DVLA Check
Official Vehicle Record Lookup
Run a DVLA Car Check
What is a DVLA Check and Why It Matters?
A DVLA check is an official lookup retrieves compliance and identity data for any UK-registered vehicle. It draws directly from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency database to confirm whether a car is road legal, environmentally classified, and ownership-verified.
CarVeto’s DVLA check verifies:
- Vehicle identity: make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size
- MOT snapshot: Includes expiry date from the latest MOT. Mileage integrity and full history available with a Premium report.
- Road tax: class, current status, renewal deadline
- V5C logbook: issue date and transfer eligibility
- SORN declaration: off-road use exemption
- Emissions compliance: CO₂ rating, Euro 6 readiness for ULEZ and CAZ zones
These data points help you:
- Verify a car’s history before you buy
- Avoid fines or failed test drives due to expired MOT or tax
- Assess ownership risks tied to outdated V5Cs or cloned entries
- Plan for low-emission zone access and tax budgeting
Why it matters:
Without this check, buyers face risks such as:
- Purchasing stolen, scrapped, or unverified vehicles
- Unexpected ULEZ or CAZ charges
- Insurance refusal due to identity mismatches
CarVeto enhances DVLA data with police, finance, insurance, and mileage registries, delivering a complete, buyer-ready report. It’s the first step to making a safe, legal, and informed decision.
What Do You Get in a Free CarVeto DVLA Check?
A free DVLA check from CarVeto delivers real-time vehicle data straight from the UK’s official licensing database. It helps you verify a car’s identity, legal status, and environmental standing, before you buy, sell, or insure.
Your free report includes:
- Vehicle identity: make, model, fuel type, engine size, body style
- MOT & Tax Overview:
Confirms road test compliance (MOT expiry and mileage) and current tax status, including next renewal deadlines. Detailed insight available in the Premium Report - Logbook snap shot: This shows the issue date and confirms a record of legal ownership changes. The Premium report has the full trail and keeper timeline
- SORN status flag: Indicates if the vehicle has been declared off-road. The full legal implications are covered in the FAQ section.
- Emissions rating: CO₂ output and Euro standard for ULEZ/CAZ zones
- Export and keeper status: identifies prior ownership and market legality
Using trusted, government-sourced records, this single-page Free Car Check summary confirms roadworthiness, ownership eligibility, and zone compliance.
Run a CarVeto Check
Our free DVLA check provides instant access to verified vehicle records.
No signup, no cost.
What’s Included in a CarVeto Premium (Platinum) Report?
A CarVeto Premium report provides advanced protection by identifying financial risks, theft status, and insurance history that may affect a vehicle’s resale value, roadworthiness, or legal ownership.
It pulls from authoritative national registers, offering visibility into issues not covered by standard DVLA checks.
Legal & Financial Risk
This section scans for hidden encumbrances, active claims, and police records that could invalidate a sale or cause financial loss.
Outstanding finance status (Experian)
CarVeto connects directly to the Experian Asset Register to detect:
- Hire Purchase (HP) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements
- Active leasing contracts or conditional sales
- Any unresolved financial lien that affects the title transfer
If finance is still owed, the vehicle is legally owned by the lender, not the seller, posing a risk to private buyers.
→ Check for Outstanding Finance on a Car
Logbook loan detection
This check identifies whether the car is tied to a logbook loan, where a lender holds the V5C logbook. These loans often bypass traditional HPI detection but grant the lender rights to repossess the vehicle.
Detecting a logbook loan early prevents buyers from acquiring a vehicle that can't legally be transferred.
Theft status (PNC & insurer confirmation)
CarVeto performs dual verification to confirm whether a vehicle is linked to theft events or flagged on national security registers.
This includes:
- A real-time check against the Police National Computer (PNC) to detect vehicles reported as stolen across UK law enforcement systems
- A secondary scan of the national insurance theft payout register, which highlights vehicles where insurers have issued a total loss payment due to unrecovered theft
These two data points work in tandem to identify vehicles that may be:
- Currently marked as actively stolen
- Previously written off and paid out by insurers due to theft
- Being resold fraudulently, possibly under a cloned registration or V5C identity
This theft detection layer protects buyers from unknowingly purchasing a vehicle with a criminal or compromised status, ensuring compliance and traceability before ownership changes.
