Looking up a vehicle by registration (DVLA & MOT)
Type a reg to fill in the vehicle's make, colour, fuel, year, tax and MOT details from DVLA and MOT data, and when to use a full vehicle history check.
2 min read
The registration lookup is one of the quickest wins in Mechanics Hub. Type a plate and the vehicle details fill themselves in, so there is less typing and fewer mistakes at the counter.
Where you can use it
The lookup runs when you add a vehicle to a customer, and on its own from VRN Lookup under Customers in the sidebar, which is handy for quoting over the phone.
What the lookup returns
It uses DVLA vehicle data and MOT history, and returns what's available for that vehicle.
- Make, colour, fuel type and year of manufacture.
- Tax status and tax due date.
- MOT status and MOT expiry date.
- The model, taken from MOT history when DVLA doesn't provide it.
Why the MOT date matters
The MOT expiry the lookup fills in is saved on the customer record, and it's what creates the MOT reminder. Doing the lookup when you add a car means the reminder is set up without any extra work.
Full vehicle history checks
For a deeper check, for example before buying a car in, you can run a full vehicle history check from VRN Lookup. These are a paid extra and aren't part of the free trial. Your remaining checks are shown on the VRN Lookup page.
FAQ
Does the standard lookup cost extra?
No. DVLA and MOT lookups are included. Only the deeper full vehicle history check is a paid extra.
The lookup didn't find the car.
Check the registration for typos and try again without spaces. Recently registered cars and recent plate changes can take a little while to appear in DVLA data. You can always type the details in yourself.
Ready to try it?
Put a real job through Mechanics Hub on a 14-day free trial, no card needed.