Car Owl Vehicle History Report - Terms and Conditions

Applicable to any Car Owl History Check performed on or after 01/01/2025

1. Important Information

Application of the Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions relate to your use of the Car Owl History Check service made available to you at www.carowl.co.uk ("the Website") and apply to all Car Owl History Check searches made by you on or after 31/12/2024.

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using the Website and/or conducting a Car Owl History Check search. Please print and retain a copy of these terms and conditions for your information.

Please note that the Car Owl History Check service is personal to you and only you may benefit from the results of any Car Owl History Check search conducted.

The Car Owl History Check service is available for individuals aged 17 years or older. By requesting a Car Owl History Check search you confirm that you are aged 17 or over.

About Us

Car Owl History Check is a service brought to you by Car Owl Ltd (company number 15130731) whose registered office address is: Unit A, 82 James Carter Road, Mildenhall, United Kingdom, IP28 7DE.

References to "we", "us" and "our" in these Terms and Conditions shall be to Car Owl Ltd.

You can currently buy 1, 2, or 3 vehicle history reports on our system, but this offering may change in the future.

2. Conducting a Car Owl History Check

Please see our Step By Step Guide on the Website for further details.

After checking the vehicle registration mark (VRM) and before proceeding to request a Car Owl History Check, you have the option to choose whether you want to purchase a single Car Owl History Check or multiple Car Owl History Checks. You must provide us with payment of the appropriate fee (as indicated on the Website) in advance of any check being performed.

The results of each Car Owl History Check will be delivered to you electronically on your device via the internet and you will be sent an e-mail to confirm that payment has been taken and/or provide you with confirmation of your check and details of a hyperlink at which you can view your Car Owl History Check results. You will be able to view an archived record of your Car Owl History Check results for a period of up to 24 months following your check if you click on the section entitled "My History Checks".

If you have chosen the single Car Owl History Check service and conducted a single check, you may register with us the fact that you have progressed to purchase the vehicle to which the single Car Owl History Check relates. This will entitle you to receive the benefit of the "Data Guarantee" in respect of the single Car Owl History Check conducted in respect of that vehicle, subject to terms and conditions below relating to the Data Guarantee which are set out at Section 7 (Data Guarantee).

Please make sure that you have read and understood the terms and conditions relating to the Data Guarantee. In order to benefit from the protection of the Data Guarantee, you must take certain steps before purchasing the vehicle and the Data Guarantee is subject to conditions and exclusions.

If you have opted to make a single Car Owl History Check, but you then wish to conduct further checks, you will have to pay for the further checks at the appropriate rate.

If you have opted to use the multiple Car Owl History Check product, and have paid for the checks, you may conduct up to a total of three (3) Car Owl History Checks without paying a further fee, provided such Car Owl History Checks are conducted by you within 60 days of confirmation of receipt of payment by us. Once you have conducted a Car Owl History Check, you are entitled to choose one (1) of those vehicles on which you have conducted a Car Owl History Check to register with us to entitle you to receive the benefit of the Data Guarantee, subject these Terms and Conditions.

In order to successfully conduct a Car Owl History Check, the vehicle against which you wish to check must be registered in the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland). For the avoidance of doubt, this does not include vehicles registered in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

The information provided to you as part of the Car Owl History Check will include, where available, the following information in respect of the vehicle:

• Make
• Model
• Transmission
• Fuel type
• Body type
• Colour
• Engine number
• Number of gears
• First registered date
• CO2 emissions rating
• Engine capacity
• Year of manufacture
• Road tax cost (for 12 months)
• MOT History
• Stolen status
• Finance status
• Write-off status
• Plate change status
• Colour change status
• Previous keeper change status
• Mileage status
• Environmental report details
• Import status
• Export status
• Vehicle identification number confirmation

3. Price and Payment

By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you agree to pay the fee shown on the Website. Payment must be made by credit or debit card in advance. Cash or cheques will not be accepted.

4. Use of Information

All information delivered to you (whether on a computer screen, in e-mail, or paper format) as part of any Car Owl History Check ("the Information") shall at all times belong to us or any person who has given us permission to use the Information.

For your own personal non-commercial use, you may display the Information on a computer screen, print individual pages onto paper (but not photocopy them), and store such Information in an electronic format (but not on any server or other storage device connected to a network).

For the avoidance of doubt, you shall not: (a) reproduce, modify, or distribute the Information, (b) create a database from the Information, (c) otherwise use the Information for business purposes, and/or (d) sell, transfer, deal in, or otherwise make available either the ability to conduct a check or any Information to anyone else.

5. Queries and Complaints

Queries

If you are having problems viewing your Car Owl History Check report or if you consider that some of the Information contained in the results of your Car Owl History Check may be incorrect, please contact us immediately and we shall (where possible) clarify the information and seek to rectify the issue as soon as reasonably practicable at our own cost. Please note, that in this instance your only remedy shall be to obtain replacement Information.