→ Check if a Car Was Stolen in the UK
Insurance write-off check (MIAFTR): Cat A, B, S, N
Using the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR), CarVeto detects whether the vehicle has been written off and classifies the severity:
- Cat A – Vehicle must be crushed; no parts salvaged
- Cat B – Usable parts only; body cannot be resold
- Cat S – Repairable structural damage
- Cat N – Repairable non-structural damage (electrical, cosmetic)
Each category impacts resale, insurance premiums, and safety, making write-off transparency essential.
→ Identify: Is My Car a Write-Off?
Ownership & Vehicle Identity
The CarVeto Premium report provides complete transparency around the vehicle’s legal identity and ownership journey. These checks trace registration events, keeper transfers, and mechanical identifiers to confirm that the vehicle’s paper history matches the physical vehicle and its public record.
Previous keepers and transfer dates
CarVeto identifies the total number of previous keepers and logs the exact date of each transfer of ownership. These records help determine:
- The length of ownership per keeper
- Signs of high turnover or trade flipping
This data is critical for assessing how the car has been used and who has owned it over time, as well as key signals of care, reliability, or risk.
Region of registered ownership
The report shows where the vehicle was initially registered by identifying the DVLA regional office (e.g., London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast).
This helps:
- Cross-reference seller location with vehicle origin
- Spot possible inter-region movements that don’t match maintenance records
- Understand driving conditions that may affect vehicle wear (urban, coastal, rural)
This regional data also helps validate mileage expectations and claims of "one local owner."
Number Plate & VIN Trail
- It tracks every registration plate assignment and change, timestamped for accuracy, to detect fraud, accident masking, or history breaks. Combined with VIN and engine number checks, this ensures the car’s identity matches public and physical records.
Check Number Plate history online.
Last 4 digits of VIN, full engine number
The report includes the last four characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the full engine number. These identifiers should match the V5C logbook and physical stamps on the vehicle.
Verifying these numbers confirms:
- The vehicle isn’t cloned
- The engine hasn’t been replaced fraudulently
- The documents and chassis identity are in agreement
→ Verify VIN Number and plate data
Mechanical History & Mileage
Mileage discrepancies are a key indicator of odometer fraud and undervalued wear. The CarVeto Premium report verifies usage integrity by triangulating DVLA, BVRLA, and RMI data, identifying anomalies that may affect resale value, safety, and legality.
Full DVLA MOT mileage history
CarVeto retrieves historical mileage from every MOT test recorded by the DVLA, showing:
- Mileage at each MOT date
- Time intervals between tests
- Gradual usage pattern or mileage gaps
This foundational timeline highlights unusual drops or gaps and is the first validation line against odometer rollback.
Confirm MOT Status with a free check.
Lease mileage data (BVRLA)
If the vehicle was previously leased, CarVeto includes official BVRLA mileage data, offering:
- Independent verification of how the car was driven during the lease term
- Records of mileage caps and excess usage fees
- A check against declared mileage at the point of sale
Lease data is vital for ex-company or rental cars, where service logs may be incomplete.
Service mileage records (RMI)
CarVeto also integrates with the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) to retrieve mileage captured during:
- Routine servicing and diagnostics
- Interim maintenance is not linked to MOT
- Oil changes, inspections, and mechanical adjustments
These service entries help fill data gaps between MOTs, reinforcing confidence in the declared mileage trajectory.
Mileage anomalies or rollback detection
Advanced cross-referencing across DVLA, BVRLA, and RMI sources allows CarVeto to detect:
- Suspicious mileage regressions
- Gaps not explained by ownership or servicing intervals
- Signs of odometer tampering to increase market appeal
Buyers are alerted to these risks within the Premium report, helping prevent costly mistakes and resale complications.
→ Verify Mileage Check now.
Registration & Compliance
This section of the CarVeto Premium report validates the vehicle’s structural history, environmental compliance, and DVLA registration integrity. These checks are essential for confirming road legality, resale eligibility, and clean air zone access.
Scrappage status and Q plate detection
CarVeto identifies if the vehicle is marked as scrapped in the DVLA database. Scrappage markers mean the car has been deregistered and cannot legally return to UK roads, making resale or road use unlawful.
The report also flags any Q registration plates assigned when the DVLA cannot confirm a vehicle’s original identity, age, or component origins.
