About Free Plate Check

What Free Plate Check Does

Free Plate Check is a free vehicle check service for UK cars. Enter any UK registration number and get an instant, comprehensive report covering MOT history, tax status, mileage records, ULEZ compliance, safety recalls, vehicle valuations, running costs, and more.

There is no signup required and no hidden fees. You can also download a full PDF report to take with you when viewing a car or to keep for your records.

Where the Data Comes From

All data displayed on Free Plate Check is sourced from official UK government APIs and trusted databases. We do not fabricate or estimate core vehicle data — it comes directly from the following sources:

• DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service — Vehicle details including make, model, colour, engine size, fuel type, date of first registration, and current tax status
• DVSA MOT History API — Full MOT test history including pass/fail results, advisories, failure reasons, and recorded mileage at each test
• DVSA Safety Recall Database — Known safety recalls issued by manufacturers, matched to your vehicle's make and model
• Government Emission Data — Used to calculate ULEZ compliance based on your vehicle's Euro emission standard and fuel type
• eBay Browse API — Real market listing data used to support vehicle valuations, combined with depreciation modelling

Why It's Free

Free Plate Check is free to use and always will be. We believe everyone should have access to essential vehicle information without having to pay for it.

The service is supported by affiliate partnerships. For example, when we link to garage booking services or vehicle history check providers, we may earn a small commission if you choose to use them. This is how we keep the lights on.

We do not sell your personal data, and we do not charge for any of the information displayed on this site.

Privacy Commitment

Your privacy matters. Free Plate Check follows a privacy-first approach:

• We do not store registration numbers from vehicle lookups
• We do not track which vehicles individual users look up
• We do not sell or share your personal data

For full details, read our Privacy Policy.

What You Can Check

Every vehicle check on Free Plate Check includes:

• MOT History — Full test history with pass/fail results, advisories, and failure items
• Tax Status — Current vehicle tax status and expiry date
• Mileage Verification — Recorded mileage at each MOT test to spot anomalies
• ULEZ Compliance — Check if a vehicle meets Ultra Low Emission Zone standards
• Safety Recalls — Known manufacturer safety recalls matched to the vehicle
• Vehicle Valuation — Estimated market value based on depreciation and real listings
• Running Costs — Estimated annual fuel, tax, and insurance costs
• Car Servicing — Compare service prices from local garages
• NCAP Safety Ratings — Euro NCAP crash test ratings where available
• PDF Report — Download a full vehicle report to keep or share

Add Free Plate Check to Your Site

If you run a car forum, dealership website, or motoring blog, you can embed a free vehicle check widget on your site. It's free to use, takes seconds to set up, and gives your visitors instant access to MOT history, tax status, and more.

Get the embed code →

Contact

Questions or feedback? Email us at hello@freeplatecheck.co.uk