Green Flag One Check Terms Explained

Our glossary includes the most common words and phrases you’re likely to encounter on our full car history check, and provides a definition, to help you understand the Green Flag One Check.

• Stolen (Police and Insurance)
• Colour Changes
• Import History
• Export History
• Economy
• Mileage Check/Issues
• MOT
• Outstanding Finance
• Plate Changes
• Scrapped
• Written Off
• Condition Inspected
• Safety Recalls
• Valuation
• Vehicle Ownership
• VIN Match
• V5C

STOLEN (POLICE AND INSURANCE)

• Insurance: If a car has been stolen, the insurance company will usually put a marker against the car. Purchasing a stolen vehicle will ultimately result in the vehicle being repossessed by the insurance company and a loss of any money paid out for the vehicle.
• Police: On top of vehicle recorded stolen by insurers, the Police have a database of all currently stolen vehicles. If a vehicle appears on this list you should stay well clear of it. Purchasing a vehicle on this list will ultimately result in you losing the vehicle, with a high chance or no refund.

COLOUR CHANGES

A colour change indicates if a vehicle has had any changes in colour previously. This will be outlined on your One Check report as either ‘Pass’ or ‘Warning’. This is important because it could mean the vehicle was involved in a substantial accident or even cloning. 

IMPORT HISTORY

Imported vehicles cost more compared to vehicles bought in the UK, from insurance, to spare parts and servicing, an imported vehicle should be bought with caution and could save more than expected.  

There are three categories of imported vehicles found in the UK: 

• Parallel Import - A vehicle that has been built in the EU and imported to the UK.
• Grey Import - A non-standard model that’s never been sold in the EU or UK - often American or Japanese ‘specialist’ vehicles. 
• Personal Import - A vehicle that has been imported by an individual rather than a vehicle import agent.

EXPORT HISTORY

Once a vehicle has been marked as ‘exported’ by the DVLA, the vehicle should not be in the country. If you discover that the vehicle you want to buy is exported, it’s recommended by the DVLA that you avoid buying it and to contact them first. 

ECONOMY

A vehicle’s fuel economy is how far your vehicle can go using a specific amount of fuel. Measured in miles per gallon, the higher its MPG, the more economically friendly it is which can have a real impact on expenses.

MILEAGE CHECK/ ISSUES

Sometimes the milage of a vehicle will be modified in order to make the vehicle appear less used than it really is, and therefore make it more valuable. This is illegal. 

MOT

MOT stands for Ministry of Transport and is an annual inspection that makes sure a vehicle meets environmental and road safety standards.

OUTSTANDING FINANCE

In partnership with Experian, we check whether or not the vehicle has outstanding finance. You must make sure that before you buy a car any outstanding finance is cleared by the current keeper. If a vehicle has outstanding finance we will show you the finance provider so you can contact them and ask them any questions you may have.

PLATE CHANGES

This indicates whether a vehicle has had a legitimate registration plate change since April 1990. These changes are commonly made to either personalise a vehicle or to hide a vehicle’s history. 

ROAD TAX

Road Tax, or Car Tax as it is otherwise known, is a tax which has to be paid on, or included with, a motorised vehicle to use it on a public road. Paid by drivers every year, Road Tax is paid directly into the central government fund which is used for projects such as road work and maintenance. 

SALVAGE HISTORY

Will tell you whether the vehicle you’re buying has been damaged in the past and sold at a salvage auction. This check ensures that the vehicle you’re buying is safe and legal to drive. 

SCRAPPED

A vehicle that has been classed as ‘scrapped’ means it has been permanently removed from the road and cannot legally be driven or used. Please note that a scrapped car is different to a written-off car as it has not been repaired whereas a written-off vehicle can be on occasion.

WRITTEN OFF

This is a term for a vehicle that has either: sustained so much damage its unsafe to go back on the road, or has been stolen and not recovered. For vehicles that have been written off, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) provide one of the following insurer damage classifications which would be shown on a One Check:

Category A - Cannot be repaired, entire vehicle has to be crushed.

Category B - Cannot be repaired, body shell has to be crushed, but you can salvage other parts from it.

Category C -  Can be repaired, but it would cost more than the vehicle's worth.

Category D - Vehicle is damaged but repairable.

Category N - Repairable non-structural damage.

Category  S - Can be repaired following structural damage.

CONDITION INSPECTED

This warns that a vehicle has been subject to a ‘write-off’ because of damage or because it has been stolen and not recovered. See ‘Written Off’ for more information on damage classifications.

SAFETY RECALLS

If your vehicle's manufacturer issues a safety recall due to a defective part or accessory, the details of the recall will be included in your report. The vehicle manufacturer will usually fix any depicts in the list for free, and it may be the case that you should not drive the vehicle until it is inspected or fixed.

VALUATION

This informs you what the market value of the vehicle you want to buy is. Please note: the valuation provided is based on the value of your chosen model, not the actual vehicle being checked and therefore may vary.

VEHICLE OWNERSHIP

It is a common misconception that the registered keeper of a vehicle is the legal owner of the vehicle. In fact, the registered keeper is the person who is using the vehicle and keeping it, which can sometime be different to the owner of the vehicle or the person who is responsible for paying for it.

VIN

A VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a 17-digit number stamped into the chassis of a car that serves as the car’s unique identity code and therefore cannot be changed.

V5C

A V5C, also known as a ‘log book’ is a paper document issued the DVLA to the registered keeper of a vehicle. A V5C confirms the vehicles details, such as the number plate, the make and model and the contact details of the registered keeper.

HPI

Looking for information about HPI? Read our handy What is HPI guide for answers.