Vehicle history checks

How to check how many previous owners a car has had

Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing

The number of previous keepers is held by the DVLA and is released only through paid vehicle history checks. A DealerPricing history check shows the keeper count, the date of every keeper change, the date of first registration and any number plate or colour changes, for £3.99.

£2.50 for subscribers. Stolen, finance, write-off, import/export, keepers, plates and mileage.

Step by step

  1. 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 →

  2. 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
    The vehicle history check form with the Check History button

  3. Read the keeper history

    The Vehicle Details section shows the keeper count and lists each keeper change by date, newest first. Plate changes are listed separately with the previous and current registration.

    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
    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

  4. Compare with the V5C

    The V5C shows the number of former keepers and the date the current keeper acquired the car. If the logbook and the report disagree, or the seller has only had the car a few weeks, ask why.

What you’ll see

  • Total number of previous keepers
  • Date of each keeper change
  • Plate changes with previous and current registration and transfer date
  • Colour changes and cherished plate transfers

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 a keeper the same as an owner?

No. The keeper is the person responsible for taxing and insuring the car and is named on the V5C. The owner is whoever paid for it, which on finance is the lender. A car can show more keepers than real owners, for example when a company car moves between employees.

Can I get previous owners for free?

No. The DVLA does not publish keeper counts. It supplies them to licensed history check providers, which is why every genuine "previous owners" check is a paid provenance report.

How many owners is too many?

There is no fixed number, but several keepers in a short time is a warning sign that the car has a fault everyone discovers after buying. A single keeper change every three to five years is typical.

Why do plate changes matter?

Most plate changes are private plates being put on or taken off, which is harmless. A plate change close to a write-off or finance marker can be an attempt to break the link to the car’s past, so read the dates together.

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