Compare / Vehicle Smart
Motorbook vs Vehicle Smart
Vehicle Smart is well known for instant plate checks and paid history reports. Motorbook is not trying to be a data marketplace. It keeps your cars, dates and history tidy, reminds you in good time, and never pushes insurance quotes or per-check upsells at you.
| Feature | Motorbook | Vehicle Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone & iPad | iPhone & Android |
| Official DVLA & DVSA data | Yes | Yes |
| Full MOT history & advisories | Yes | Yes |
| MOT & tax reminders | 30 days, 7 days, day of | MOT, tax and more |
| Apple Wallet pass | Customisable | No |
| Home screen widget | Yes | Not stated |
| Siri & shortcuts | Yes | Not stated |
| Document wallet | Yes | No |
| Service & cost log | Yes | Basic |
| Account required | None | Optional |
| Where your data lives | On your device | Account / cloud |
| Ads & upsells | None | Quotes & paid checks |
| Free tier | 1 vehicle, forever | Free, paid checks |
| Paid pricing | £9.99/yr or £24.99 once | Per-check & premium |
| One-off / lifetime option | £24.99 lifetime | Per-check charges |
Details for Vehicle Smart are based on its public App Store listing and website as of August 2026 and may have changed since. Spotted something out of date? Let us know and we will fix it.
When Vehicle Smart is the better pick
If your main need is a full vehicle background check, whether a car has been written off, stolen or has finance owing, Vehicle Smart does that and Motorbook does not. It is also on Android. For those one-off due-diligence checks before you buy, it is a solid tool.
Try Motorbook free.
Your first car is free forever. Add your reg, see your MOT and tax dates, and let the reminders do the remembering.
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