Number Plate Check - Free Vehicle Lookup by Registration

A number plate check (also called a registration plate check or vehicle enquiry) is a search of DVLA and DVSA databases using a UK vehicle registration number. It returns official information about the vehicle including its make, model, age, tax status, MOT status, mileage history, and test records. It is one of the most common checks performed before buying a used car.

A free number plate check reveals: the vehicle's make, model, colour, engine size, and fuel type; current tax status and expiry date; current MOT status and expiry date; full MOT test history from 2005 (pass/fail results, advisories, failure items); mileage readings at every MOT test; and CO2 emissions data. This information comes directly from DVLA and DVSA government records.

No. A number plate check using official DVLA and DVSA data covers registration details, tax status, MOT history, and mileage. An HPI check additionally searches insurance industry databases for finance outstanding, write-off markers (Category S or N), stolen vehicle status, and number plate change history. Our free number plate check covers the official government data — many buyers use this first before deciding whether to pay for a full HPI check.

Yes. Our number plate check works for any vehicle registered in Great Britain — cars, vans, motorcycles, motorhomes, and light goods vehicles. Enter the registration in any format; spaces are not required. Results are available instantly for any valid UK registration number in our database.

Our number plate check pulls data directly from official DVLA and DVSA databases, so the information is as accurate as the government records. MOT history is particularly comprehensive, with records going back to 2005. The one limitation is that the DVLA record depends on the previous owner having updated it correctly — which is why cross-referencing the registration with the V5C logbook document when viewing a car in person is always recommended.