Comparison

carVertical vs MotorFile: What Each Report Includes

carVertical reports draw on records from many countries and can include photos and damage history. MotorFile is built around UK registrations and official DVLA and DVSA data. This is each side as the providers publish it.

Published · Rival details checked 25 Oct 2026

Check a registration free

Enter a UK registration for the standard check, then add the Full Vehicle Check if you need it.

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Side by side

Rival entries are what each provider says on its own public pages, checked 25 Oct 2026. Numbers in brackets link to the source. Prices and features change, so confirm on the provider's site before you buy.

Price
MotorFileStandard check free (no account). Full Vehicle Check £9.99 per vehicle.
carVerticalSingle report £39.99; 2 reports £25.99 each; 3 reports £20.99 each, per its pricing page. Its home page advertises bundles as "Save up to 40%".[2][1]
Free option
MotorFileYes. The standard check is free: DVLA vehicle details, MOT status and full MOT history from DVSA records, tax status and a mileage chart. No account needed.
carVerticalStates that reports are not available for free because each report requires paid access to its data sources.[2]
What a report can show
MotorFileFull Vehicle Check: police stolen marker. Full Vehicle Check: insurance write-off record with category, loss date and insurer. Full Vehicle Check: outstanding finance with lender, agreement type, start date and term where an agreement is on record.
carVerticalSays a report can uncover recorded images, damage, ownership change, theft records, mileage rollbacks, specs and equipment, emission taxes, market price, maintenance, safety, financial restrictions and natural disaster exposure.[1]
Photos and repair costs
MotorFileNo. MotorFile does not include vehicle photos or damage repair costs.
carVerticalMentions recorded exterior photos (when available) and damage history across over 330 million records, with repair costs where that data exists.[1]
Geographic reach
MotorFileBuilt for UK-registered vehicles, using official UK records.
carVerticalStates that it scans 1000+ data sources across 45+ countries.[1]
Mileage
MotorFileStandard check: mileage chart from MOT tests. Full Vehicle Check: industry mileage register records.
carVerticalLists mileage rollbacks among findings.[1]
Returns
MotorFileSee MotorFile's terms for refund rights.
carVerticalA report with no findings in the Odometer, Damage or Timeline sections is returned automatically as an unused report valid for 6 months. Other return requests must be made within 30 days.[3]
Data guarantee
MotorFileNo. MotorFile does not offer a data guarantee or cover. A report shows what the source databases hold at the time of the check, and anything not returned is shown as "Not checked".
carVerticalIts pricing page labels each package "Report return guarantee"; see its return policy for how returns work. No data guarantee or buyback was stated on the pages read.[2][3]

Where they differ

The clearest difference is what the report is built around. carVertical advertises photos, damage history and records drawn from many countries, which can matter for a car that has lived abroad. MotorFile does not include photos or repair costs; it focuses on UK registration data, the full MOT history from DVSA, and the UK provenance checks in the Full Vehicle Check.

On cost, MotorFile's standard check is free and the Full Vehicle Check is a single published price. carVertical sells reports and says they are not free. Its pricing page lists a single report at £39.99, with lower per-report prices when you buy two or three.

Which one fits your car

For a car registered and kept in the UK, start with the free MotorFile check and decide whether you need the paid provenance checks. For a car that has been imported or lived in several countries, a report that draws on records from more than one country may be relevant, so read what that report lists for your vehicle's history before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

Is MotorFile the same as carVertical?

No. They are separate companies with separate reports. MotorFile focuses on UK registrations and official UK records.

Does MotorFile show vehicle photos or repair costs?

No. MotorFile does not include vehicle photos or damage repair costs.

Is a carVertical report free?

carVertical states that its reports are not available for free. MotorFile's standard check is free.

Does MotorFile have a data guarantee?

No. MotorFile does not offer a data guarantee or cover. If a guarantee matters to you, compare the terms each provider publishes before you buy.

Sources (checked 25 Oct 2026)

  1. [1]carVertical UK: home page (report contents) www.carvertical.com/gb
  2. [2]carVertical UK: pricing page (single report and package prices) www.carvertical.com/gb/pricing
  3. [3]carVertical UK: report return policy www.carvertical.com/gb/refund-policy

MotorFile is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any provider named on this page. Product names belong to their owners and are used only to identify them. General information only; this is not a recommendation to buy or not to buy any product.

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