How to check if your car has a recall
Use the DVSA’s free recall check on GOV.UK with your registration. Manufacturers recall cars for serious safety problems and usually fix them free, and you must not drive a car with a serious safety defect.
Updated 14 October 2026
Running the check
Search GOV.UK for "check vehicle recall" and enter the registration. Without it you can search by make, model and year instead. The same service covers parts and accessories such as child seats and tyres.
How owners are normally told
The manufacturer writes to the registered keeper and tells them what to do. That only works if the DVLA has your current address, which is a good reason to update it when you move.
Buying second-hand is where recalls get missed: the letter went to a previous owner. Check the registration once after you buy.
Who pays
The manufacturer has to fix or replace the faulty part, and you will not usually pay for the repair or the parts. Book it with a franchised dealer for the brand.
What a recall means for a car you are buying
An outstanding recall is not a reason to walk away, but it is a reason to ask whether it has been done. The dealer network can confirm from the VIN.
Safety recalls and other campaigns
A safety recall is for a defect that could cause injury: airbags, brakes, steering, fuel leaks, fire risk. You must not drive a car with a serious safety defect, and the recall letter says what to do in the meantime.
Manufacturers also run campaigns for problems that are not a safety risk, such as a software update for an engine management fault. Owners are told about these too, and they are worth doing because they often prevent a bigger bill later.
Parts and accessories
The same GOV.UK service covers things you fit yourself: child car seats, tyres, seat belts and similar. Search by the make and model of the part. Child seats are the one to check on any second-hand purchase, because a seat that was recalled years ago can still be on sale.
If you think a fault should be a recall
If you find a safety problem that you think affects other cars of the same model, report it to the DVSA, which investigates safety defects with manufacturers. Keep receipts, photos and the garage’s diagnosis.
Common questions
Is the recall check free?
Yes. It is a GOV.UK service run by the DVSA and needs only the registration.
Do I have to pay for recall work?
Usually not. The manufacturer must fix or replace the faulty part.
Can I drive a car with an outstanding recall?
Not if it is for a serious safety defect. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the recall letter.
Check any car before you buy it
MOT history, every advisory and the full mileage record are free for any UK registration. An Odomint Check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and salvage history, with a £10,000 data guarantee.