Data sources
Figures updated
Every figure on CarComparison comes from an official or primary source. Where a figure isn't published, we leave it blank rather than estimate it. Here's what we use, what for, and how current it is.
| Source | What we use it for | How current | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| DVSA MOT History API | Number-plate checks: vehicle details, MOT results, mileage and advisories | Live, when you search | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| DVLA vehicle tax check on GOV.UK | We link to it for tax status | Live | GOV.UK |
| GOV.UK, Transport for London and Transport Scotland | Clean air and low emission zone rules | When a zone changes | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results | MOT Reliability League, reliability scores, common faults, failure rates by age | Yearly. Currently 2024 tests, processed 29 September 2026 | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data | Official MPG, CO2, electric range and the versions of each model | Yearly booklets 2004–2025, processed 30 September 2026 | © Crown copyright; VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy |
| Manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists | New prices, boot space, dimensions, seats, power and 0–62mph | Checked against each maker's latest UK price list; newest October 2026. Each model's page links its sources | Facts quoted with a link to the source |
| Euro NCAP | Safety star ratings and the year tested | When a model is tested | Facts quoted with a link to the source |
| GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme | Pump prices at every forecourt, the UK Pump Price Index and running costs | Every 30 minutes | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Octopus Energy public API | Home electricity tariffs, EV charging costs and Agile prices | Every 15 minutes. We're not affiliated with Octopus Energy | Public API |
| GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables | Car tax (VED) on every page and the car tax calculator | Each April, and after every Budget | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| HMRC rates and allowances | Company car tax, National Insurance, salary sacrifice and mileage rates | Each tax year | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Car photos | Per photo | Creative Commons or public domain; each photo is credited where it appears |
| postcodes.io | Turning a postcode into a location or electricity region | As published | ONS and Ordnance Survey open data; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right |
We check tax rates and rules at least every quarter and after every Budget. How we turn MOT tests into a reliability score is set out in our method.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.