What you'll see
- Make and model
- Colour
- Fuel type and engine size
- Year of manufacture and registration date
- MOT status and expiry date
- Tax status: taxed, SORN or untaxed
- CO2 emissions
- Full MOT test history
- Model-specific known faults
Why check a number plate?
A number plate check is the quickest way to verify a vehicle. If you have seen a car for sale online, checking the plate confirms whether the make, model, colour and year match the advert. Discrepancies between the plate data and the seller's description are an immediate red flag. This simple check catches a surprising number of misrepresented cars before you waste time on a viewing.
Number plate checks are also useful beyond buying and selling. If you have been involved in an incident and noted the other vehicle's plate, you can look up the make and model to confirm it matches what you saw. If you are curious about a car you have spotted, entering the plate tells you exactly what it is, down to the engine size and fuel type.
We go further than a basic plate lookup. As well as the core DVLA data, we show you the full MOT history including every test result, advisory and mileage reading. We also show model-specific known faults from our database of 729 models, so you can see what tends to go wrong with that particular car. A number plate check is often the starting point for a deeper investigation, and we give you the tools to keep digging without spending a penny.
Every number plate check on GetCarWise is completely free and requires no account or email address. The data comes directly from DVLA and DVSA government systems, so it is as accurate and up-to-date as any official source.
What you can learn from a registration number
A UK registration number reveals more than most people realise, and knowing how to read it helps you verify a car before you even see it in person.
Decoding the number plate
The current UK format (in use since September 2001) follows the pattern: two letters, two numbers, three letters. The first two letters identify the DVLA local office where the car was first registered. The two numbers are the age identifier: 01-50 for cars registered March to August of that year; 51-99 for September to February (subtract 50 to get the year). So "26" means March-August 2026, while "76" means September 2026 to February 2027.
What to verify before buying
- Match the car to the record: Check that the make, model, colour and engine size on the DVLA record match the car in front of you. Mismatches can indicate a cloned vehicle.
- Check the VIN: The Vehicle Identification Number on the V5C should match the VIN plate on the car (visible through the windscreen base, on the door frame and under the bonnet). If they do not match, walk away.
- Year vs registration date: The "year of manufacture" and "date of first registration" can differ, particularly for imported cars or pre-registered dealer stock. The registration date determines when MOT and tax cycles start.
Red flags
Personalised plates hide age. A car with a private plate like "J4MES" could be 3 years old or 30. Always check the DVLA record for the actual first registration date.
V5C is not proof of ownership. The V5C (logbook) records the registered keeper, not the legal owner. These are different: with company cars, fleet vehicles and finance agreements, the keeper and owner are different people. The V5C itself carries a printed disclaimer stating this.
Frequently asked questions
What can I find out from a number plate?
From a UK number plate you can find out the make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, year of manufacture, date of first registration, CO2 emissions, MOT status and expiry date, MOT test history, tax status and whether the car is SORNed. On GetCarWise, you also get model-specific known faults and our rarity index.
Is it legal to check a number plate?
Yes. The DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service is a public service that anyone can use. The data it provides (make, model, colour, tax status, MOT status) is not personal data and does not identify the registered keeper. Checking a number plate is no different from reading the details that are visible on the car itself.
Can I find out who owns a car from its number plate?
No. We do not provide registered keeper information and neither does the DVLA public enquiry service. Keeper details are protected personal data. Only certain organisations (police, DVLA-authorised parking companies, solicitors with reasonable cause) can request keeper details through official channels.
What do the numbers and letters on a UK plate mean?
UK number plates follow the format AB12 CDE. The first two letters indicate the DVLA office that issued the registration. The two numbers are the age identifier.they change every March and September. For example, 24 means March 2024 and 74 means September 2024. The last three letters are randomly assigned. Older formats (prefix and suffix styles) follow different patterns.
Can I check Northern Irish plates?
DVLA data covers vehicles registered in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has a separate vehicle registration system managed by the DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency). Northern Irish plates (format ABC 1234) may not return full results through our check. For NI vehicles, use the nidirect.gov.uk vehicle enquiry service.
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Learn more
Vehicle data from DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. MOT data from DVSA. Known faults from GetCarWise database. Last updated September 2026.