What is a VIN number?
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle manufactured since 1981. It acts as a fingerprint for your car — no two vehicles share the same VIN. The VIN encodes information about the manufacturer, model, engine type, year of production and the specific production sequence number. You can usually find it stamped on the dashboard near the windscreen, on the driver's door frame, or in the engine bay.
How to find a VIN from a registration number
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box above and we will retrieve the VIN from official DVLA records. Our Basic report (£1.99) includes the full VIN along with detailed vehicle specifications and mileage records. This is the fastest way to get a VIN without physically inspecting the vehicle — useful when buying a used car, ordering parts, or verifying a vehicle's identity.
Why do you need a VIN number?
The VIN is essential for several reasons. When buying a used car, you can use it to verify the vehicle is genuine and has not been cloned from another car. Insurance companies and mechanics use VINs to identify exact specifications and compatible parts. The VIN also unlocks deeper vehicle history checks including stolen status, outstanding finance, write-off records and plate change history through our Pro report.
Can you get a VIN for free from a reg?
The DVLA does not provide VIN numbers in their free vehicle enquiry data. However, our free check gives you MOT history, tax status and basic vehicle details at no cost. To access the VIN, you can upgrade to our Basic report for just £1.99 which includes the VIN, full vehicle specifications, and mileage records sourced from official DVLA and DVSA databases.
What else can you check with a VIN?
Once you have the VIN, our Pro report (£9.99) can run comprehensive checks against multiple databases. This includes stolen vehicle checks through the Police National Computer, outstanding finance checks via Experian, insurance write-off records, plate change history and previous keeper details. These checks are essential before purchasing any used vehicle to protect yourself from fraud.
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