Protect yourself from buying someone else's debt.
Around a third of used cars in the UK are sold with outstanding finance. If you buy one, the finance company can legally repossess it from you, even if you paid the seller in full and had no idea about the debt. You lose the car and your money. A finance check before purchase is the single most important protection you have.
A finance check queries the major UK finance databases to show whether any lender has a registered interest against the vehicle. If finance is found, the report shows the finance company name, agreement type (HP, PCP, lease), and the start date. This tells you whether the seller has the legal right to sell the car at all.
Enter any UK registration into FactorySpecs for a free MOT and tax status check. The full report adds a comprehensive HPI layer including finance checks, stolen vehicle alerts, write-off status, mileage anomaly detection, and plate change history. The finance check queries MIAFTR, the UK's central finance database used by all major lenders.
Do not complete the purchase until the seller provides proof of settlement from the finance company. A "settlement letter" confirms the debt has been paid and the lender's interest removed. Never accept verbal assurances. If the seller cannot produce a settlement letter, walk away.
Only if they settle the finance first or the buyer pays the finance company directly. Selling a car on HP or PCP without settling is technically fraud, but it happens frequently. Always check before buying.
No. The free FactorySpecs check covers MOT status, tax status, and vehicle identity. Finance checks are part of the full HPI report which also includes stolen, write-off, and mileage checks.
FactorySpecs queries live finance databases at the point of lookup. The data is current to the day you check, not a cached snapshot.