Enter any registration to see its full MOT history, mileage records and known faults. Free, instant, no signup.
Every car that has been through an MOT builds up a paper trail: test dates, pass or fail, recorded mileage, advisories and failure items. That is years of real history sitting in a government database, and we pull it together here so you can see the full picture for any plate.
Click through to any registration and you will see MOT results, mileage plotted over time, and common faults for that make, model and engine. Things like dual mass flywheel failures on certain diesels, or timing chain wear on specific petrols. If you are buying a used car, this is the stuff that saves you thousands.
The DVLA has quietly become one of the country's most successful auctioneers. The all-time record is 25 O at £518,480, bought in 2014 by a Ferrari 250 collector. In 2026, 15 LAM fetched £156,010 in January, 97 O hit £90,010 in July, and the July auction alone shifted 1,974 plates for a combined £5.6 million.
At the other end, less popular combinations start from around £250. Some people treat plates as investments, holding them on retention certificates and selling years later at a markup. The DVLA pulled in £289 million from personalised registrations in 2024/25 alone, and over £2.9 billion since auctions began in 1989.
Moving a private plate between cars costs £80 through the DVLA, either online or via the V317 form. Both vehicles need to be registered, taxed or SORN'd, and have a valid MOT if required. Want to keep the plate but sell the car? Put it on a retention certificate (V778) for up to 10 years.
When you remove a private plate, the car reverts to its original registration automatically. You will need new physical plates made up before you can drive it, and your insurer needs to know the registration has changed. One to watch: if you drive through a ULEZ zone shortly after a plate change, the cameras may not recognise the new registration yet, which can trigger a PCN. Keep your V5C confirmation handy and appeal if it happens.
The 26-plate launched on 1 March 2026 and runs to the end of August. From September, it flips to 76. This system has been running since 2001 and is confirmed through to at least 2050.
The DVLA reviews every batch and withholds anything that could be considered offensive. To understand what your plate means, browse the area codes below, or read our deep dive into UK MOT data.
A reg lookup is a starting point. If you are seriously considering buying, a free car check covers the basics, but the real picture comes from a full history check covering outstanding finance, write-offs and stolen status. We also run service history checks if you want to verify what a seller is claiming. For valuation, our free car valuation tool pulls from live dealer pricing data across the UK.
For the bigger picture on used car values, our September 2026 used car market update breaks down pricing trends, the fastest and slowest sellers, and where the market is heading into Q4. Worth reading before you commit to anything.
Since September 2001, UK registration plates follow the format AB12 CDE:
MOT data sourced from the DVSA bulk download, last updated August 2026. Next scheduled refresh: November 2026. Individual plate lookups via the homepage use live DVSA data.
They are the DVLA local memory tag. The first letter represents the region (e.g. L for London, S for Scotland) and the second letter identifies the specific DVLA office.
There are 436 two-letter area codes in the current system, spread across 19 regions covering England, Scotland and Wales.
The two numbers are the age identifier. March to August plates use the year (26 for 2026). September to February plates add 50 (76 for late 2026).
The current format launched on 1 September 2001, replacing the old prefix letter system. The first age identifier was 51.
DVLA private plates start from around £250 at auction for less desirable combinations. Short dateless plates and name plates routinely sell for £5,000 to £50,000. The most expensive UK plate ever sold was 25 O, which went for £518,000 in 2014.
Yes. You can transfer a registration between vehicles using the DVLA V317 form or online via the DVLA website. The fee is £80. Both vehicles must be registered in the UK, taxed or SORN, and have a valid MOT if needed. The plate can also be put on a retention certificate (V778) for up to 10 years if you want to keep it without assigning it to a car.
Cars registered from March to August 2026 carry the age identifier 26 (e.g. AB26 CDE). From September 2026 to February 2027, plates switch to 76 (e.g. AB76 CDE). This pattern has run since 2001 and will continue until at least 2050.