UK used-car provenance guide

Vehicle theft, Cat S and Cat N checks before buying

MOT history is valuable, but it does not prove that a vehicle is free from outstanding finance, police theft records or insurance write-off history. Those checks require separate licensed data.

Licensed data required

Stolen-vehicle status

A vehicle-specific stolen-status result normally comes from police or licensed vehicle-provenance datasets. A clean MOT record does not prove that a vehicle is not stolen.

Before paying

Match the registration and VIN to the original V5C.
Confirm the seller's identity and address.
Use an authorised provenance provider for a stolen-status check.
Do not proceed if the VIN appears altered or inconsistent.

Licensed data required

Outstanding finance

Finance information is not included in DVSA MOT history. A licensed finance check is important because a lender may retain an interest in the vehicle.

Ask the seller

Is any finance still outstanding?
Can settlement evidence be provided?
Will payment be made directly to the finance company where appropriate?

Cat S and Cat N explained

Category	What it means	Buyer action
Category S	The insurer recorded structural damage. The vehicle may return to the road after suitable repair.	Request structural repair evidence and arrange an independent inspection.
Category N	The insurer recorded non-structural damage. Safety-critical components can still be affected.	Review repair invoices, inspect affected systems and confirm current roadworthiness.

Important: MOTwise can explain Cat S and Cat N, but it cannot confirm the category for a specific registration without a licensed insurance write-off dataset.

Official guidance on insurance write-off categories is available from GOV.UK.

When is a vehicle ready to buy?

A sensible purchase decision needs several evidence layers. MOTwise can assess MOT history, mileage consistency, recurring defects and available buyer evidence. A complete decision should also include:

Stolen-status result from a licensed provider
Outstanding-finance result
Insurance write-off and Cat S/N result
V5C, VIN and seller-identity checks
Independent mechanical inspection
Service and repair evidence

Run the free MOTwise checks

UK used-car buying checklist Official GOV.UK buying guidance