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Check a Car by Number Plate

Enter a reg plate to instantly find a vehicle’s MOT, tax, mileage, and more.
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Vehicle check report on a phone for Ford Focus RS showing 'PASS' and no issues like finance, theft, or imports, with green ticks.
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What Is a Number Plate Check?

A number plate check lets you look up a vehicle's details using just its registration plate. Use our free reg plate checker to view MOT records, road tax status, mileage, and more. To unlock accident history, finance checks, and stolen alerts, upgrade to our full vehicle history check.

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Vehicle Reg Plate Check

Enter a number plate to find details like make, model, engine size, emissions, and registration date.

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Check MOT & Tax Instantly

Quickly confirm if a car is taxed and has a valid MOT certificate.

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Get Full History (Optional)

Upgrade to view finance records, previous write-offs, and stolen vehicle reports.

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Mileage and Ownership

Spot mileage fraud and see how many owners the vehicle has had.

Phone displaying car number plate check with MOT and tax status in green ticks
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How Do I Look Up a Car by Number Plate?

Our tool makes it easy to find a car using a number plate. Just enter the reg and get instant access to key vehicle details.

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Locate the Reg Plate

Use the number plate on the vehicle or check the logbook (V5C document).

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Enter the Plate Number

Type the number plate into our car reg plate check tool and click 'Check Plate'.

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See Instant Results

Get real-time access to MOT, tax, mileage, and ULEZ status in seconds.

Rated 4.9 'Excellent' on Trustpilot

Very pleased with the report on the car that we had purchased. It was detailed and covered all the information on the history of the car from new to the present day

Saved my a**! The car was a write out - and being sold as premium low mileage!

Easy to use website. Fast results.

The car history check is a must if your buying a second hand car which I was recently contemplating. The car owl check flagged a red warning so I declined the purchase. Well worth the money, thankyou.

Great product, service & price

I nearly bought a car that looked perfect—until Car Owl flagged it as a write-off. Dodged a huge expense!

Great service told me everything I needed to know about a car.

Does what it says, provided me with a full history report for a car I wanted to buy. Quick and easy. Will use again in the future

Easily the best online history checker I've used. The report told me everything I needed to know about the car I was going to buy for my daughter as she's just past her test and was looking for a second hand car. This service is easy for old folk like myself looking for a simple way to check over cars before purchasing.

The customer service was very good and very responsive. They also gave a lot of suggestions for selling the car as the deal was not successful.

Quick response from a member called Milly. Very helpful and polite and explained the process throughout.

It's great, and it's free. No hassle sale. Thanks once again.

Listed my car within the first hour got an offer I was happy with. Buyer accepted same day. Overall 5/5 exceptional service and I have recommended to friends and family.

Was referred by a friend. Easy to use and friendly support. Sold my Toyota Aygo through car owl and didn't have to pay any fee. Thankyou and good luck in the future!

Great service, easy to use. Got a price I was happy with buyer collected next day. Can’t fault it, Will use again.

Very easy process, uploaded my car details along with service history and received an offer I was happy with. After accepting the offer the buyers details were presented to me, gave them a quick call and arranged for my car to be collected next day. Very straight forward.

Great website and cheap fees!

I can highly recommend Car Owl. I received the best price for my car and the whole experience was quick and seamless. I had brilliant and professional service from start to finish.

Thanks. Helpful support team, got a great price for my car. Recommend.

Very good experience both times. Very easy platform to use and the customer service was great both times. Highly recommend.

My experience with Car Owl was very easy, received offers I was happy with and sold it the next day. Really great service and quick. Would recommend.

Was recommended by a friend, easy to use and got the price I wanted! Would recommend. Helpful support team, the dealer which won my car was fully verified and very friendly when collecting my car. Thanks once again!

Made selling my Hyundai very easy. My car was accepting offers quickly I received offers from dealers quickly, sold within 3 days. A+ would highly recommend.

I was initially skeptical about selling my car online, but Car Owl made it so easy. The team was supportive, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quick response from potential buyers. A fantastic experience overall!

Selling my car with Car Owl was a great decision. The platform is user-friendly, and the process is transparent. I submitted my car details, and within a few hours, I received multiple offers from verified dealers. The team at Car Owl was very supportive and guided me through the entire process. I was able to compare offers and choose the best one for my car. The transaction was smooth, and I received payment promptly. I would definitely use Car Owl again in the future.

I recently sold my car through Car Owl, and I must say, the experience was fantastic. The process was straightforward, and the staff were very helpful. They connected me with verified dealers who offered competitive prices for my car. I didn't have to worry about haggling or dealing with time-wasters. Car Owl took care of everything, and I got a fair price for my car. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking to sell their car quickly and easily.

I recently used Car Owl to sell my car and had a great experience. The process was simple and straightforward. I just had to enter my car's registration number, fill out a few details, and upload some photos of the vehicle. Within a few hours, my car was approved and I began receiving offers from verified UK car dealers. I was impressed by the variety of offers I received and the transparency of the process. I was able to compare offers and choose the one that was best for me. The best part of it was that it was all done online, and I didn't have to deal with any middlemen or haggling. I would highly recommend Car Owl to anyone looking to sell their car quickly and easily.

