Check a Licence Plate Instantly
Enter a licence plate number to get MOT status, tax info, mileage history, and more in seconds.

The basics
What Is a Licence Plate Check?
A licence plate check lets you view key details about a car using its plate number. Use our free car licence plate checker to access MOT history, tax status, and mileage records. Want to see finance, write-off or theft data? Upgrade to a full vehicle history check.
Check Car Plates
Enter a plate to see the vehicle’s make, model, fuel type, CO2 rating, and more.
MOT & Tax Lookup
Check if the vehicle has valid MOT and tax before you buy.
Unlock Full History (Optional)
Upgrade to see if the car is financed, written off, or reported stolen.
Mileage & Ownership Data
See how many owners the car had and check for mileage tampering.
Anatomy of a plate
What a licence plate tells you before you check it
Tap any block. The two digits in the middle are the half-year the car was first registered, and they are the quickest way to catch a listing describing a car as newer than it is.
First two letters
Local memory tag
The first letter is the region the vehicle was first registered in and the second narrows it to a DVLA office. It records where the plate was issued, not where the vehicle lives now, so it tells you nothing about the current owner.
- Code
- TW
- Region
- Not a standard memory tag
- Identifies
- The DVLA office that issued it
- Changes on resale
- No, the plate keeps its original tag
The two digits
Age identifier
The two digits are the half-year the vehicle was first registered. March to August uses the year itself. September to February adds 50, which is why a 69 plate is a 2019 vehicle and not a 1969 one.
- Code
- 17
- First registered
- March to August 2017
- Changes each
- 1 March and 1 September
- Watch for
- A private plate hiding the real age
Last three letters
Random letters
Three letters chosen at random to make the registration unique. They carry no meaning at all, and combinations that could spell something offensive are withheld before the series is released.
- Code
- TWO
- Meaning
- None, deliberately
- Never used
- I, Q and Z, to avoid misreading
- Purpose
- Makes the registration unique
This format has been used on every new UK registration since September 2001. It applies to cars, vans and motorbikes alike. Older plates follow different schemes, and a private plate can hide a vehicle's age entirely.
Step by step
How Do I Check a Licence Plate?
Enter a car’s licence plate number into our tool to instantly view MOT history, mileage, road tax, and more, all for free.
- Plate Confirmed
- MOT Valid
- Taxed
- Year
- 2019
- Colour
- Blue
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Engine
- 1,997 cc
Find the Licence Plate
Look at the plate on the vehicle or find it on the logbook (V5C document).
Enter the Plate Number
Type the number into our car check licence plate tool and click 'Check'.
Get Instant Results
We’ll instantly return the car’s MOT status, mileage, tax status and more.
Inside the report
And what the plate cannot tell you
Age and issuing office are printed on the plate itself. Finance, theft and write-off records are not, and those are the ones that decide whether a car is safe to buy.
Is the vehicle still on finance?
If a lender still has an interest in the vehicle, they can repossess it from your driveway. The seller keeps your money.
- Searched against
- The UK finance register
- Agreement types
- PCP, HP, lease, unit stocking
- Report shows
- Agreement type, date and status
- Recorded by
- The lender, not the seller
Source: UK Finance Register
Has it been written off?
Insurers record a category when a vehicle is damaged badly enough to be uneconomical to repair. Cat S and Cat N vehicles can legally return to the road.
- Searched against
- MIAFTR, the insurance loss register
- Categories covered
- A, B, C, D, S and N
- Report shows
- Category, and the date of loss
- Also covered
- Salvage and total-loss records
Source: MIAFTR
Does the mileage add up?
Every MOT reading is on record. A reading that goes down, or a jump that does not fit the pattern, is the clearest sign of a clocked vehicle.
- Readings used
- Every MOT reading on file
- Looking for
- Readings that fall, or jump
- Report shows
- The full run of readings, in order
- Also covered
- Average miles a year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is it recorded as stolen?
A car reported stolen and never recovered stays flagged on the Police National Computer. Buying one means losing the vehicle and the money.
