How to Check a Used Car Before Buying with Claude
Check a Used Car Before Buying with Claude and ToolRouter. Look up MOT history, inspection records, and recall status before purchase.
Tool
Use Claude with Vehicle Data to investigate a used car's history and get an interpreted verdict. Claude can read the MOT history, spot mileage inconsistencies, identify recurring advisory failures that suggest an underlying problem, and flag outstanding recalls — explaining what each finding actually means for the car's condition and your decision.
Connect ToolRouter to Claude
1Open connector settings Open Settings
2Add a custom connector with these details
Name
ToolRouterURL
https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp3Let Claude set you up Open Claude
Steps
Once connected (see setup above), use the Vehicle Data tool:
- Provide the registration plate of the car you are considering.
- Ask Claude to look up MOT history, plate data, inspection history, and recall status via `vehicle-data`.
- Ask Claude to flag any mileage discrepancies, recurring advisory failures, or outstanding recalls.
- Ask Claude to summarize whether this car looks like a sound purchase or whether the history raises concerns.
Example Prompt
Try this with Claude using the Vehicle Data tool
Use vehicle-data to check the history of this car: registration plate AB12 CDE. Run dvsa_mot, plate_lookup, inspection_history, and check_recalls. Flag any mileage discrepancies, recurring advisory failures, or outstanding recalls. Then give me a clear verdict: does the history suggest this is a sound car to buy or are there red flags I should ask the seller about?
Tips
- Look for mileage jumps or drops between consecutive MOT tests — these are the clearest sign of clocking.
- Recurring advisories for the same issue across multiple MOTs suggest the problem was never fixed.
- Check recall status even if the car has passed recent MOTs — recalls are manufacturer safety issues, not MOT items.