Is CarMate legit? Can you trust CarMate UK?
Short answer: yes. CarMate UK (car-mate.co.uk) is run by Moose Technologies Ltd, a registered UK company (Companies House 15681969, ICO ZC158178). Fair question to ask though, you're about to pay us to help with a big purchase. Here is exactly who we are, where our data comes from, what we do and don't do, and how to get your money back if you're not happy. No marketing, just the facts.
Who runs CarMate
You can verify the company on the Companies House register and the data protection registration on the ICO register.
Not to be confused with other CarMate brands
A few unrelated businesses around the world share a similar name, for example Car Mate Trailers in the US, the Car Mate OBD2 app, and CarMate NL. This page, and this service, refer only to CarMate UK at car-mate.co.uk, the used-car checking tool operated by Moose Technologies Ltd. We are not connected to any of those other companies or products.
What we are, and what we're not
What CarMate is
- An independent tool that helps you decide whether to buy a specific used car
- A way to read official DVLA, DVSA and Experian data in plain English
- A second opinion on price, risk and what to ask the seller
What CarMate is not
- We are not HPI, Auto Trader, DVLA, DVSA or Experian, we are independent and not affiliated with them
- We do not physically inspect the car or guarantee its condition
- We are not a substitute for viewing the car and an independent mechanic's inspection
Where our data comes from
Every report separates official records from our own analysis, so you always know what is verified fact and what is an estimate.
Want to see exactly what you get before paying?
View a sample reportPayments, refunds and no subscription
- No subscription, ever. CarMate is pay-as-you-go. You buy report credits in a single, one-off payment. There is no subscription, no free trial that converts, no auto-renewal and no continuous payment authority. We cannot take recurring payments from your card.
- Credits never expire. Buy one or buy a pack, they sit on your account until you use them. You only ever pay again if you choose to buy more.
- Payments are handled by Stripe. We never see or store your full card details.
- 30-day money-back guarantee. Not happy with a report, for any reason? Email support@car-mate.co.uk within 30 days and we refund you in full. No interrogation.
- Technical failures that stop a report generating are always refunded or re-credited.
What we can't promise
- A clear History Check means no marker was found at the time of checking. It is not a guarantee, records can be added or updated later.
- Pricing and condition analysis are informed estimates, not valuations or mechanical assessments.
- We can only analyse what is in the listing and the official records. We can't see hidden damage or undisclosed history.
- Always view the car in person and get an independent inspection before buying anything of significant value.
Common questions
Is a CarMate History Check as good as an HPI check?
On the recorded facts, yes. A CarMate History Check runs the same Experian provenance an HPI check does (outstanding finance, insurance write-off, stolen and mileage records) and is backed by a data guarantee, usually at a lower price. It also goes further than a plain data lookup by reading the actual listing and asking price and giving a buy-or-walk verdict, which HPI does not do.
Can I use CarMate on cars from Gumtree, eBay or Facebook?
Yes. CarMate works on any UK listing. Upload a screenshot or enter the registration (or paste a link), and it checks the car whether it is on Gumtree, eBay Motors, AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace, or a Copart or BCA auction lot. You are not limited to one marketplace.
How accurate is the price and deal score?
The official records (DVLA, DVSA MOT history and Experian provenance) are verified fact. The price benchmark and deal score are informed estimates, built from live market listings for the same spec plus the recorded data, and every report clearly separates the two. They are a strong second opinion, not a formal valuation or a mechanical inspection.
Does CarMate have a subscription or charge my card again?
No. Every purchase is a one-off charge through Stripe. There is no subscription, no auto-renewal and no continuous payment authority, so we cannot bill you again automatically. Credits never expire, and you only pay again if you choose to buy more.
Still unsure? Sign up and your first credit is free, no card needed.
Talk to a human
Questions, problems, or a refund request: email support@car-mate.co.uk. We typically reply within 24 hours on business days. For data protection enquiries, see our Privacy Policy, or contact the ICO if you're ever unhappy with how we handle your data.