Car spec check.
Every detail, free.
Engine size, fuel, CO₂, colour, body type and more — the factory specification recorded by the DVLA for any UK vehicle.
A car spec check shows the technical specification the DVLA holds for a vehicle: make and model, year of manufacture, engine size (cc), fuel type, CO₂ emissions, colour, body type, number of seats and when it was first registered. Enter the registration above to see the full spec of any UK car, free.
What a car spec check shows you
Every vehicle registered in the UK has a specification record created when it is first registered. A spec check reveals that record in full:
- Make and model — the exact variant, not just the badge on the boot.
- Engine capacity — the engine size in cc, which decides insurance group and running costs.
- Fuel type — petrol, diesel, electric, hybrid and others as officially recorded.
- CO₂ emissions — in g/km; this sets the tax band for cars registered before April 2017.
- Colour and body type — the colour recorded by the DVLA, plus body style such as hatchback, estate or saloon.
- First registration date — the month and year the vehicle first went on the road.
- Tax and MOT status — whether the vehicle is currently taxed and tested.
- Date of last V5C issued — a useful clue to when the vehicle last changed keeper.
How to check a car’s spec
You need nothing but the registration number:
- Step 1: Enter the reg in the yellow plate box above.
- Step 2: Press CHECK FREE — the DVLA record is retrieved instantly.
- Step 3: Read the full specification on screen, including engine, fuel and emissions.
Why check the spec before you buy?
Adverts get the spec wrong
Sellers copy and paste advert templates, and small spec differences are worth real money. Two cars that look identical can have different engines — a 1.0 and a 1.5 petrol version of the same model differ in performance, insurance group and value. The DVLA record is the version insurers and the tax office use, so it is the version you should trust.
Spot a colour change or a ringer
If the colour on the record does not match the car in front of you, it may simply have been resprayed — but a mismatch combined with other odd details (a V5C issued very recently, a VIN plate that looks disturbed) is a classic warning sign of a cloned vehicle. Always compare the spec record against the physical car.
Get insurance and tax right first time
Insurers quote on the exact engine size and fuel type, and clean-air-zone charges (such as London’s ULEZ) depend on the fuel and emissions standard recorded for the vehicle. Checking the spec first avoids wrong quotes and surprise daily charges.
Spec check vs full history check — what’s the difference?
A spec check shows what the vehicle is: its factory and registration details. A full history check shows what has happened to it: finance owing, write-off records, stolen markers, keeper changes and mileage anomalies. The spec check is free and instant. If you are about to buy the car, pair it with a full report — the spec confirms you are looking at the right car, the history confirms it is safe to buy.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
Your result shows the full DVLA specification in this format — every field the official record holds for the vehicle. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
Is a car spec check free?
Yes. The full specification check on MOTBuddy is free and needs no sign-up — just the vehicle’s registration number.
Where does the spec data come from?
From the DVLA’s vehicle record, created when the vehicle was first registered in the UK and updated when official details (such as colour or keeper) change.
Can I check the spec of a car I don’t own?
Yes. Registration records are public information, and checking the spec of a car you are thinking of buying is one of the main reasons the service exists.
The spec doesn’t match the car. What should I do?
Ask the seller why. A colour difference may be a legitimate respray that was never reported, but unexplained mismatches in engine size, fuel type or model are a reason to walk away.
Does a spec check show BHP or trim level?
The DVLA record shows engine size, fuel and model variant, from which power output can usually be identified. Detailed trim and optional extras fitted at the factory are not part of the DVLA record.
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