How to Check a Car by Registration Number in Europe
Vehicle Lookups by Registration Number in Europe
In Europe, a vehicle's registration number (license plate) is often the easiest way to start checking a car before you even contact the seller. Most European countries have some form of official or commercial lookup service, though what you can discover varies significantly by country. This guide covers the major markets.
For a complete history, always follow up with a VIN check. The VIN provides data that registration numbers cannot.
What Registration Numbers Reveal
A registration number can typically tell you the country of registration (identifiable by the format and country code), region or city in some countries, vehicle details (make, model, year through lookup services), registration status (active, expired, cancelled), and MOT/inspection status.
What they cannot tell you: full accident history (requires a VIN check), cross-border history (a plate only covers the current country), liens and finance (requires a VIN or separate check), or owner identity (protected by GDPR).
United Kingdom
The UK has the most accessible vehicle lookup system in Europe.
Free Government Services
DVLA Vehicle Enquiry (gov.uk) — enter the registration number and get make, colour, year, engine size, CO2 emissions, tax status, MOT status, and MOT expiry date. Completely free and official.
MOT History Check (gov.uk) — shows every MOT test the vehicle has had, including mileage at each test, failures, and advisories. This is incredibly useful: mileage records across multiple MOTs are the best free way to detect odometer fraud.
Paid Services
UK vehicle history check providers (HPI, AA, RAC, etc.) offer outstanding finance, theft records, insurance write-off status, plate change history, mileage discrepancies, and estimated valuation.
Germany
Germany does not have a direct public equivalent of the UK lookups. The KBA (Federal Motor Transport Authority) maintains registration data but public access is limited.
Reading the plate is useful though: the first letters indicate the registration city/district (e.g., M = München, B = Berlin, HH = Hamburg, K = Köln). This tells you where the vehicle is registered.
Practical steps: Check the Fahrzeugbrief (Teil II) for lien notations, use commercial vehicle history services, and always verify with a VIN check for full history.
France
France has an excellent system.
Histovec (government service) — the seller generates a report through histovec.interieur.gouv.fr and shares it with the buyer. The report includes registration history, accident involvement, administrative status, and mileage records. This is the recommended approach for French vehicle checks.
Certificat de non-gage — confirms no liens or legal holds. Available free online and mandatory for private sales.
Netherlands
The RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) offers one of the best free services in Europe. Enter the kenteken (license plate) and get make, model, year, colour, weight, fuel type, registration date, APK status, APK expiry, recalled status, and whether the vehicle has been reported stolen.
Why VIN Is More Reliable
A registration number is tied to the current country and registration period only. The VIN is permanent and international — it follows the vehicle through every country, every owner, and every event for its entire life.
In France (post-SIV system) and the Netherlands, plates stay with the car for life, making them more reliable. In the UK, plates can be transferred between vehicles. In Germany, plates change when the car is re-registered.
The takeaway: Use the registration number for a quick preliminary check. Always follow up with a VIN check before committing to a purchase.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1. Note the Registration Number
Record the full plate number from the listing or the vehicle itself.
Step 2. Use Free Official Services
- UK: DVLA enquiry + MOT history at gov.uk
- France: Request a Histovec report from the seller
- Netherlands: RDW kentekencheck
- Germany: Limited — focus on the city code for registration region
Step 3. Request the VIN
Ask the seller for the VIN to enable deeper checks.
Step 4. Run a VIN Check
Use our VIN decoder guide for the full process.
Step 5. Check for Liens
Use our liens and legal issues guide for country-specific processes.
Privacy (GDPR)
Under the General Data Protection Regulation, personal information about a vehicle's registered keeper is strictly protected across the EU and UK. You cannot obtain the owner's name, address, or contact details through a registration lookup. Vehicle information (make, model, history) is generally accessible. Any service claiming to provide personal owner details from a plate number is likely violating GDPR.
Red Flags
- Foreign plates on a car sold locally — may indicate recent import or temporary registration
- Plate does not match the car — the details from the lookup do not match what you see
- MOT/TÜV/APK expired — the car may not be roadworthy
- Mileage discrepancies — if MOT records show decreasing mileage, the odometer has been tampered with
- Seller refuses to provide the registration number before meeting — what are they hiding?
Where to Find Vehicles
Browse vehicles for sale on Tuble.net — listings across Europe. Need parts? Visit auto parts.
Checklist
- Record the registration number
- Use the appropriate free service for the country
- Check MOT/TÜV/APK/CT status
- Look for mileage inconsistencies
- Request the VIN from the seller
- Run a comprehensive VIN check
- Check for liens and legal issues
- Inspect the car in person
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out who owns a car by its registration number in Europe?
Personal owner information is protected under GDPR and national data protection laws. Public lookups typically show vehicle details such as make, model, and tax status, but not the owner identity. Law enforcement can access owner data when required.
Is a registration number lookup as reliable as a VIN check?
No. A registration number can change when a vehicle is re-registered or moved between countries, while the VIN is permanent. Registration lookups often work by linking to the VIN, so a direct VIN check gives more accurate and complete results.
Are free registration number lookup services accurate?
Free services typically provide only basic information such as make, model, and tax or MOT status. For detailed history including accidents, liens, and mileage records, use a paid vehicle history service that accesses official European databases.
Can I check if a car is stolen by its registration number?
Stolen vehicle databases are maintained by police and insurers. Some vehicle history services flag stolen status. If you suspect a vehicle is stolen, contact local police rather than relying solely on online lookups.
