Vehicle history checks
How to check if a car has been imported or exported
Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing
A vehicle history check shows two separate markers: "Imported", meaning the car was first registered abroad and later registered with the DVLA, and "Exported", meaning the DVLA has been told the car left the UK permanently. An exported car should not be for sale in the UK. DealerPricing checks both for £3.99.
Step by step
Open the vehicle history check
Go to the DealerPricing vehicle history check. It searches the same national databases that branded checks such as HPI use: the Police National Computer, the insurers’ MIAFTR register, finance company records and the DVLA.
Vehicle history check →Enter the registration and pay £3.99
Type the number plate and click "Check History". One-off checks cost £3.99; subscribers pay £2.50 from their account balance. The report is ready in seconds.
The vehicle history check form with the Check History button Read the import and export markers
Under History Check look for "Imported" (clear cars show "UK vehicle") and "Exported" (clear cars show "Not exported"). The free DVLA check also shows a "Marked for Export" flag.
What is included in a DealerPricing history report: stolen, finance, write-off, export/import, scrapped, colour changes, keepers, plate changes, mileage, MOT history, vehicle details and PDF Check the specification if it is an import
The report’s Vehicle Identification section shows the country of origin and whether the car was used before first UK registration. Compare the speedometer (mph or km/h) and the lights to the UK spec.
What you’ll see
- Imported marker with country of origin where recorded
- Exported marker and the DVLA "marked for export" status
- Date of first registration in the UK versus date of manufacture
- "Used before first registration" flag for personal and grey imports
Ready to try it?
£2.50 for DealerPricing subscribers. Report stored for 6 months with a PDF.
Run a vehicle history check — £3.99 →Frequently asked questions
Is an imported car a problem?
Not necessarily. Many imports are legitimate personal imports or Japanese grey imports with high specifications. The issues are insurance (some insurers charge more or decline), parts availability, and mileage recorded in kilometres on early MOT tests.
Why is an exported car a red flag?
When a car is recorded as exported, the DVLA closes its UK record. It cannot be taxed, MOT history stops, and insurers may refuse cover. If it is being sold in the UK it must be re-registered first, and the seller should be able to show that paperwork.
How do I tell an import from the MOT history?
A car with a first UK registration date years after its manufacture date, or early MOT mileages that look like kilometres, is almost always an import. The history check shows both dates side by side.
Are Northern Ireland cars imports?
No. Northern Ireland is part of the UK and vehicles registered there are DVLA vehicles. Cars from the Republic of Ireland are imports and must be registered with the DVLA before use in Great Britain.
Related guides
Terms explained
- Vehicle provenanceVehicle provenance is the verified history of a UK vehicle's ownership, status and incidents — covering stolen markers, finance, write-offs, mileage, plate changes, and keeper history.
- V5C logbookThe V5C is the official UK vehicle registration document issued by DVLA, showing the registered keeper, vehicle technical details and ownership history.