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Motoring

Vehicle check services

Before you buy a used vehicle you can check its details to see if it's been stolen, written off or has any finance outstanding against it. You can check online or by telephone using services from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and private vehicle check companies.

DVLA Services

Online vehicle enquiries

You can use this service to check certain information that DVLA holds on its database about a vehicle including:

  • year of manufacture
  • date of first registration
  • engine capacity
  • colour
  • expiry date of the current tax disc/SORN declaration
  • vehicle excise duty rate

Enquiries by telephone

There are two premium rate telephone services that give vehicle information. Calls are charged at 49 pence per minute and lines operate Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 8:30 pm, and Saturday between 8.00 am to 5.30 pm.

The vehicle check service gives details of date of registration; year of manufacture; engine capacity (cc); CO2 emissions and confirmation of colour.

Telephone number 0906 185 8585

The date of liability (vehicle tax due date) line gives the expiry date of the current tax disc.

 Telephone number 0906 765 7585

Although the vehicle record is constantly updated, it's possible that an outstanding, vehicle tax application may be waiting processing and hasn't yet updated the vehicle record. The information given by this service will, in most instances, be correct but shouldn't be taken as confirmation that there's a current vehicle tax in force.

Private vehicle check companies

The DVLA provides information on the registration of vehicles to certain companies for consumer protection and anti-fraud purposes.

Please be assured that no individual name or address details are provided.

The information may be added to by companies with details from the police, finance and insurance companies. The companies below are able to provide a vehicle checking service for the public and motor trade.

For information on prices and products you should contact them direct.

  • Experian, Talbot House, Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5HF. Telephone 0800 234 999. Fax: 0115 934 4105.
  • HPI Limited, Dolphin House, P O Box 61, New Street, Salisbury, SP1 2TB. Telephone 01722 422 422. Fax: 01722 412 164.
  • SMMT Carweb, Pipers Business Centre, 220 Vale Road, Tonbridge, TN9 1SP. Telephone 01732 373 002. Fax: 01732 373 001.
  • CDL Vehicle Information Services Limited, Strata House, Kings Reach Road, Stockport, SK4 2HD. Telephone: 01436 821206 Fax: 01436 821 875.

DVLA Contact

For enquiries about buying anonymised vehicle data you can write or email to the following:

Vehicle Business Support
Data Management Team
Central Marketing and Market Research
C1/W
DVLA
Swansea
SA6 7JL

Email:

vehicle.business.support@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

These services are used by motor dealers who will usually have carried out the vehicle checks before buying a vehicle.

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