When it comes to purchasing a car from a dealership, private seller, or online marketplace, there are several factors that must be considered to avoid purchasing a damaged or defective vehicle.
One of these factors is the car’s history, and with a vehicle history report, you can be sure of discovering any hidden damage or defect in a vehicle and making informed decisions.
Two popular vehicle history report providers in the UK that offer vehicle registration checks are AutoTrader Vehicle Check and Smart Car Check.
While both companies offer similar services, there are some key differences between them.
In this article, we will compare AutoTrader Vehicle Check and Smart Car Check and determine which vehicle history report provider is better.
Read Also: How to Sell a Car Privately in the UK
AutoTrader vs. Smart Car Check: All About Smart Car Check
Being ignorant of even the tiniest detail could make you end up with a defective vehicle, and Smart Car Check is here to make sure that this never happens.
Smart Car Check is one of the leading providers of car registration checks and detailed car history reports in the UK. Buyers and sellers all over the United Kingdom use this service to verify their vehicles’ conditions before making any sale or purchase.
With Smart Car Check, consumers can easily access the following information:
- Vehicle specifications
- Vehicle registration details
- Auction records
- MOT and tax dues
- Exported
- Mileage discrepancy
- ULEZ compliance
- Running costs
- Vehicle performance
- Fuel economy
- C02 emissions
- SafetyEuro N cap
- Mileage history
- MOT history
- Recalls
- Vehicle log book details
- Number of previous keepers
- Number of plate changes
- Color changes
- SMMT details
- Scrapped
- Imported/Imported Non EU
- Certificate of destruction issued
- Electric vehicle charging data
As you can see, there’s a lot of information contained in one report from Smart Car Check, and this gives buyers access to all of the information they need in one place without having to spend time and money on multiple checks from different providers.
This can help to save time and money, as well as provide peace of mind when buying a used car.
What’s better, you can also get a detailed car history report with the Smart Car Check application.
What about the AutoTrader vehicle check? How reliable is its service? We’ll find out in the next section.
ALSO READ: How To Find Out What Extras My Car Has: Step-By-Step Guide
AutoTrader vs. Smart Car Check: All About AutoTrader Vehicle Check
This car history report provider has its services powered by Experian and has been around since 2019.
With the vehicle check service, AutoTrader offers its customers a lot more than just car sales.
Here, buyers and sellers can be sure that the vehicles they are buying/selling are reliable and free of hidden defects. AutoTrader provides:
- Up to £30,000 data guarantee
- 26-point independent report
- Vehicle MOT history check
- A full vehicle background check
- A finance check
- An insurance write-off check
- Car valuation
- Mileage check, and more.
- With the vehicle check service provided by
AutoTrader, car buyers can easily identify potential problems with a vehicle before they arise and know how to avoid them.
Thus, giving them an opportunity to make the best decisions during the car-buying process.
Which vehicle history report is better? Smart Car Check? or AutoTrader?
The debate over where to get the best vehicle registration check continues to grow daily.
This is why we have compiled these criteria to determine which vehicle registration check provider is better between Smart Car Check and AutoTrader Vehicle Check.
Accuracy and Depth of Information
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a vehicle history report provider is the accuracy and depth of the information provided.
Smart Car Check offers a more comprehensive report than AutoTrader Vehicle Check, with information on a wider range of factors that could impact the value and safety of the vehicle.
Smart Car Check reports include information on the MOT history, mileage history, ownership history, and more.
AutoTrader Vehicle Check, on the other hand, offers a more limited report that includes information on the vehicle’s MOT history, tax status, and CO2 emissions.
While this information is certainly helpful, it does not provide the same level of detail as a Smart Car Check report and may not uncover important issues with the vehicle’s history.
Ease of Use
Another important factor to consider when choosing a vehicle history report provider is the ease of use of the service.
Smart Car Check offers a user-friendly online platform that allows users to quickly and easily obtain a vehicle history report.
Users simply enter the vehicle’s registration number and pay a fee to access the report.
The report is then delivered instantly to their email address.
AutoTrader Vehicle Check, on the other hand, requires users to create an account and sign in before they can obtain a vehicle history report.
This adds an extra step to the process and can be time-consuming for users who are in a hurry to obtain the report.
Price
Price is also an important factor to consider when choosing a vehicle history report provider.
Smart Car Check offers a very competitive pricing structure, with reports starting at just £5.00.
This makes it an affordable option for anyone looking to purchase a used car.
AutoTrader Vehicle Check, on the other hand, charges £16.95 for a single vehicle history report.
With Smart Car Check, this price is equivalent to the price for 6 basic car checks or three premium car checks.
Customer Support
Finally, it is important to consider the level of customer support offered by each provider.
Smart Car Check offers a comprehensive FAQ section on their website, as well as a “contact us” form for users who need assistance with their reports.
They also have a customer support team that is available to answer any questions or concerns that users may have via live chat.
AutoTrader Vehicle Check offers email support for users who need assistance with their report, but most of their support categories are based on the other services they provide: support for car sellers and buyers.
ALSO READ: How To Check Vehicle Engine Size By Registration Plate In the UK
How to Get Started with Smart Car Check
If you are a car buyer interested in finding out the hidden history and damages of your vehicle, then you will need to follow these steps to get started with Smart Car Check:
- Visit the Smart Car Check website
- Fill out the vehicle registration check form and enter the vehicle registration number
- Select the type of report you want- basic or premium
- Also, select the package you want and proceed to the payment gateway
- Receive your report and verify your vehicle’s information
Smart Car Check offers a more comprehensive and concise report, a user-friendly online platform, competitive pricing, and excellent customer support.
The vehicle history report provider also recommends FindUsedOnline for a superior experience for consumers who are looking to purchase a used car.
While AutoTrader Vehicle Check does offer some valuable information, it does not provide the same level of detail or ease of use as Smart Car Check.
Therefore, we recommend using Smart Car Check for your next vehicle history report.
