Motorbike History Check
Check using a motorbike VIN or reg number- Accidents, thefts, mileage rollbacks & more
- Ensure the bike’s price matches reality
- Largest online database of used vehicle records
- 20% discount for Biker Insure customers
Find the hidden history of any UK motorcycle using the VIN or registration number.
Minimize risk, avoid costly mistakes and scams. More checks = bigger savings plus 20% off for Biker Insure customers.
Motorcycle damage history, including images
AI technology used to detect unseen problems
Wide variety of data sources used
Government registries, insurance, leasing databases & more
Motorbike history data stored on the blockchain
Tamper proof - can't be changed, faked or manipulated
Timeline of historical motorbike records
Identify when and where changes occurred
Motorbike Reg and VIN number history checks
Discover the hidden history of any motorcycle
Buying a motorbike can be a risky business. Get help avoiding scammers, negotiating a deal, and identifying problematic bikes.
If you’re buying a used motorcycle privately without the safety net of a dealer, it could make sense to conduct a motorbike history check.
Biker Insure has partnered with carVertical, a company founded to enhance transparency in the used car market. Since 2022, they have expanded their services to include motorcycle history checks due to growing demand.
Why check the history of a motorbike?
- Buy with greater transparency and reduced risk
- Avoid expensive mistakes and scams
- Get more leverage for potential negotiation
- Help to avoid purchasing a dangerous bike
- Check out a motorbike’s history before you spend time travelling, viewing and test riding a bike.
- Sell your own motorbike faster
What’s checked in the motorbike report?
The carVertical motorbike history check draws on information from the DVLA, DVSA, Police, insurance, leasing companies, claims handlers, privately owned registries and other sources. In fact, it’s the largest online database of used vehicle records and contains more than a billion data points from all over the world.
In addition, carVertical store the information about a motorcycle’s history into a blockchain registry. The tamper proof nature of data in the blockchain increases transparency and trust, and ensures that the records can’t be changed, faked or manipulated.
How to check the history of a motorcycle
- Enter the motorcycle registration number or VIN
- Confirm the precheck results match the bike’s details
- Choose how many reports you’d like to purchase
- Pay securely online. The motorbike report will be generated. You can view this instantly online, or at a later date in your account which will be created after your first order. The report will also be emailed to you.
Should I use a motorcycle’s VIN or registration number?
Some sellers may prefer to provide a VIN rather than a registration number in the first instance, due to privacy and crime concerns.
You can use either a VIN or registration number to check a motorcycle’s history. The report you receive will be the same, whichever option you choose.
What’s included in the motorbike history checker?
When you run a motorbike history report, the vehicle details will be checked for:
- Damages, including any recorded images of the damage.
- The financial and legal status of the motorbike including any outstanding loans, financial or lease agreements
- Theft records
- Mileage rollbacks and odometer discrepancies
- A timeline of historical records for the bike including MOT history and changes of ownership
- Identification & technical specifications
- Photos of the motorcycle and how it may have looked in the past
What motorbike records can I check myself?
There are some aspects of a motorcycle’s history that you can check yourself for free, either before moving onto a more in depth bike check or to rule out any more overtly problematic bikes before spending money.
Check a motorbike's MOT history
To reveal the current MOT status and past MOT history of a motorbike, simply enter your motorbike’s registration number at www.gov.uk/check-mot-status.
The Gov.uk website will display the make and colour of the bike. If the bike details are correct, you can continue to the next page where you’ll be able to see if the bike has a current MOT, when an existing one expires, and the MOT history of the motorbike. You’ll be able to see the date of each test, whether it passed or failed (including reasons for failure, defects and advisories), and also the mileage recorded at the time of the test – useful for spotting any mileage anomalies. You can also check to see if there have been any manufacturer recalls for the motorbike on this page.
Check what information the DVLA holds for the bike.
You can use the free service available at vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk to check what information is held on the vehicle by the DVLA, including when the logbook was last issued, the colour of the bike, engine size, year of manufacture, road tax status, and more. You’ll need the reg number to check.
Check a bike’s service history.
If possible, ask to see the service history of the motorbike. Physical motorbike service handbooks are typically now a thing of the past, but diligent owners will often keep a record of invoices evidencing any work done. You could also try contacting a relevant dealer and ask them to confirm if the bike has an age and mileage appropriate service history listed on their central manufacturer database.
Check the details on the V5 (like the VIN and engine number) match that of the bike, and the information held by the DVLA.
Check for a spare key
It can be problematic and costly to buy a used motorbike without a master and spare key. If these aren’t available, it could be an indication that the motorbike is stolen.