- Searched against
- The Police National Computer
- Marker covers
- Vehicles reported and not recovered
- Report shows
- Whether a theft marker is held
- Also covered
- The vehicle's registration status
Source: Police National Computer
How many hands has it passed through?
Frequent keeper changes can mean a problem car being passed along. The V5C record shows every change of keeper since first registration.
- Source record
- The DVLA keeper record
- Report shows
- How many keepers it has had
- Dates given
- First registration and last change
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
Has it crossed a border?
An import can be fine, but it changes the history you should expect to find, and an exported marker on a vehicle still being sold here is a red flag.
- Markers checked
- Imported and exported
- Covers
- Vehicles first registered abroad
- Report shows
- Which marker is held, and when
- Also covered
- Whether UK history starts late
Source: DVLA
Has it been scrapped?
A certificate of destruction means the vehicle should not exist on the road. Vehicles with cloned plates borrow the identity of scrapped vehicles.
- Markers checked
- Scrapped, and destroyed
- Covers
- Certificates of destruction
- Report shows
- Whether the record was closed, and when
- Also covered
- Whether the VIN matches the record
Source: DVLA
Has the plate been changed?
Plate changes are legal and common, but they are also how a past identity gets buried. The full history lists every registration the vehicle has worn.
- Source record
- The DVLA registration record
- Report shows
- Every plate the vehicle has worn
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- Personalised plates added and removed
Source: DVLA
What does the MOT record say?
Every test, pass, failure and advisory since the vehicle's third year. Advisories are the useful part: they are a mechanic telling you what was already wearing out.
- Tests listed
- Every test on record
- Report shows
- Result, date and mileage for each
- Also covered
- Advisories and reasons for failure
- Goes back to
- The vehicle's third year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is there an outstanding safety recall?
Manufacturers issue recalls when a fault could be dangerous. The work is free, but it only happens if somebody books it in, and a recall can sit unactioned for years.
- Searched against
- The DVSA recalls database
- Report shows
- Recalls affecting this vehicle
- Also covered
- Recall history for the model
- Cost to put right
- Free, at a franchised dealer
Source: DVSA recalls database
Has it been resprayed?
A recorded colour change can be a personal choice. It can also be how accident repairs or a previous identity stop being obvious at a glance.
- Source record
- The DVLA vehicle record
- Report shows
- Every recorded colour change
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- The colour at first registration
Source: DVLA
Does the vehicle match its paperwork?
The VIN on the vehicle should match the one on the record. When it does not, you are looking at a cloned or altered identity, and everything else in the history belongs to a different car.
- Compared
- The VIN against the DVLA record
- Report shows
- Whether plate, VIN and record agree
- Catches
- Cloned and altered identities
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
What will it cost to tax?
The rate depends on emissions and registration date, and the difference between bands is large enough to change which vehicle you should buy.
- Source record
- The DVLA tax record
- Report shows
- Tax status, and the date it runs out
- Rate given
- The annual rate for this vehicle
- Based on
- Emissions and registration date
Source: DVLA
What is actually under the bonnet?
Engine size, power, fuel type and economy, taken from the manufacturer record rather than the advert. Useful for checking a listing describes the vehicle it is actually selling.
- Taken from
- The manufacturer record
- Report shows
- Engine size, power and fuel type
- Also covered
- Economy, emissions and gearbox
- Useful for
- Checking the advert is accurate
Source: Manufacturer data
What will it cost to keep?
Fuel, servicing, insurance group and tax in one place, so the monthly cost of owning the vehicle is visible before you commit to it rather than after.
- Report shows
- Fuel, tax, insurance and servicing
- Fuel worked out from
- The vehicle's own economy figures
- Adjustable
- By the mileage you actually drive
- Also covered
- Typical service and MOT costs
Source: Car Owl running-cost model
What will it be worth later?
What the vehicle is worth now and what it is likely to be worth in three years. Depreciation is usually the largest single cost of owning a vehicle, and the easiest one to ignore.
