Check a Car

MyPlateCheck

Check the car before you buy it.

Start with a free vehicle check, then go deeper only when you need to.

Run a Free Vehicle Check

DVLA vehicle information

Check the public vehicle record against the car you are viewing.

DVLA vehicle information is useful for confirming the basic identity and licensing details attached to a registration. It should match the advert, paperwork and vehicle in front of you.

UK registration lookupMOT & tax contextBuyer-focused reports

Confirm the vehicle identity

Compare the registration, make, colour, fuel type, engine information and other returned vehicle details with the advert and V5C. An unexplained mismatch should be resolved before you proceed.

Public data is the foundation, not the whole history

DVLA information is valuable but it is not a complete buyer-risk report. Outstanding finance, theft, insurance write-off and auction or salvage history require separate checks.

Use the record alongside the physical car

Check the VIN or chassis number, V5C, service records and physical condition as well as the registration lookup. A database result cannot confirm the quality of a repair or current mechanical condition.

How to use this information

MyPlateCheck combines available vehicle data into buyer-focused checks. Data can contain omissions or recording errors, so use it alongside the V5C and VIN, service history, seller evidence and a physical inspection. Resolve material inconsistencies before paying for a vehicle.

Learn before you buy

Guides related to this check.

Use these practical guides to understand what the data can mean and what to verify with the seller or vehicle.

Vehicle dataDVLA and DVSA Vehicle Data Explained for Car BuyersUnderstand the different jobs of DVLA and DVSA vehicle information and how public data fits into a wider used-car history check.Read guide →Finance & ownershipWhat Does a V5C Logbook Actually Prove?Understand what the V5C records, what it does not prove and why buyers should still check finance and vehicle identity.Read guide →Tax & DVLABuying a SORN Car: What Should You Check?What SORN means for collection, MOT, tax, insurance and condition when buying a vehicle that has been off the road.Read guide →

Questions buyers ask

Useful answers before you check.

Is MyPlateCheck the DVLA?+

No. MyPlateCheck is an independent vehicle-information service that presents available vehicle data in a buyer-focused format.

Can a DVLA check show outstanding finance?+

No. Outstanding finance requires a separate commercial history check.

What if the returned vehicle details do not match the advert?+

Ask the seller to explain the discrepancy and verify the V5C and VIN before progressing with the purchase.

Start with the registration

Check the vehicle before you commit.

Run the free vehicle check first, then choose deeper history checks if the purchase needs them.