MotorCheck reports carry a section titled 'Condition Alert' where information pertaining to an ex-salvage record may be retrieved and viewed directly within the report. Check out the video below to see how it works.
If the 'Condition Alert' section is highlighted as having an issue, you will be able to view all of the associated detail including the Salvage Category and a Detailed Description where available.
Access to Images
To assist you further with making an informed decision, you can also view detailed images of the car at the time it was categorised. Simply click on the View Images button and a new window will open where you can view the images on one screen.
Multiple Alerts
There may be examples where multiple condition alerts exist against a single vehicle and it's common to find occurrences where both a MIAFTR reading and a condition alert will appear at the same time. You can view the detail for any individual by clicking on the buttons as you see fit.
What a "No" result means
When the Condition Alert section of a MotorCheck report shows "No", this means we have searched our database of over 4 million salvage and condition records and found no entry for the vehicle at the time of the check.
A "No" result reflects the information available to us at the time of the enquiry only.
It is not a guarantee that a condition alert does not exist, or that one will not be recorded against the vehicle in future.
How salvage data reaches our database
Salvage data in the UK is gathered from a range of sources, with the majority coming from salvage auctions. Most records are received within 24 hours of a vehicle being sold at auction, but some can take longer to appear depending on reporting times. In rare cases, a vehicle may be sold on before a salvage record is created at all.
The salvage industry itself is unregulated, and there is no fixed timeframe within which a salvage event must be reported. MotorCheck reports reflect the information available at the time of enquiry only, and we cannot be held responsible for any condition information that is recorded after a check has been completed.
When to carry out additional checks
We recommend additional caution and further checks where any of the following apply:
There have been multiple keeper changes in a short period of time
The seller cannot directly verify the vehicle's history (for example, a broker or intermediary sale)
The price is significantly below market value
Service history is missing, inconsistent, or cannot be evidenced
The seller is reluctant to answer questions about how they acquired the vehicle
Any one of these on its own may be innocent. Several appearing together is a stronger signal that further investigation is warranted before completing the purchase.
The Trade Buy-In Disclosure Form
If you have any concerns about a vehicle's provenance, we strongly recommend you ask the seller to complete a Trade Buy-In Disclosure Form before proceeding with the purchase.
The form is a short declaration in which the seller confirms what they know — and don't know — about the vehicle's history, including any insurance write-offs, salvage events, accident damage, or unresolved finance. It takes only a few minutes to complete.
The purpose of the form is twofold:
It creates a documented record of the seller's representations about the vehicle. Should new information later emerge — for example, a salvage record being filed retrospectively — you have a clear, written basis on which to seek recourse against the seller.
It is a meaningful test of the seller's confidence in their own car. A seller with nothing to hide will sign without hesitation. A seller who refuses to sign, or who becomes evasive when asked, is telling you something important. We strongly recommend you do not proceed with a purchase in those circumstances.
Still unsure?
If you have completed the form and still have concerns, or if anything about a vehicle doesn't feel right, please contact us before completing the purchase. We're happy to talk through any specific concerns you have about a vehicle.
Responsibility for the accuracy of a vehicle's condition and history ultimately rests with the seller. The MotorCheck report provides the strongest possible starting point but a thorough buyer always combines the data with their own due diligence.