Why is it key to know a car’s history before buying it?
As a dealership, every buying decision has a direct impact on your profitability and reputation. Buying a car with hidden problems can lead to unforeseen costs, returns or even legal claims.
The most common risks include:
Tampered mileage
Undeclared serious accidents
Vehicles with liens, seizures or title retention
Professional use history (taxi, hire)
That is why having complete and reliable reports, such as those from the DGT and Carfax, is an essential tool in your buying process.
What does the DGT history offer?
The official report from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is a public and official source. It includes:
Details of current and previous ownership
History of MOTs and declared mileage
Administrative status (registered, deregistered, export)
Current liens or seizures
Number of owners
Date of first registration
Cost: low (less than €10)
How to request it: via the DGT online portal with the registration number or VIN
Limitation: it does not include details of accidents, repairs or maintenance history.
What does a Carfax report offer?
Carfax is a private company that gathers information from various sources (insurers, workshops, MOT stations, importers, etc.). Its report includes:
History of recorded accidents
Mileage readings over time
Maintenance history (if available)
Vehicle use (private, company, taxi, leasing)
Imports/exports
Advantage: ideal for imported cars or those with unclear history
Cost: medium (from €9.99 per report, volume discounts available)
DGT vs Carfax: a practical comparison
Feature | DGT report | Carfax report |
|---|---|---|
Ownership | ✅ | ✅ |
MOT | ✅ | ✅ |
Administrative charges | ✅ | ❌ |
Accidents | ❌ | ✅ (if reported) |
Historical mileage | Partial (MOT) | ✅ (more complete) |
Cost | Low (€) | Medium (€€) |
Official source | ✅ | ❌ (private company) |
How should you use these reports in your dealership?
Before buying: filter out problematic cars before investing money or time.
When negotiating: you can adjust the price if you spot details that affect value.
When selling: provide the report as part of the car’s file and strengthen transparency.
On your website or showroom: showing that the cars have verified history builds immediate trust.
Tip: combine both for a 360º view
The DGT report gives you legal security (liens, ownership, administrative status)
The Carfax report gives you a commercial and technical view of the vehicle’s past
For higher-risk transactions (imported vehicles, auction vehicles or high-value cars), combining both reports is the best decision.
Conclusion: decisions based on data, not intuition
Nowadays, the information is available. Not using it means taking on unnecessary risk. A £10 or £20 report can save you thousands in problems.
Using DGT and Carfax history not only protects your investment, it also positions you as a professional, transparent and reliable dealership.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When should I request a car’s history?
Before closing any purchase. Ideally, before negotiating the price.
Is the DGT report mandatory?
No, but it is highly recommended. Some transactions (such as finance agreements) require it.
Does Carfax work for UK cars?
Yes. Although it is more complete for imports, more and more UK workshops and insurers are sharing data with the platform.
🔗 Extra: Some platforms such as Dealcar allow you to integrate or link these reports to your dealership stock. Check whether it is available for you.
Why is it key to know a car’s history before buying it?
As a dealership, every buying decision has a direct impact on your profitability and reputation. Buying a car with hidden problems can lead to unforeseen costs, returns or even legal claims.
The most common risks include:
Tampered mileage
Undeclared serious accidents
Vehicles with liens, seizures or title retention
Professional use history (taxi, hire)
That is why having complete and reliable reports, such as those from the DGT and Carfax, is an essential tool in your buying process.
What does the DGT history offer?
The official report from the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is a public and official source. It includes:
Details of current and previous ownership
History of MOTs and declared mileage
Administrative status (registered, deregistered, export)
Current liens or seizures
Number of owners
Date of first registration
Cost: low (less than €10)
How to request it: via the DGT online portal with the registration number or VIN
Limitation: it does not include details of accidents, repairs or maintenance history.
What does a Carfax report offer?
Carfax is a private company that gathers information from various sources (insurers, workshops, MOT stations, importers, etc.). Its report includes:
History of recorded accidents
Mileage readings over time
Maintenance history (if available)
Vehicle use (private, company, taxi, leasing)
Imports/exports
Advantage: ideal for imported cars or those with unclear history
Cost: medium (from €9.99 per report, volume discounts available)
DGT vs Carfax: a practical comparison
Feature | DGT report | Carfax report |
|---|---|---|
Ownership | ✅ | ✅ |
MOT | ✅ | ✅ |
Administrative charges | ✅ | ❌ |
Accidents | ❌ | ✅ (if reported) |
Historical mileage | Partial (MOT) | ✅ (more complete) |
Cost | Low (€) | Medium (€€) |
Official source | ✅ | ❌ (private company) |
How should you use these reports in your dealership?
Before buying: filter out problematic cars before investing money or time.
When negotiating: you can adjust the price if you spot details that affect value.
When selling: provide the report as part of the car’s file and strengthen transparency.
On your website or showroom: showing that the cars have verified history builds immediate trust.
Tip: combine both for a 360º view
The DGT report gives you legal security (liens, ownership, administrative status)
The Carfax report gives you a commercial and technical view of the vehicle’s past
For higher-risk transactions (imported vehicles, auction vehicles or high-value cars), combining both reports is the best decision.
Conclusion: decisions based on data, not intuition
Nowadays, the information is available. Not using it means taking on unnecessary risk. A £10 or £20 report can save you thousands in problems.
Using DGT and Carfax history not only protects your investment, it also positions you as a professional, transparent and reliable dealership.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When should I request a car’s history?
Before closing any purchase. Ideally, before negotiating the price.
Is the DGT report mandatory?
No, but it is highly recommended. Some transactions (such as finance agreements) require it.
Does Carfax work for UK cars?
Yes. Although it is more complete for imports, more and more UK workshops and insurers are sharing data with the platform.
🔗 Extra: Some platforms such as Dealcar allow you to integrate or link these reports to your dealership stock. Check whether it is available for you.
