What is a DVLA vehicle check, and why is it important?
DVLA check is the verification of ownership, registration status, and other relevant details of a particular vehicle in the UK through reliable DVLA database.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is the official body responsible for vehicle registration in England and Wales. They are a government department run by the Department for Transport (DfT).
It is essential because it provides potential buyers with important information about the vehicle’s history, which can help them make informed decisions when buying a car.
This information can help buyers verify the vehicle’s authenticity, check its history for accidents, thefts, or outstanding debts, vehicle registration plate check and ensure that the seller has legal ownership of the car.
In summary, a DVLA vehicle check is important because it helps to protect buyers from fraud and misrepresentation and provides them with the knowledge required to make an informed decision when buying a used car.
What’s Included in a free DVLA Check?
The free check provides verified vehicle data from official UK databases to help confirm a car’s identity, registration status, and MOT/tax compliance.
Your free report includes:
- Vehicle details: Make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, wheel plan, type approval category.
- Registration info: First registration date, year of manufacture, last V5C logbook issue date, time since last V5C, vehicle age.
- Tax & MOT status: MOT expiry date, MOT due date, MOT advisory status, tax expiry date, MOT count.
- Environmental data: Co2 output, Euro status, ULEZ compliance.
- Mileage checks: Current mileage, mileage last year, average mileage, mileage issues, mileage status.
- Additional flags: Exported status, safety recalls.
Check our sample report for a better understanding.
Best ways to get an up-to-date DVLA car reg check?
There are some different ways you can get accurate and up-to-date information with a DVLA car check:
- Online DVLA check: You can perform a DVLA vehicle check online through the gov. uk website. A straightforward way to obtain fundamental knowledge, such as the make and model of the vehicle, the year it was first registered, its current tax and MOT status but it has its limitations.
- Reputable vehicle check providers: You can also check car details on any UK vehicle using a reputable vehicle history check provider. But check whether they source the vehicle data from DVLA and trusted gov sites.
- Contact the DVLA directly: If you have a specific question or issue you cannot resolve through the online DVLA car check or a third-party provider, you can contact the DVLA directly. They can provide you with information on various topics, such as vehicle tax, registration, and driving licenses.
No matter the approach you use, it’s crucial to ensure that the information you receive is accurate and up-to-date. This can help you make informed decisions when purchasing a car or dealing with any issues related to vehicle ownership.
DVLA vs CarAnalytics – A better way to Check Vehicle History
Let’s face it, checking a car’s history through DVLA can feel like a chore. You have to visit different pages, enter the same details multiple times, and still only get limited information. It’s time-consuming, and not always beginner-friendly.
With CarAnalytics, it’s different.
You enter a Reg number once, and within seconds, you get a complete vehicle history report, including MOT history, MOT due, Tax due, vehicle registration details, car specs and CO2 emissions and more legal checks like outstanding finance, write-off status, mileage issues, previous owners, stolen and more with a full car check.
✅ Data sourced directly from DVLA bulk datasets and other trusted gov sites.
✅ No paperwork, no waiting for forms.
✅ Instant, all-in-one report with 80+ data points.
✅ User-friendly layout—even if it’s your first time checking a car.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a motor trader, CarAnalytics makes it hassle-free, reliable, and easy to understand, everything DVLA checks should be, but faster.
How to check if a car is legally registered in the UK?
You can check if a car is legally registered in the UK by performing a vehicle registration check on caranalytics. Here are the crucial steps you need to follow:
- Visit caranalytics website.
- Enter the car registration number in the search box and click “check car.”
- Verify the make and model of the vehicle to ensure that the registration number entered matches the correct vehicle.
- The Report will display information such as the registration date, the year of manufacture, the vehicle tax status, and the MOT expiry date.
- Check that the information matches what the seller has provided, and if there are any discrepancies, it may indicate that the car is not legally registered.
This report does not provide information on the vehicle’s ownership history or if it has outstanding finance or has been reported stolen. You must upgrade to a full car check to access these vehicle’s legal hidden history information for a little charge starting from just £4.99.
Get a free DVLA vehicle check Instantly!
Can I do a DVLA check on any UK number plate?
Yes! You may check details on vehicles registered in the UK using our DVLA check service. It’s possible that recent plate changes or newly registered vehicles won’t show up on our service. Once an imported car has been registered with the DVLA, you can verify it instantly.
What about newly registered vehicles?
If a car has been newly registered, re-registered, or had a recent number plate change, its details might not appear immediately in a DVLA vehicle check. This is because DVLA updates registration data monthly, so it can take a few weeks for the vehicle information to become available in public reports.
How can I update my car’s registered keeper?
If you have recently bought or sold a vehicle, it is essential to update the registered keeper details with (DVLA) in the UK. You can update your car’s registered keeper by following these steps:
- Get a V5C registration certificate from the seller if you are the vehicle’s new owner.
- Fill in the “new keeper details” section on the V5C registration certificate. It includes your name and address, the date you became the vehicle’s registered keeper and the vehicle’s current mileage.
- Sign and date the declaration on the V5C registration certificate.
- Send the completed V5C registration certificate to the DVLA at the address provided on the form.
- If you don’t have the V5C registration certificate or have lost it, you can apply for a new one from the DVLA by filling out form V62.
It’s essential to update with the DVLA as soon as possible to avoid legal issues, such as fines for not taxing the vehicle or receiving penalty points for not updating the keeper details. This will prove to be a problem in the future if you sell your car.
Can I find out the dvla registered keeper of a vehicle?
The DVLA and vehicle data providers do not share personal details of vehicle keepers due to GDPR and data privacy laws. That means you cannot legally access the name or address of a car’s current or previous owner without a legitimate reason.
However, our full vehicle history check includes keeper change history, such as:
- The number of previous keepers.
- When each keeper was registered.
However, there are specific ways to access the registered keeper information if you have a legitimate reason, such as a law enforcement officer, a government agency, or an insurance company investigating an accident or claim.
Learn more in our full guide on how to access DVLA vehicle registered keeper information legally.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but only after the car is registered in the UK. The DVLA check will show the UK registration date, tax and MOT status, and if it was imported from Northern Ireland — but it won’t show history from Ireland or other countries.
DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) manages driving licences, keeps vehicle and driver records, handles registrations, issues V5C logbooks, and collects vehicle tax (VED) in the UK.
A UK vehicle registration certificate (V5C) is a DVLA-issued logbook that records key details about a car and its registered keeper. It confirms registration but not legal ownership.
Making UK car data easy to understand, one blog at a time. As a part of CarAnalytics Content Team, she combines her SEO experts, data analysts, and digital writers dedicated to helping drivers make informed, confident car-buying decisions. She specialises in translating complex topics like MOT, write-off categories, and outstanding finance and more into clear, accessible guides.
From car tax a ULEZ rules to pricing trends and ownership tips, she covers every step of buying, selling, and owning a used car in the UK. Backed by real data and industry insight, she aims to give readers clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. When she’s not writing, she’s likely enjoying a quiet countryside drive.