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint, please see our complaint handling procedure for details of how to do so. You may also have the option to register your complaint using the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform. This is a web-based platform designed to help consumers who have bought goods or services online to deal with issues arising from their purchase.

6. Warranties and Disclaimers

Whilst we shall use all reasonable skill and care in the supply of the Information to you, we do not warrant that any Information we supply you shall be error free.

Whilst all reasonable skill and care has been taken by Car Owl Ltd in procuring and sourcing Information which is provided to you as part of the Car Owl History Check service, this Information has been supplied to us by third parties, and Car Owl Ltd therefore cannot and does not promise that (nor can it be held responsible for ensuring that) any of the Information provided to you as part of the Car Owl History Check service is correct, accurate or complete. However, the Car Owl History Check service does provide you with the Data Guarantee in respect of certain financial Losses, the terms of which are set out below at Section 7 (Data Guarantee). All you need to do to take advantage of the Data Guarantee is to register with us your chosen vehicle (see Section 7 below for further details) on which you have conducted a Car Owl History Check. There is no additional cost to you for registering for this Data Guarantee. Apart from any entitlement you may have to compensation under the Data Guarantee, our liability to you shall be limited to the price you paid for the Car Owl History Check service. That said, nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall limit or exclude our liability to you for:

• death or personal injury resulting from our negligence or breach of statutory duty or that of our employees, servants or agents;
• any fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation on our part;
• breach of any obligations implied by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 or the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982;
• any losses for which we are not permitted to limit liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987; or
• any other matter which it would be illegal for us to exclude or limit or to attempt to exclude or limit our liability.

The Car Owl History Check service does not deal with or comment on, and the Data Guarantee does not cover losses arising from, (a) the physical condition of any vehicle, (b) the roadworthiness or safety of any vehicle, (c) whether the vehicle has been involved in an accident or been 'written off', unless it was written off by an insurance company, (d) whether any vehicle is a "clone" bearing a false vehicle registration mark and vehicle identification number, or whether any vehicle was originally purchased and/or imported from another European Union country other than the UK. Accordingly, you will have to satisfy yourself in respect of these aspects of any vehicle(s) you intend to or in fact purchase. Please also see the exclusions from the Data Guarantee set out below at Section 7 (Data Guarantee).

We shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by you which is or was not reasonably foreseeable arising out of your use of the Information.

We shall not be liable to you for events beyond our reasonable control.

All other warranties, conditions, and representations (other than fraudulent misrepresentations) whether express or implied shall be excluded (to the extent that we are legally permitted to do so).

7. Data Guarantee

How to Register the Data Guarantee

Each time you pay for a Car Owl History Check service and subsequently conduct one or more Car Owl History Checks, you shall be entitled to register one (1) vehicle for the Data Guarantee.

For example: if you purchase the Car Owl History Check service enabling you to search our databases in respect of up to three (3) vehicles, you shall be entitled to register one of those vehicles (the one you intend to buy).

Provided that you register your chosen vehicle (and subject always to the Data Guarantee terms and conditions), if you believe or discover that specific information or data provided to you as part of any Car Owl History Check is incorrect, inaccurate, or incomplete, then you may be entitled to make a claim under the Data Guarantee. Please see the Data Guarantee terms and conditions below for further details.

Your Duty of Disclosure

The Data Guarantee provided to you is based on the information you provided to us. You must ensure that any information you provide us is complete and accurate, and that you disclose any facts that may influence our decision to accept and pay a valid claim should a claim arise. Failure to disclose important information relevant to your claim may invalidate your Data Guarantee and could result in the claim not being paid.

Scope of Data Guarantee

For the avoidance of doubt, the Data Guarantee only guarantees you in relation to the specific data provided to you as part of a Car Owl History Check report. You will need to make your own arrangements to assess the condition of the vehicle and ensure that it is safe and legal for you to drive any vehicle you purchase as a result of conducting a Car Owl History Check.

Protection Provided by the Data Guarantee

The "Losses" which the Data Guarantee provides coverage against are certain financial losses arising from issues in the Information provided to you in the Car Owl History Check service as set out below:

The limit of protection set out above is the maximum amount that we will pay you in the event of a successful claim under the Data Guarantee for each of the Losses specified.

*The market value referred to above is determined with reference to the retail value of the vehicle published in Glass's Guide (published by Glass’s Information Services Limited) adjusted for the mileage of the vehicle.

