Vehicle Lookup by Reg
Find a car by reg number and view MOT history, tax status, mileage, and more in seconds.

The basics
What Is a Car Reg Lookup?
A car reg lookup lets you find a vehicle using its UK registration number. With our free tool, you can search by reg and instantly view MOT records, mileage, tax status, and vehicle details. For a full report including finance and write-offs, upgrade here.
Find a Vehicle by Reg
Look up any UK-registered car and get key details like make, model, fuel type, and engine size.
Check MOT & Tax Status
Quickly confirm if the vehicle is taxed and MOT'd before making a purchase.
Upgrade for Full History
Unlock deeper data like finance agreements, previous accidents, and ownership changes.
Mileage & Ownership
See the mileage history and how many previous owners the car has had.
Inside the report
What a lookup gives you before you commit
Start on the finance record, then work across the panels that decide whether a car is worth your time. Nothing here is hidden behind a sign-up.
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 · 100% money-back guarantee
Step by step
How Do I Look Up a Vehicle by Reg?
Looking up a car by reg is fast and easy. Just enter the registration number to view all the essential information instantly.
- Details Found
- MOT Valid
- Taxed
- Year
- 2019
- Colour
- Blue
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Engine
- 1,997 cc
Get the Reg Number
You can find the reg on the number plate, logbook (V5C), or any insurance document.
Enter the Reg Online
Use our UK reg search tool to enter the registration number and click 'Search'.
Get Instant Results
Within seconds, see the car's MOT status, mileage, tax status, engine size, and more.
Answered
Car Reg Lookup FAQs
Trying to find a vehicle using its reg number? Here are answers to the most common questions about our UK registration lookup tool.
What is a car reg lookup?
It’s a simple way to find a vehicle’s history by entering its registration number. You’ll get MOT dates, mileage, tax status and more.
Can I find a vehicle by reg for free?
Yes. Our car lookup by reg tool is completely free for basic details. No account needed. Just enter the plate and go.
Is this a UK registration lookup tool?
Yes. It’s designed specifically for UK-registered vehicles using real-time data from DVLA, MOT, and tax databases.
Why it matters
Why Use a Vehicle Lookup Tool?
Whether buying or verifying a car, a UK reg search helps you check the essentials in seconds. Avoid scams and buy with confidence using our free lookup tool.
Spot Stolen Vehicles
Upgrade to check if a car has been flagged as stolen or involved in crime.
Uncover Finance Agreements
Make sure the vehicle isn’t still owned by a lender. Finance issues can lead to legal risks.
See Past Write-Offs
Know if a car was ever written off or seriously damaged before purchase.
At a glance
Search for a Car by Reg Number
Fast, Free & Trusted UK Vehicle Lookup
Our car reg lookup UK tool helps you search for a vehicle by reg and view real-time MOT, tax, mileage, and vehicle data instantly.
Find a Vehicle by Reg
Easily search for a car by reg and access its verified history from trusted UK databases.
Free UK Reg Search
Use our UK registration lookup tool as often as needed, no limits, no sign-up.
Still unsure?
Frequently Asked Questions About Vehicle Lookups
How do I find a vehicle by reg number?
Enter the car’s registration number into our search tool. You’ll instantly see details like MOT history, tax status, mileage records, and more.
Is this a car reg lookup UK tool?
Yes. Our tool is designed specifically for UK vehicles. We use official data from DVLA and MOT records to provide accurate, real-time results.
Can I search for a car by reg for free?
Absolutely. You can look up a vehicle by reg number for free. There’s no account needed, just enter the reg and get instant results.
What does a vehicle lookup by reg show?
A reg search shows the car’s make, model, fuel type, MOT records, mileage, road tax status, CO2 emissions, and more. You can also upgrade to unlock deeper insights.
Can I run a UK reg search for any vehicle?
Yes. Our lookup works with any UK-registered vehicle, including cars, vans, and motorcycles, as long as the reg is valid.
Is this a UK registration lookup from DVLA?
Yes. We source our data from DVLA, MOT databases, and other trusted UK sources to ensure the results are up-to-date and accurate.
Do I need any documents to search by reg?
No documents needed. Just enter the vehicle's registration plate number, it's all you need to start the lookup.
What if I find a problem with the vehicle?
If the lookup shows issues like expired MOT, unpaid tax, or odd mileage, we recommend avoiding the vehicle or running a full history check for more detail.
Can I check if a car has finance or was written off?
Yes. That information is available in our full history check. You can upgrade after running your free vehicle reg search.
Can I run multiple vehicle lookups?
Yes. You can run as many car reg lookups as you need. It’s free and there’s no usage limit on the basic checks.
