What the free van check shows you
- DVLA vehicle details: make, model, body type, fuel, engine size, year
- Full MOT test history with every pass, fail, advisory and defect
- Mileage at every MOT test — spot clocking instantly
- Current tax and SORN status
- Model-specific known faults and common problems
- MOT due date and tax expiry
Why vans need checking more than cars
Vans live harder lives than cars. They cover more miles, carry heavier loads, get driven by multiple drivers and are often maintained to the minimum standard. That makes a thorough check before buying even more important than it is with a car.
Mileage fraud is more common in vans
A typical van covers 20,000 to 30,000 miles a year in commercial use. By the time it is five years old, it might have 120,000 miles on it. Sellers know that high-mileage vans are hard to sell, so clocking is widespread. Our free check shows every mileage reading recorded at every MOT since 2005. If the numbers do not go up consistently, something is wrong.
MOT history tells you how it has been used
Van MOT records are more revealing than car records. Look for patterns: repeated suspension advisories suggest heavy loading. Corroded brake lines and chassis corrosion are common on vans that have been used in construction or anywhere near salt and mud. Emission failures on diesels can mean a blocked DPF, which costs £1,000 or more to replace.
Finance is a bigger risk with vans
Most commercial vehicles are bought on finance: HP, lease purchase, or contract hire. When a business goes under, their vans sometimes get sold privately while the finance is still outstanding. If you buy a van with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it. Our full van history check at £7.49 includes a finance check against the major registers.
What to check when buying a used van
Beyond the data in our free check, here is what matters when you are physically inspecting a van.
Bodywork and load area
Open the rear doors and inspect the load area floor. Plywood lining is standard on panel vans but lift it if you can. You are looking for rust, water damage and signs of overloading (dented or cracked floor). Check the roof for dents from roof racks or ladder damage. Look at the sill edges below the sliding door, as this is where corrosion starts.
Diesel engine health
The majority of used vans are diesel. Start the engine from cold and watch the exhaust. Blue smoke means oil burning (turbo seals, valve stem seals). Black smoke under acceleration usually means injector problems or a failing turbo. White smoke on startup is normal in cold weather, but if it persists, suspect head gasket or injector issues.
Ask about the timing belt. On vans like the Transit 2.2 TDCi, Vivaro 1.6 CDTi and Sprinter OM651, a snapped timing belt destroys the engine. Replacement intervals are typically every 100,000 miles or 8 years. If the seller cannot prove it has been done, budget £400-800 for the job.
Gearbox and clutch
Van gearboxes take more punishment than car gearboxes. Drive the van in traffic and feel for crunching on second and third gear, which is the most common failure point. A new clutch and flywheel on a modern van costs £800-1,500 fitted. If the clutch bites very high or slips under load, it is on its way out.
Suspension
Push down hard on each corner and let go. The van should return to its normal height and settle without bouncing. Vans that have carried heavy loads regularly will have tired springs and worn shock absorbers. Look for uneven tyre wear, which indicates alignment or suspension problems. Leaf spring corrosion is common on older vans and is an MOT failure.
Weight and payload
Check the gross vehicle weight (GVW) on the VIN plate, usually on the door frame. Subtract the unladen weight to find the payload. If you need to carry heavy materials or equipment, make sure the van has enough payload capacity. Overloading a van invalidates your insurance, accelerates wear on everything, and is a fixed penalty offence.
Popular van models to check
Our free check works for every van registered in Great Britain. These are the most commonly checked.
Frequently asked questions
What does a free van check include?
Our free van check includes DVLA vehicle details (make, model, body type, fuel, engine size, year, gross weight), full MOT history with every pass, fail, advisory and defect since 2005, mileage readings from every MOT test, current tax and SORN status, and model-specific known faults. It works for panel vans, tippers, lutons, dropside trucks and chassis cabs.
Can I check if a van has been clocked?
The free check shows every mileage reading recorded at each MOT test. You can see whether the mileage has gone up consistently year on year or whether there are suspicious drops. Vans are clocked more often than cars because they cover high mileage in commercial use. A van showing 80,000 miles that had 120,000 at a previous MOT has been clocked.
Should I get a full van history check before buying?
Yes, especially for vans. Commercial vehicles are more likely to have outstanding finance (many are bought on HP or lease), more likely to have been in accidents, and more likely to have been clocked. A full history check covers finance, stolen, write-off and plate change records. At £7.49 it is less than a tank of diesel.
Does the check work for all van makes?
Yes. The check works for every van registered in Great Britain including Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter and Caddy, Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano, Citroen Berlingo and Relay, Peugeot Partner and Boxer, Renault Trafic and Master, Fiat Ducato, Toyota Proace, Nissan NV200 and NV400, Iveco Daily, MAN TGE, and all other light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
What is the difference between a free van check and a full van history check?
The free check uses government data (DVLA and DVSA) to show vehicle details, MOT history, mileage and tax status. The full history check at £7.49 adds commercial databases: outstanding finance (HP, PCP, lease), stolen vehicle register, insurance write-off categories (Cat A, B, S, N), plate changes and keeper history. For vans, the finance check is particularly important as most commercial vehicles are bought on finance.
Can I check a van I already own?
Yes. Many tradespeople check their own van to see the full MOT history and upcoming dates, set up MOT and tax reminders, and check what advisories to address before the next test. Enter your reg above to get started.
Is the data up to date?
DVLA and MOT data is retrieved in real time when you run a check, so you see the latest information from government systems. If a van had an MOT yesterday, it will appear in the results today.
Other free tools
Vehicle data from DVLA. MOT data from DVSA. Known faults from manufacturer and DVSA sources. Last updated October 2026.