Salvage History Check
Reveal whether any UK vehicle has passed through a salvage auction, including damage photos, auction records and write-off categories — before you buy.
What Does Our UK Salvage and Auction History Check Include?
Over 562,000 vehicles were written off in the UK in 2024 alone. Many are repaired, relisted and sold without buyers ever knowing their true past. Our salvage history check searches auction-level records — including platforms such as Copart and Synetiq — to reveal what a standard write-off check can miss.
- Auction history: Dates, locations and listing details from UK salvage auction records going back years.
- Damage category: The salvage classification assigned at auction — Category A, B, S or N — and what it means for the vehicle's roadworthiness.
- Pre-repair photographs: Actual images from the original auction listing showing the vehicle's condition before any repairs were carried out.
- Damage descriptions: Written descriptions of primary and secondary damage recorded at the time the vehicle entered salvage.
- Insurance write-off details: Whether the vehicle has been formally recorded on the MIAFTR database as an insurance total loss.
- VIN verification: Confirmation that the VIN matches auction records to guard against identity mismatches and cloning.
- Mileage at time of salvage: The mileage recorded when the vehicle entered auction, allowing you to cross-reference against current MOT mileage data.
- Ownership history: Number of previous registered keepers and duration of each ownership period.
A salvage history check is not a replacement for a physical inspection, but it is the only way to see what the vehicle looked like before it was repaired — and that can change everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a salvage history check?
A salvage history check searches UK salvage auction records to reveal whether a vehicle has been listed or sold through platforms such as Copart or Synetiq following accident damage, theft recovery or other serious incidents. It returns the auction date, salvage category, damage descriptions and pre-repair photographs where available. This helps buyers understand a vehicle's true condition before purchase and can reveal damage that a standard insurance write-off check does not show.
What does salvage mean on a log book?
The term "salvage" on a V5C log book means the vehicle was involved in an accident or incident that led an insurance company to declare it uneconomical to repair. The insurer then assigns it one of four categories recognised under UK regulations:
- Category A: Severely damaged beyond any repair. The vehicle must be crushed in its entirety and no parts may be reused.
- Category B: The vehicle cannot return to the road and the body shell must be destroyed, but mechanical parts may be salvaged and reused.
- Category S (formerly C): Structural damage is present but the vehicle can be professionally repaired and returned to road use. Repairs must be disclosed to any future buyer.
- Category N (formerly D): Non-structural damage only. The vehicle can be repaired and re-registered. Again, the history must be disclosed.
Buying a Cat S or Cat N vehicle is legal, but the salvage history must be properly declared and repairs independently verified before you commit to a purchase.
What is the difference between a write-off check and a salvage history check?
A write-off check uses the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) database, which holds records submitted by insurers when they formally declare a vehicle a total loss. A salvage history check searches the auction records of platforms such as Copart and Synetiq directly. Crucially, some vehicles pass through salvage auctions without an insurance claim ever being made — perhaps because the owner sold the damaged car privately to a salvage buyer rather than claiming on their insurance. In those cases, no write-off marker will appear in MIAFTR, yet the vehicle still has serious damage in its past. Analysis of online car listings found that 1 in 100 vehicles sold as apparently clear has a hidden salvage history. The two checks complement each other and together provide a far more complete picture than either can alone.
How do I carry out a salvage history check?
Enter the vehicle's registration number into the search field above and our system will search salvage auction records instantly. Results show the auction date, damage category, location and any photographs taken of the vehicle before repairs were carried out. The free check identifies basic salvage flags. A full history report provides complete auction-level detail including damage descriptions and images, giving you the clearest possible picture of the car's condition before any bodywork was done.
Is it worth buying a salvaged car?
A Category S or Category N vehicle can represent good value if the damage was repaired to a professional standard and the asking price reflects the car's history. Before buying, you should obtain repair invoices and supporting documentation, consider commissioning an independent pre-purchase inspection from a qualified engineer, and check with your insurer whether they will cover a vehicle with a salvage marker on its record. Some insurers charge higher premiums or decline cover altogether for salvage vehicles, and most lenders will also restrict or refuse finance. Category A and Category B vehicles cannot legally return to the road under any circumstances and should never be purchased for driving.
Why is a salvage check important?
Over 562,000 vehicles were written off in the UK in 2024, and analysis of used car listings suggests that 1 in 100 vehicles sold as apparently clear still has a hidden salvage history. Sellers sometimes conceal this by describing serious damage as "minor" or "cosmetic". Pre-repair auction photographs cut through those claims by showing the vehicle's actual condition before any bodywork was carried out — revealing structural distortion, airbag deployment, fire damage or water ingress that can be very difficult or impossible to detect once a car has been rebuilt and resprayed. Beyond immediate safety concerns, a salvage marker affects insurance costs, financing options and the vehicle's resale value for as long as it remains on the road.