Conditions of the Data Guarantee

You must carry out the following checks before you purchase the vehicle:

• Confirm that the vehicle identification number (VIN) in the Car Owl History Check report matches the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the vehicle and in the vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
• Confirm that the vehicle registration mark (VRM) in the Car Owl History Check report matches the vehicle registration mark (VRM) on the vehicle and in the vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
• Confirm that the other details provided in the Information provided in the Car Owl History Check report (see 2. Conducting a Car Owl History Check above) match those of the vehicle and the vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
• Confirm the full name of the seller of the vehicle and verify this by checking their passport or driving licence.
• Confirm the address of the seller of the vehicle and verify this by checking a utility bill. Confirm the contact details of the seller of the vehicle.
• Confirm that the seller of the vehicle will provide you with a valid receipt which states the amount you paid for the vehicle and the date you purchased the vehicle. This receipt must also be signed by the seller. You must also ensure you obtain this receipt following the purchase.

In order to successfully make a claim under the Data Guarantee, you must have carried out all of the above checks and acted as a reasonably prudent purchaser. This means that where you have good reason to suspect the vehicle is not genuine or that you have been given incorrect information by the seller, you must take precautions to avoid Losses when purchasing the vehicle by:

• carrying out the above checks; and
• checking that all information supplied by the seller of the vehicle is correct.

For the avoidance of doubt, you are expected to take into account the Information provided in the Car Owl History Check in acting as a reasonably prudent purchaser.

In order to make a successful claim under the Data Guarantee, the following conditions must be met:

• You must be aged 17 years or older.
• You must have purchased both the Car Owl History Check for the vehicle and the vehicle itself.
• The Car Owl History Check must be carried out before you purchase the vehicle.
• If the vehicle is more than 3 years old, the vehicle must be purchased with a valid MOT certificate.
• If the vehicle has been purchased from a private individual, it must be purchased from the person named as the "registered keeper" on the vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
• You must inspect the vehicle registration certificate (V5C) before you purchase the vehicle to confirm that you are purchasing the vehicle from the registered keeper.
• The vehicle must be purchased inside the United Kingdom.
• You must provide us with correct and complete information about the vehicle when you request the Car Owl History Check.
• The vehicle identification number (VIN) must correspond with the vehicle registration mark (VRM) held by the DVLA in respect of that vehicle identification number (VIN).
• We have a right to inspect the vehicle once you have made a claim. If we choose to exercise this right, you must allow us to carry out this inspection.
• You must provide us with evidence of any Losses, such as receipts, and any other documentation that we might reasonably require to assess your claim.

Exclusions from the Data Guarantee

The Data Guarantee will not provide protection against Losses in the following circumstances or for the following losses or expenses:

• The vehicle has a false vehicle registration mark (VRM) or vehicle identification number (VIN).
• The Loss, whether arising from the loss, destruction of or damage to the vehicle, occurs after the date of the Car Owl History Check.
• The Loss represents lost profit or revenue for your business.
• The Data Guarantee does not provide protection for cash payments which exceed £1000 or 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle (whichever is the lower).
• You have paid an unreasonable purchase price for the vehicle. An unreasonable price will be deemed to be a price which is less than 70% of the market value of the vehicle determined in reference to the retail value for the vehicle published in Glass's Guide and adjusted for mileage.
• Losses arising for vehicles other than cars, motorcycles or light commercial vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.
• Losses arising for vehicles not being registered with the DVLA in the United Kingdom or which bear a vehicle registration mark (VRM) with the prefix or suffix "Q" or losses in respect of vehicles registered in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.
• Losses arising from any incident prior to the vehicle first being registered with the DVLA.
• Losses not included in the table above in the section headed “Protection Provided by the Data Guarantee” including financial losses.
• You have proceeded to purchase the vehicle despite the details provided by the seller not matching the Information provided in the Car Owl History Check.
• You had prior knowledge of the circumstances giving rise to the claim.
• You have failed to act as a reasonably prudent purchaser as set out at Conditions of the Data Guarantee above.
• You have ignored any Information in the Car Owl History Check which would have put a reasonably prudent purchaser on notice that the vehicle should not be purchased.
• You knowingly make a false or fraudulent claim under the Data Guarantee.

Duration of Protection Provided by the Data Guarantee

The Data Guarantee will provide protection against the Losses for up to 2 years following the date of the Car Owl History Check.

Making a Claim

If you wish to make a claim you can obtain a claim form by contacting Car Owl Claims Department, Unit A, 82 James Carter Road, Mildenhall, United Kingdom, IP28 7DE or emailing claims@carowl.co.uk.

8. General

All personal data about you will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Please read our Privacy Policy which is available on the Website.

No third party may use or rely on any Information provided to you as a result of or pursuant to you conducting a Car Owl History Check. A person who is not a party to these Terms and Conditions has no right to enforce any term under them.

As a consumer, you have certain legal rights, details of which can be provided by your local Trading Standards Office or consumer advice service.

You may not transfer all or any of the rights granted to you under these Terms and Conditions to any other person. These Terms and Conditions form the entire agreement between us.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law. In the event of a dispute arising between us, these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts, unless you reside in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, in which case an action may be brought by you in the courts of the country in which you reside.