Great customer service team and such a conveniently quick way to sell your car.

This was a quick and convenient way to sell my car. Great experience from start to finish!

Very easy to sell my car, dealer came next day, payment was instant, would recommend.

A big thank you! I’ve sold a few cars in my life but this is far and away the easiest I’ve ever found it! Highly recommend you give them a go 👌

Got recommended by a friend. Wasn’t expecting it to be as quick and convenient as it was, couldn’t have gone better for me. Will definitely come back if I ever need to sell again.

Very easy way to sell your car. Convenient & simple to use.

Recommended by a family member. Was very easy to use, highly recommended!

Very user-friendly! Definitely recommend if you are looking to buy or sell a car.

Out of all the options by far the easiest! Top service, cheers.

Very positive, Fast response, and really easy navigating the website. I would highly recommend this to anyone, finally got the audi a3 that I've dreamed of.

Amazing service, prompt response, reliable and all round great company. Couldn’t recommend enough.

Great service. User-friendly.

It's great. Much easier to use than motorway.

A fresh approach to buying and selling any car.

Simple & straight forward, all that is wanted when selling your car.

Thought I’d give carowl ago after a friend’s recommendation. Grateful I did! Such an easy process and a brilliant result. Try it..you won’t be disappointed!

Simple and easy to list your car, very quickly did I have dealers bidding on my car. Will be recommending to friends and family.

Really good to buy stock as a dealer. Easy to communicate with the seller.

I put my car on carowl after struggling to find anyone to buy it myself. I had a quite few offers within the first few days and sold not too soon afterwards at a price I was happy with. I just wish I put it on carowl sooner.

Number Plate Check FAQs

Looking to find a vehicle by number plate? These questions explain how our reg plate checker works and what it can show you.

How can I check a car by number plate?

Use our free vehicle registration plate check to instantly see MOT history, tax status, mileage, and more. Just enter the reg and we’ll show you the results.

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Black car parked in a driveway with an MOT logo overlay

What does a car reg plate check show?

A number plate check shows MOT dates, mileage history, tax status, and key vehicle details like engine size, fuel type, and CO2 output.

Can I find a vehicle by number plate for free?

Yes, our reg plate checker is completely free for basic details. For in-depth info like finance, theft, or accident history, you can upgrade to a full check.

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Why Run a Car Reg Plate Check?

Before buying a used car, always run a number plate check to avoid hidden issues. It helps you confirm vehicle details and spot any red flags before committing.

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Avoid Buying Stolen Cars

Our car reg plate search will flag vehicles reported as stolen.

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Check for Finance Agreements

Make sure the car isn’t still under finance with unpaid debt attached.

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See Past Accidents

A full plate check reveals insurance write-offs and major damage history.

Free Vehicle Registration Plate Check

Fast, Free & Accurate

Search for a car by number plate and get MOT, tax, and key vehicle details instantly. It’s fast, reliable, and free to use.

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Search by Number Plate

Find a vehicle by number plate and access real-time data with our car reg plate check tool.

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Free Unlimited Plate Lookups

Run as many checks as you need — our reg plate checker is always free for basic information.

Start Your Free Number Plate Check

Enter a vehicle reg plate to see MOT history, mileage records, tax status, and more — all in seconds.

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FAQs About Number Plate Checks

How do I check a car by number plate?

You can check a car by entering its number plate into our free lookup tool. You'll instantly see MOT status, mileage, tax details, and more.

Can I find a car using a number plate?

Yes, our tool allows you to find a vehicle by number plate. Just enter the reg to access official records pulled from trusted UK data sources.

Is this reg plate checker free to use?

Absolutely. You can check the plate number for free and view basic details like MOT history, tax status, and mileage. There's no signup required.

What details does a car reg plate check show?

A vehicle reg plate check shows MOT dates, mileage records, road tax status, CO2 emissions, fuel type, engine size, and more. It’s a fast way to learn about any car.

Can I search for a car by number plate in the UK?

Yes, our tool is designed for UK vehicles. You can search for a car by number plate and get instant results based on DVLA and MOT data.

How accurate is your number plate checker?

We use official UK government sources like DVLA and MOT databases, so the data is up-to-date, reliable, and accurate.

Can I use this tool to check the car register?

Yes. Our tool checks the car register and lets you view key details using just the registration plate. It’s ideal for buyers and sellers alike.

What does 'vehicle registration plate check' mean?

It means using the reg number to look up a vehicle’s public records. You can see its condition, history, and legality — all in one place.

Is it possible to look up a stolen vehicle by number plate?

Yes. With a full history check upgrade, you can see if the car has been reported stolen, written off, or involved in fraud.

Can I run a car reg plate search on any type of vehicle?

Yes. You can search for any UK-registered car, van, or motorcycle — as long as it has a valid registration plate.