Can you check the history of a motorbike for free?
Many online vehicle history checkers will offer a free motorbike history check. These will typically rehash the information that is available for free from gov.uk websites, but you’ll usually have to pay more to access important information relating to outstanding finance, insurance claims and theft.
Free motorcycle VIN check
You can check a motorbike's VIN number for free with carVertical using the link below. You'll only receive very basic information from this, but will be able to see if the VIN matches the motorbike manufacturer. You can then decide if you want to pay for a full motorbike history check.
How much does the carVertical motorbike history check cost?
A motorbike history check with carVertical gets cheaper the more reports you purchase.
One motorcycle:£29.99 per report
Two motorcycles:£17.99 per report
Three motorcycles:£15.99 per report
Biker Insure customers qualify for a 20% discount from the above prices when using the link below:
Are there any carVertical voucher codes available?
Use code bikerinsure at the checkout for a 20% discount, or to automatically apply the voucher, click the above link.
Why carVertical and not another online motorbike history checker?
- carVertical provide global vehicle history reports, covering vehicles from multiple countries – not just the UK.
- A wide variety of international data sources is used, including government registries, insurance databases and more. Blockchain technology is also used to ensure data immutability and improve transparency.
- Artificial intelligence is used to detect damage from motorcycle photos. Even if there is no official record of damage to a bike, the AI technology can alert users to potential problems.
- Discover global accident history records, odometer readings, damage photos, and maintenance records.
Motorcycle history checking tools such as the one available from carVertical are undoubtedly an important part of due diligence when buying a used bike, and can help to reveal a motorbike’s hidden history, you should also always use your own judgement, experience and discernment. If unsure, walk away or enlist the help of an expert.
Personal experience from Mark H, Biker Insure founder:
Some years ago I was in the market for a used Yamaha R1. Having seen a lovely 03 model (in silver and black) advertised at a franchised dealer, I took the plunge and traded in my trusty old ZX7. The R1 appeared in mint condition.
It was only after a few rides that I realised the bike was pulling - only slightly, but very definitely, to the left. The issue was only noticeable when taking both hands off the handlebars (hence why a test ride hadn’t flagged any problems), but it wouldn’t track a straight line.
Concerned, I visited my trusted local motorcycle mechanic who confirmed that the bike wasn’t steering true, and also spotted a very slightly bent rear brake lever.
There was no damage on the footpegs, indicators, front brake levers, handlebars or bodywork. Presumably, the bike would have been history checked by the dealer when they bought it from the previous owner.
I didn’t ask to see the Yamaha’s history check, so took it on good faith that the dealer would have mentioned any anomalies had there been any on the report.
It’s possible the previous owner could have been in an accident involving only themselves, and elected to repair or replace any affected parts without informing their insurance. No record of the accident would therefore appear on any insurance database.
Despite the lack of visible damage and quality of repairs (apart from the brake lever which I hadn’t spotted), there was still evidently a hidden issue affecting the bike – and apparently unknown to the dealer.
Fortunately (despite some protestation), the dealer agreed for me to return the R1 and pick up my old ZX7.
Had the bike been bought privately, I would most likely have had no recourse.
Performing a check on a motorbike history will greatly improve your chances of buying a straight bike, but there could still be issues that remain hidden such as the example given above.
Even after you’ve checked the bike’s history, do your own thorough checks and trust your instincts for anything that doesn’t sound, look or feel quite right.
Motorbike history check FAQ's
How can I be sure the data is accurate and reliable?
carVertical access national registries, insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, official garages, and other institutions to gather relevant information about a motorbike's history.
In addition, blockchain technology is used to ensure data immutability.
Since their launch in 2019, carVertical has been trusted by over 1,800,000 people across 28 countries.
Is it just the UK history of a motorbike that's checked?
One of the advantages of using carVertical is that they provide global bike history reports covering motorbikes from multiple countries, not just the UK.
Because global accident history, odometer readings, damage photos, and maintenance records are run, it's easier to check the history of an imported motorbike.
Other motorbike history checkers don't always include non UK data, so if the bike has been imported (either with or without your knowledge), then you might not discover a hidden history before it's too late!
What is a motorcycle VIN number?
A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique 17 character number assigned to every motorbike that's manufactured. It's also sometimes called a chassis or frame number, and can usually be found found stamped on the headstock.
The VIN is also recorded on your motorcycle's V5 document.
Ready to check the history of your motorbike? Remember, there's 20% off for Biker Insure customers at carVertical using voucher code "bikerinsure" or click the link below for the discount to be applied automatically:
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