About CluedUp
Every model has its weak spots, and most of them show up in the official MOT records long before they show up on your bank statement. CluedUp puts those records in plain English, for free, so you know what to look for before you meet the seller.
The short version
- Free and independent. No ads, no sign-up, and nobody can pay to change a result.
- Official records. From the DVSA and over 31 million MOT tests a year.
- Honest about limits. A guide, not an inspection. Every report says what records can’t show.
Questions people ask
What is CluedUp?
A free check for anyone buying a used car in Great Britain. Enter the reg and CluedUp shows what usually goes wrong on that model and year, whether this car’s MOT history already shows it, the mileage story, what to ask the seller, and a checklist for the viewing.
Who runs it?
CluedUp is run by Alex, an independent developer in the UK, built after too many friends bought cars with problems they could have spotted. It isn’t owned by a dealer, a car maker or a history-check company.
How can it be free?
The report will always be free, with no ads. CluedUp may earn a fee when you use a clearly labelled partner, such as a full history check for finance and write-offs. That never changes a report or a score.
Where does the information come from?
The car’s MOT history comes from the DVSA, checked live each time. The common problems come from the DVSA’s national results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, over 31 million of them. Fuel and emissions figures come from the Vehicle Certification Agency. Known faults are summarised from published UK buying guides, with links to the sources.
How accurate is it?
The records are official, but they’re not perfect. MOT testers don’t note every problem, and model-wide figures describe cars like this one, not this exact car. Treat a report as a well-informed first look, then see the car, get it inspected and run a history check before you pay.
What can’t it tell you?
Whether the car has outstanding finance, has been stolen or written off, the full service history, or what it’s worth. It also can’t see the car’s condition today. That’s why every report ends with what to check in person.
What does “flagged at MOT” mean?
It means a tester recorded it at an MOT: an advisory (wear noted), a minor or major defect, or a dangerous one. It isn’t the same as a fail, and an advisory doesn’t mean the part has failed.
What do the risk checks mean?
Each report checks three things separately: the car’s history (mileage, MOT gaps, recalls), mechanical warning signs (this model’s weak spots and what its own MOTs show) and the seller and advert (scam signs). Each says All clear, Ask about it or Problem found, with the reason. The advert check only runs if you paste the advert. How we score explains every rule.
Do you store my details?
No account, no sign-up. Your checks, saved reports and viewing list stay on your phone. If you ask for an email, we keep your address only to send what you asked for, and one click unsubscribes and deletes it. The privacy page has the details.
Does it work in Northern Ireland?
Not yet. Cars in Northern Ireland have their MOT with the DVA, whose records aren’t in the DVSA service CluedUp uses.
Something in my report looks wrong
Tap “Something’s wrong” at the bottom of the report, or email us. Mistakes in the MOT record itself can be corrected by the DVSA.
Get in touch
Email [support email]. See also our terms of use and privacy.