- Report shows
- What the vehicle is worth today
- Ranges given
- Private sale and trade
- Projected to
- Three years ahead
- Based on
- Age, mileage and market data
Source: Car Owl valuation model
What has happened to this vehicle?
Keeper changes, MOT tests, mileage readings and plate changes on one timeline. Patterns that are invisible in a list of dates tend to be obvious once they are in order.
- Events shown
- Keepers, MOTs, mileage and plates
- Ordered by
- Date, from first registration
- Also covered
- Stretches with no record at all
- Drawn from
- DVLA and DVSA records
Source: DVLA and DVSA records
What should you check in person?
A checklist built around this specific car, including what its own MOT advisories say to look at. It turns a viewing into something you can work through rather than guess at.
- Built from
- This car's own MOT advisories
- Also built from
- Known faults for the model
- Report shows
- What to check, in viewing order
- Includes
- Questions to ask the seller
Source: Car Owl
Also in every full report: VIC marker · Unpaid loan records · Common faults and typical repair costs · Fuel cost calculator · Priority support · Money-back promise
Answered
Licence Plate Check FAQs
Looking to check a car by licence plate? Here’s everything you need to know about running a quick and accurate plate check in the UK.
How do I check a licence plate number?
Just enter the licence plate into our online tool. You’ll instantly see MOT history, mileage records, road tax status, and more.
Can I check car plates for free?
Yes. Our free licence check plate service gives you access to key details at no cost. Upgrade if you want to see theft or finance records.
Is this a DVLA licence plate check?
Yes, we use data from DVLA, MOT history, and other official UK sources. It’s fast, free, and reliable.
Why it matters
Why Use a Car Licence Plate Checker?
Checking a licence plate before buying helps you avoid problems like unpaid finance, mileage fraud, or stolen vehicles. Always run a licence plate check for peace of mind.
Avoid Stolen Vehicles
Upgrade to find out if the licence plate is linked to a stolen vehicle.
Check for Finance
Make sure the car isn’t under finance or lease agreements.
Spot Previous Damage
A full check will show write-offs, total losses, and repair history.
At a glance
Free Licence Plate Check UK
Fast, Free & Accurate Lookup
Check a car licence plate online and get MOT, mileage, tax, ULEZ, and vehicle specs in seconds. Use our free tool to check licence plate numbers anytime.
Search by Licence Plate
Run a car check by licence plate and get instant data pulled from trusted UK sources.
Free Unlimited Checks
You can check as many licence plates as you need, our free tool never limits basic lookups.
Still unsure?
Frequently Asked Questions About Licence Plate Checks
How do I check a licence plate?
Simply enter the licence plate number into our online checker. You'll instantly see MOT status, tax details, mileage records, and more.
Is this a license plate check with DVLA data?
Yes. We use trusted sources like the DVLA and MOT databases to give you accurate, real-time vehicle data based on the licence plate.
Can I check car plates for free?
Yes. You can check car plates at no cost with our free tool. See MOT dates, tax status, mileage, and key vehicle specs instantly.
What details can I get from a licence plate check?
A licence plate check gives you info like MOT history, mileage records, tax expiry, fuel type, engine size, and more. Upgrade for finance and theft data.
Can I check a car license plate from the US?
This tool is built for UK-registered vehicles. If you're in the UK, just enter a valid plate. For US plates, results may be limited.
Is this tool safe to use?
Yes. We don’t store your search history or licence plate data. It’s a secure and trusted tool used by thousands across the UK.
Can I run a licence plate check on any vehicle?
Yes. You can check any UK-registered vehicle, cars, vans, motorcycles, as long as the licence plate is valid and current.
Why should I check a car by licence plate before buying?
It helps you avoid hidden problems like expired MOT, missing tax, mileage fraud, or even a stolen car. It’s a must before buying used.
What is a licence check plate?
It means using the vehicle's registration number (licence plate) to pull key information from official records. Our tool makes this simple and fast.
Can I check multiple licence plates for free?
Yes. You can run as many free checks as you like to compare vehicles. Just enter each plate number one at a time.
