Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about tracking your previous vehicles.
How does Previous Keeper work?
You enter the registration number of a car you once owned and we start watching for it. Every day we scan AutoTrader, eBay, PistonHeads and BidSpotter auctions, and we track the car's MOT, tax and SORN status through DVLA data so you can spot early signs it's being prepared for sale. When a listing matches your car's registration, you get an email straight away.
What happens if the number plate changes?
Private plates move between vehicles all the time. When you add a car, we look up all the previous registrations it has been on using DVLA-linked vehicle data. If the plate changes in the future, we can still identify the car by cross-referencing its history. This is our core advantage over simple saved searches that only match a single registration.
Which marketplaces do you scan?
Every day we scan AutoTrader, eBay, PistonHeads and BidSpotter auctions for your car. We're working on adding more marketplaces over time.
How do you know it's my car and not a lookalike?
Alerts are automatic, and only sent when the registration matches: from the advert itself, read from the number plate in the listing photos, or on AutoTrader from the partly hidden plate together with the car's make, model and year. A lookalike on its own isn't enough.
How quickly will I be notified?
We scan every morning, and the moment a scan finds your car we email you. For early signals like a sudden MOT pass or SORN being lifted, you'll hear from us when our daily DVLA check picks up the change.
Is my data secure?
Yes. We store your vehicle registrations securely and never share your personal data with third parties. We only use registration numbers to monitor publicly available marketplace listings and DVLA data. See our privacy policy for full details.
Can I track a car I don't currently own?
Absolutely, that is exactly what Previous Keeper is designed for. You track cars you used to own but have since sold. Enter the registration of any car that meant something to you and we will watch it for you.
How do you identify a car if the plate has changed?
When you add a vehicle, we use DVLA-linked data to retrieve the car's full registration history, including any previous plates it has been on, as well as its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). We use this information to match the car across marketplace listings even if the current registration is different from the one you remember. Marketplaces do not support searching by VIN directly, so we cross-reference multiple data points to identify the right vehicle.
How much does Previous Keeper cost?
Single is £29 a year for one car, Garage is £49 a year for up to 3 cars, and Collector is £99 a year for up to 10. There's also a free plan for one car, which covers MOT, tax and SORN alerts but doesn't include marketplace scanning. Less than half a tank of fuel to keep the memory alive.
Can the current owner see that I'm tracking their car?
No. Your tracking is completely private. The current owner has no way to know that a previous keeper is monitoring their vehicle. We only use publicly available data to watch for listings and DVLA changes.
What is the Owner Check feature?
Owner Check is a separate feature for current vehicle owners. If you currently own a car and want to know whether any previous keepers are looking for it, you can enter your registration on the Owner Check page. If there is a match, you can choose to connect with them directly. This is completely opt-in and does not reveal any tracking information unless the current owner actively checks.
Can I remove or swap a car in my garage?
Yes. You can remove a vehicle from your garage at any time. Each plan includes a limited number of swaps per billing period (1 swap on Single, 2 on Garage, 3 on Collector). After removing a car, there is a 30-day cooldown before that slot becomes available again. This prevents abuse while still giving you flexibility to update which cars you are tracking.
What if the car has been scrapped?
If DVLA records show the vehicle has been scrapped or exported, we will let you know. No point watching for a listing that will never appear. You can then remove it from your garage and free up a tracking slot.
Do you track cars outside the UK?
Currently, Previous Keeper only tracks vehicles registered in the UK and listed on UK marketplaces. We use DVLA data for MOT, tax, and keeper history, which is specific to the UK. International expansion is something we are exploring for the future.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel anytime from your account settings page. Your tracking will remain active until the end of your current billing period. No exit fees, no hassle.