Finance Check
A finance check confirms whether a UK vehicle still has an active finance agreement against it. Until the loan is settled the lender — not the person selling the car to you — is the legal owner, and the car can be repossessed from you after purchase. Enter the registration above to start, then upgrade to the £9.99 premium report to see any finance markers.
What outstanding finance means
Most used UK cars are sold on Hire Purchase, Personal Contract Purchase, conditional sale or lease. Until the final payment is made, the finance company holds legal title — not the registered keeper. The V5C shows the keeper, not the owner, so you cannot tell from the logbook alone whether finance is outstanding.
What happens if you buy a financed car
If the previous owner stops paying their lender, the lender can repossess the vehicle from you — even though you paid for it in good faith. You may have an 'innocent purchaser' defence under the Hire Purchase Act 1964, but only if you can prove you took reasonable steps to check before buying. A timestamped finance check is exactly that proof.
What the report shows
The RegRadar premium finance check queries the live database covering over 40 UK lenders. If a marker is present we display the lender, agreement type, agreement number, start date and term where the lender has shared it. If the report is clear we show a 'No active agreements' verdict with a timestamp.
Buying a car with outstanding finance
It is possible to buy safely. Ask the seller to request a settlement figure in writing from their lender. Pay the settlement amount directly to the lender yourself, then pay the seller only the balance. Get written confirmation from the lender that the agreement is closed before you take the keys.
If the seller hid the finance
A seller who didn't disclose active finance is hiding either incompetence or dishonesty — usually the latter. Walk away. Another car will come along; one with hidden finance and an evasive seller almost never works out well.
Frequently asked questions
Does the V5C show finance?
No. The V5C lists only the registered keeper. The only reliable way to check is via a vehicle history report.
Is the finance check free?
No. UK finance marker data is commercial and only appears in the £9.99 premium report. Any 'free finance check' is not using genuine lender data.
What about a personal loan?
An unsecured personal loan does not attach to the vehicle, so it will not appear in a finance check. The car is the borrower's property from day one.
How current is the data?
Live on every check. We don't cache finance markers — the report reflects what UK lenders have on file at the moment we run it.