Reg Check
A reg check turns a UK number plate into a complete vehicle file. Type any plate above and we'll show you everything the DVLA holds about it — make, model, colour, year, fuel, emissions, current tax, MOT status and the full MOT testing history.
What a reg check shows
The free reg check returns the registered make and model, the colour and bodystyle, the year of first registration, fuel type, engine size in cc, transmission where the DVLA holds it, CO2 emissions, current tax and MOT expiry dates and the complete MOT history. The premium upgrade adds finance, stolen, write-off, mileage anomaly detection, plate-change history and a downloadable PDF.
How UK number plates work
Modern UK plates follow the format two letters, two digits, three letters — for example AB12 CDE. The first two letters identify the DVLA office that issued the plate, the two digits encode the year and half-year of registration, and the final three letters are unique to the vehicle. Personalised and dateless plates can deviate from this pattern, but RegRadar handles both.
When to run a reg check
Before you view a car, while you are standing on the forecourt, before you pay a deposit, and immediately after a private sale to confirm what you've actually bought. A 30-second reg check has saved buyers from clocked mileages, lapsed MOTs and category-S write-offs that the seller forgot to mention.
What you cannot get from a free reg check
Outstanding finance, stolen markers and insurance write-off categories are commercial data and never appear in a free lookup. Any site offering them for free is either misleading you or breaking the data provider's terms. Use a paid report from a reputable provider when the data really matters.
Frequently asked questions
Is a reg check the same as an HPI check?
Not exactly. 'HPI check' is a brand name for one specific provider's premium report. A reg check is the broader term — the free version returns DVLA data, the premium version (like RegRadar's £9.99 report) covers the same finance, stolen and write-off ground as an HPI-style check.
Can I check a private plate?
Yes. RegRadar handles personalised, dateless and Northern Irish plates as well as standard UK formats.
How current is the data?
Tax and MOT status are pulled live from the DVLA and DVSA on every check. There is no overnight cache.
Does a reg check work on motorbikes and vans?
Yes. Anything registered with the DVLA — cars, vans, motorbikes, light goods vehicles — can be looked up by plate.