These are commonly found on:
- Kit cars
- Imported vehicles without complete documentation
- Rebuilds using salvaged or unverified parts
Q plates often signal limited insurability, restricted resale value, and reduced consumer confidence.
VIC inspection flag
CarVeto checks for any Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) flags and legacy DVLA markers tied to vehicles declared a Category C or D insurance write-off.
Although the VIC program ended in 2015, any existing flag reveals that:
- The car underwent a formal inspection to verify its structural identity
- It was deemed roadworthy after substantial repair
- It may carry residual stigma in the used market
VIC flags remain part of the vehicle’s compliance record and may impact future valuation.
Road tax band and CO₂ efficiency rating
This section reveals the vehicle’s:
- Official CO₂ emissions rating in grams per kilometre
- Associated DVLA tax band classification
- Estimated annual tax cost under the current UK government thresholds
These figures support financial planning and determine if the car qualifies for reduced rates, exemptions, or clean air zone discounts.
→ Calculate Road Tax Rates with a Premium CarVeto report.
Euro emission classification (e.g., Euro 6)
CarVeto lists the vehicle’s Euro emissions category, which defines its access to regulated zones like:
- London ULEZ
- Manchester CAZ
- Birmingham Clean Air Zone
Euro 6 vehicles are generally exempt from clean air charges, while Euro 4 and below often incur daily fees.
This classification helps buyers assess long-term suitability, especially for urban or commercial use.
CarVeto vs HPI: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Most vehicle history checks include finance, theft, and write-off alerts. However, only CarVeto combines this with direct DVLA integration, adding compliance markers, identity verification, and emissions profiling to your report.
That means better coverage, fewer unknowns, and higher confidence when buying used.
Feature | Free DVLA | CarVeto Platinum | HPI Check |
|---|---|---|---|
DVLA data: registration, V5C, tax, MOT | ✅ | ✅Full access | ✅ |
Finance check | ❌ | ✅(Experian data) | ✅ |
Theft record check (Police + Insurer) | ❌ | ✅Dual source | ✅ |
Insurance presence (askMID) | ❌ | ✅Included | ❌ |
Write-off status (MIAFTR: Cat A, B, S, N) | ❌ | ✅MIAFTR | ✅ |
Mileage verification (DVLA + RMI + BVRLA) | ❌ | ✅Triangulated | ❌ |
Keeper history with transfer dates | ❌ | ✅Keeper history table | ❌ Count only |
DVLA region of registration | ❌ | ✅Included | ❌ |
Q plate markers | ❌ | ✅DVLA extra | ❌ |
Why CarVeto Wins:
Unlike traditional checks, CarVeto combines DVLA data with finance, theft, and keeper validation, plus emission, number plate, and mileage history, which others skip.
Unlock your vehicle history, ownership, finance, mileage, and DVLA data.
→ One verified car history report CarVeto HPI Vehicle Check
Frequently Asked Questions
A DVLA check confirms tax, MOT, and registration data. A full CarVeto report adds finance status, theft risk, mileage integrity, write-off history, and plate changes, covering all legal and financial risks before purchase.
Yes. A CarVeto Premium check scans police and insurance databases to identify stolen vehicles and write-offs (Cat A, B, S, N), helping avoid fraud and unsafe resale risks.
Use CarVeto to Check Vehicle Insurance Status Online.
Cat S covers structural damage, while Cat N relates to cosmetic or electrical faults. Both impact resale value. The full breakdown is available in the Premium report.
Read our guide: What is a Car Write-Off?
The V5C confirms the registered keeper and key vehicle details. Issued by the DVLA via a Vehicle Identification Number, it's required for taxing, declaring SORN, or changing ownership.
No. Due to GDPR rules, the DVLA does not release private keeper details such as names or addresses. Disclosure is usually allowed in limited cases, for example, to police, insurers, or legal parties with justifiable cause.
We offer the local DVLA office of vehicle registration.
No, neither CarVeto nor the DVLA reveal private keeper information. CarVeto shows how many keepers the car had and when transfers occurred, and this information is available in the Premium report.
SORN stands for Statutory Off-Road Notification.
The DVLA declares that a vehicle isn’t being used on public roads. SORNed cars are exempt from tax and MOT but must remain off-road. CarVeto reports display this status to ensure legal readiness.