What ‘Exported’ means on a Vehicle History Report

An exported warning on your vehicle history report is a major red flag. If you’re pressed for time, here’s the short answer: don’t buy it. If you want more info about the exported warning from the DVLA, read on:

• Pass - Great news! This car is allowed to be in the country. It’s not been marked as exported and, provided everything else is fine, you should proceed with the purchase. Here is what a passing report for exports looks like.
• Fail -  Stop. Do not proceed. This car should not be in the country. You do not want to purchase a vehicle that is marked as exported. An example of this failing result is here.

What Happens If You Buy an Exported Car?

You may be thinking, “this is a mistake. The buyer says it’s clear.” Well, when a car is imported into the UK, that flag replaces the export flag. So, there are two options: something is very wrong with the records for this car or it’s illegally in the country. I.e. never officially imported. When you bring a vehicle to or back to the country, it must be registered. Regardless of what is going on with this particular vehicle, the owner needs to rectify it before the sale. Never purchase a car that’s registered as exported. You will not be able to insure it. You’ll also be stuck with it since you won’t be able to legally sell it on.

Should you buy an exported car?

No. Never. If the buyer says it’s a paperwork issue, make sure they fix it before you purchase the car. You don’t want to inherit the headache. There are a lot of rules related to taking a car out of the UK and bringing one back. If a car is still marked as exported, it’s likely the proper steps have not been followed and there could be VAT due on the vehicle or other issues. You should approach with caution. Until the flag changes to PASS for vehicle export, you won’t be able to insure, sell or drive the vehicle at all. It’s just not worth it. So buy smart and pass on any exported vehicles.

Each time you consider purchasing a new used car, a car history check should be your first step. We’re here to help with your check, just chat to us here.