RegPeek

Data sources and limitations

RegPeek does not hold its own register of vehicles. Every result is requested from a third-party vehicle data provider at the moment you press Check Vehicle, and that provider draws on records that originate with DVLA, DVSA, the motor insurance industry and finance houses. This page explains what that means in practice.

Where each part of the check comes from

Vehicle details

Make, model, first registration date, colour, fuel type, engine size and CO₂ figure come from the vehicle record held against the registration. These change rarely — usually only when a keeper reports a change such as a respray or an engine swap.

MOT status and history

MOT results, expiry dates, recorded mileage and advisory text originate from the DVSA testing record. Results are normally added when the tester submits the test, so a pass or fail generally appears the same day. Digital MOT records begin in 2005, so older tests are not available. See the MOT check and mileage check pages for what each field means.

Vehicle tax and SORN

Tax status, expiry and SORN declarations come from the DVLA licensing record. This can lag a very recent payment or declaration by a short period, so a status may show as untaxed shortly after tax has been bought. The tax and SORN check explains the three statuses.

Paid history data

Outstanding finance, stolen markers, insurance write-off categories, previous keeper counts, plate changes and import or export markers are supplied by industry databases that depend on members reporting events. These sit behind the paid full car history check.

How current the information is

  • MOT results: usually within hours of the test being submitted.
  • Tax and SORN: usually within a day of the transaction.
  • Keeper changes: after DVLA has processed the V5C notification.
  • Finance, theft and write-off markers: only once the lender, insurer or police force has reported the event, which can take days or longer.

Limitations you should assume

  • An absence of a marker is not proof that nothing happened. A very recent theft, write-off or finance agreement may not have reached the database yet.
  • Records are matched on the registration. A car that has changed plates may have history recorded against a previous registration.
  • Mileage readings are typed in by testers and can contain genuine mistakes, such as a transposed digit or a reading taken in kilometres.
  • An MOT pass describes the vehicle on the day it was tested and says nothing about its condition today.
  • Free-text advisories vary between testers, so wording is not consistent between garages.

If you think something is wrong

RegPeek cannot amend an underlying record. Errors in MOT results should be raised with the test centre or DVSA; errors in vehicle or tax details with DVLA; and finance or write-off markers with the organisation that reported them. Tell us through the contact page as well and we will look at whether the way we display the data contributed to the confusion. Our editorial policy covers corrections to our own guides.

RegPeek is independent and is not affiliated with DVLA or DVSA.