Gov Car Check
Instant Government Car History Report
Easily check any UK number plate for MOT status, tax expiry, mileage records, and more. All sourced directly from official DVLA data.
✅ No sign-up or payment required
✅ Instant results from Gov.uk databases
✅ Trusted, government-authorised vehicle records
Access key details instantly, including:
MOT history, tax status, registration date, mileage verification, and other DVLA-issued information
Enter a registration below
What Is a Gov Car Check (and What Does It Show)?
A Gov Car Check is a free service provided by Gov.uk and the DVLA Database, allowing you to access verified vehicle data using just a UK number plate.
It’s designed to confirm a car’s legal and technical status quickly, officially, and without sign-up.
What’s Included in a Gov.uk Vehicle Check:
- MOT status and expiry date
- Road tax (VED) status and SORN flag
- Vehicle make, model, and brand
- First registration date
- Fuel type and CO₂ emissions class
- Engine size, colour, and body type
These records are sourced directly from the DVLA and are ideal for verifying a car’s compliance, identity, and basic specifications.
📌 Note: A Gov Car Check does not show if a vehicle is stolen, under finance, previously written off, or how many owners it has had.
For these deeper insights, use the CarVeto Vehicle History Check.
Step-by-Step: Check a Vehicle on Gov.uk
1. Visit the DVLA Vehicle Check Page
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax
Use this to check car tax status and MOT expiry.
2. Enter the Registration Number
→ Input the reg number exactly as it appears on the number plate (no spaces or symbols).
3. Confirm Vehicle Identity
→ Ensure the displayed make, model, and colour match the vehicle you're checking.
4. View MOT and Tax Details
→ See tax expiry, MOT status, SORN status, and last MOT test result.
5. (Optional) Use the MOT History Tool
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
→ Access advisories, test locations, and mileage history.
Want Everything in One Place?
Skip the hassle of switching between multiple Gov.uk pages.
With CarVeto’s Gov Car Check tool, you get:
- Instant access to DVLA and MOT data
- Verified details on tax status, MOT history, and vehicle specs
- Free, fast, downloaded and no signup required
👉 Run a Gov Car Check with CarVeto, trusted by 5.4 million UK drivers.
Compare Gov.uk vs CarVeto Vehicle Checks
A Gov.uk vehicle check provides key legal and environmental details from the DVLA, ideal for checking basic vehicle information.
But when buying or selling a used car, those basics aren’t enough.
That’s where CarVeto goes further.
Gov vs CarVeto - Feature Overview
Category | Gov.uk | CarVeto |
|---|---|---|
Road tax and MOT status | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Vehicle brand and model | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Date of registration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Fuel type, CO2 emissions | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Technical specs, engine size, body colour | ✅ Basic | ✅ Yes |
Mileage anomalies | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Outstanding finance | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Write-off status | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Salvage marker | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Previous owner history | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Number plate transfer history | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
📌 Think of Gov.uk as your compliance check — CarVeto is your risk check.
Verify your car now with a CarVeto Registration Plate Check
What Can You Check on Gov.uk?
Gov.uk provides access to key compliance-related vehicle data. Here's what’s included, and where CarVeto adds more detail.
MOT Check via Gov.uk
Quickly view a vehicle’s current MOT status, expiry date, and past advisories. Mileage from previous tests is also recorded.
✅ Or use our MOT Check Online for enhanced, customised insights.
Vehicle Tax Status Check
See if a car is taxed, untaxed, or registered as SORN, including the VED expiry date.
✅ Or estimate costs with our Road Tax Calculator by Reg
Can You Check Insurance via Gov.uk?
Not directly. Use the askMID service (linked from Gov.uk) to check insurance status.
✅ Or verify legal status with our Car Insurance Check tool.
ULEZ and Clean Air Zone Compliance
Check if a vehicle meets ULEZ standards based on its emissions class, valid for London and CAZ zones.
Service History Check (Not on Gov.uk)
No service records are shown on Gov.uk. Use CarVeto to initiate the recovery of documented maintenance.
✅ Review records with our Car Service History Check
Stolen or Written-Off Status Check
Gov.uk doesn’t reveal if a vehicle is stolen or written off. CarVeto checks both.
✅ Stolen Car Checker
✅ DVLA Write-Off Check
Check Driving Licence or Driver Records
Driver-related data (points, licence type, categories) is available via a separate DVLA service.
FAQs: Gov Car Reg Checks
No, DVLA does not share previous owner history with the public. Use CarVeto's DVLA Previous Owners Check for this data.
No, Gov.uk doesn’t show outstanding finance.
Your first step is to run a CarVeto full Finance Check, which provides you with the lender, type of loan and agreement reference number.
Read our guide - Can You Sell a Financed Car?
Yes, the DVLA is part of the UK government. It manages 47 million vehicle records and 53 million driver records across the UK.
Search the DVLA database with your vehicle registration number.