How accurate is a vehicle history check?

Data accuracy depends on how promptly the source organisation — a lender, insurer, or police force — reports the information. Most report within a few working days, but there can be a short lag between an event happening and it appearing on the register.

We draw from official and industry databases that are kept continuously up to date, but no check can guarantee an event that hasn't yet been reported will show up. This is also why it's worth running a check as close as possible to your purchase date, rather than weeks in advance.