the vehicle, not the owner, so it stays with the car through every future sale. Repairing the car and putting it back on the road does not remove the marker, and a seller is not able to clear it.
Is it safe to buy a car that has been in an accident?
It can be, and Cat N cars in particular are bought and driven every day. What matters is the quality of the repair, whether it was done professionally, and whether the price reflects the history. A Cat S car has had structural damage repaired, so an independent inspection is worth paying for.
How much does an accident affect a car's value?
A recorded write-off typically reduces a car's value noticeably against an equivalent car with a clean record, and it narrows the pool of buyers when you come to sell. It can also affect what insurers will offer to cover.
Does the accident check show every minor scrape?
No, and no check does. We show insurance total loss records, the serious incidents where an insurer decided the vehicle was beyond economical repair. Minor unreported bumps and scratches do not appear on any searchable record.
Can I check accident history for vans and motorbikes?
Yes. The check works for any UK registered vehicle including cars, vans and motorbikes. Enter the registration and we search the same insurer write-off records.
What should I do if the check comes back clear?
Treat it as the first of two steps. The check has ruled out the worst outcome, so next look at the MOT history for advisories about corrosion or alignment, and inspect the car in daylight for mismatched paint and uneven panel gaps.
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