Number plates are designed so that the authorities, drivers and members of the public can quickly identify vehicles. In the present format used for number plates here in the UK, there is a lot you can discover about a car with just a brief look at its reg. In many cases, you can tell how old a car is and where it was first registered. If you’re wondering ‘what can you find out with a licence plate number?’, you’ve come to the right place.
Can you find out an address from a number plate?
The UK has rigid rules regarding data protection to ensure the people who live here have a right to personal privacy. However, if individuals are suspected of unlawful behaviour or are involved in an accident, the authorities have the right to access personal information. UK privacy laws state that unless one of these criteria is met, someone’s address can’t be accessed from their registration number.
Although you can’t locate a personal address with the current style of number plates, you can still discover the region where a car was registered. At New Reg, you’ll find handy tables and a quick search facility that can assist you in finding this information. Simply look up the first two letters on the plate right here on our website to find the specific region.
Can you find out a car owner from a number plate in the UK
You can uncover the owner of a car via a vehicle registration online with the DVLA, but you need what it deems “reasonable cause” to do so. This includes situations when a motorist has caused an accident or a vehicle that appears to have been abandoned. If a vehicle has been illegally parked on private land, you can track down the owner with a DVLA request.
If you work for a company that either issues trespass notices or parking tickets, you’re entitled to trace the keeper of a car via its plate. If your organisation tracks down individuals who have committed insurance fraud, you can acquire this information and if you’re tracking a car that drove off without paying for services or goods, such as petrol, the DVLA will also help. In this last instance, you can contact the police with your request instead.
How to find out a car spec from its number plate
UK number plates are made of letters and numbers that can tell you much about the car that carries them. The first two letters of UK plates will show you where it was first registered and the two numbers that follow are an age indicator. By looking up a number plate with the DVLA, you can discover much more about the car and its specs
You can find out if a vehicle is taxed, its present rate of tax and when it will expire. You can discover the precise date it was originally registered and exactly when its MOT will run out. If the vehicle the number plate is assigned to has a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), making it exempt from tax, you’ll be able to view this too.
You can also discover detailed information about the vehicle’s specifications. The weight of the car will be shown along with the size of its engine. Its year of manufacture will be revealed to you, along with the type of fuel it needs to run. Lastly, information regarding its emission levels for CO2 will also be made available.