DVLA API · Vehicle Enquiry Service · UK
DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API Integration.
Custom DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service API integration for UK businesses — instant vehicle lookups by registration number returning make, model, tax status, MOT expiry and more. Free API, fixed price build, you own the code.
Or describe what you need in one line — I’ll reply within one business day.
What it does
What the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry API provides.
The DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service API returns vehicle registration data from the official DVLA database for any UK registration number. Make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, year of manufacture, CO2 emissions, current tax status, tax due date, MOT status and MOT expiry date — all from a single API call, in real time, at no per-lookup cost.
A custom integration connects this data directly to your platform. Enter a registration number and the API returns the vehicle record automatically — auto-populating a form, displaying status on a listing page, triggering a workflow, or updating a database record. No manual data entry, no third-party data service, no ongoing lookup fees.
The DVLA VES API is separate from the DVSA MOT History API, which returns test history rather than current vehicle registration data. Many use cases need both. A combined integration calls both APIs from a single registration lookup and returns a unified response — current vehicle status from DVLA, full MOT test history from DVSA. See the DVLA vs DVSA API guide for the full comparison.
Who it’s for
Who uses a DVLA API integration.
Used car dealers and motor trade platforms
When a vehicle is added to stock, the integration calls the DVLA API and auto-populates the listing with make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size and year — no manual data entry. On the public listing page, tax status and MOT expiry are displayed live from DVLA rather than stored values that become stale. Combined with DVSA MOT history, the listing shows the complete official vehicle record and test history without anyone maintaining it manually.
Fleet and vehicle management systems
Automated compliance monitoring across a fleet — daily DVLA checks confirm each vehicle’s current tax status and MOT validity, alerts fire when expiry dates approach configurable thresholds (30, 14, 7 days), and every check is logged for audit purposes. For regulated fleet operators, this is the automated compliance record that demonstrates due diligence to insurers and the Traffic Commissioner.
Part-exchange and vehicle valuation tools
When a customer enters their registration to get a part-exchange quote or instant valuation, the integration retrieves the vehicle’s make, model, fuel type, engine size and year automatically — ensuring the valuation is calculated on DVLA-verified vehicle data rather than what the customer typed. Combined with DVSA MOT mileage history, the tool can cross-reference the customer’s stated mileage against official records and flag discrepancies automatically.
Insurance and finance applications
Finance and insurance applications that auto-populate vehicle details from DVLA when the customer enters their registration reduce form completion time, eliminate transcription errors, and ensure the vehicle data on the application matches the DVLA record. Fuel type, engine size and CO2 emissions — all available from the API — are relevant to insurance pricing and finance eligibility without the customer having to look them up.
Vehicle recyclers and salvage platforms
When a vehicle arrives for recycling or salvage, a DVLA lookup confirms vehicle identity and current registration status automatically — make, model, fuel type and SORN status all retrieved from source rather than relying on documentation that may be incomplete or inaccurate. Combined with DVSA MOT history, the mileage record provides additional context for valuation.
Why custom
Why a plugin won’t cut it.
Generic vehicle lookup plugins either charge per-lookup fees using third-party data sources, cannot implement your specific business logic, or connect to data aggregators rather than the official DVLA API directly.
Direct from DVLA
Calls the official government database directly. Same source as the government’s own vehicle enquiry tool. No middleman, no data accuracy concerns, no aggregator markup.
Zero per-lookup cost
The DVLA VES API is free. Once the integration is built, every vehicle lookup costs nothing — compared to commercial vehicle data services that charge per query.
Built around your logic
Auto-populate a form, trigger a compliance alert, store to a database, display on a listing — built exactly as your system requires, not constrained by what a plugin supports.
Combine with DVSA MOT
A custom integration can call both DVLA and DVSA APIs from a single registration lookup, returning a unified response. No plugin handles both.
The process
How a DVLA API integration is built.
Scoped before anything is built. Fixed price agreed in writing. Fully tested before handover.
Scoping
We establish where and how lookups need to happen, what data fields your system needs, how the response is handled, and whether DVSA MOT history is required alongside DVLA data.
Fixed-price quote
Clear, itemised quote before work begins. Scope agreed in writing. No surprises mid-project.
DVLA registration and authentication
DVLA developer portal registration, API key setup, and secure server-side credential handling. The API key never appears in client-side code.
Build and integration
Lookup endpoint, response parsing, data mapping, display or storage logic, and any workflow triggers built and integrated with your platform to specification.
Testing and handover
Full testing with real registrations across vehicle types and edge cases — SORN, no MOT, expired tax, invalid registration. Complete technical documentation. You own the code.
The deliverable
What’s included.
What I build
- DVLA API authentication and secure key management
- Registration number lookup endpoint
- Full response parsing — all VES data fields
- Form auto-population or display integration
- Live status display (tax, MOT) on public pages
- Error handling — invalid reg, SORN, no MOT, unavailability
- Caching layer for repeat lookups
- DVSA MOT history integration (if in scope)
- Technical handover document
What’s not included
- DVLA developer portal registration (done by you — free, typically 1–14 days)
- Registered keeper data — not available through the VES API
- Finance, write-off or stolen markers — require commercial data providers
- Service history — not held by DVLA or DVSA
- Changes to your existing platform outside the integration scope
Pricing
Fixed-price builds. No hidden costs.
Every build is scoped and quoted at a fixed price. The DVLA VES API is free — no per-lookup charges once the integration is live.
Standard Lookup
£595
~3–5 days
Registration input returning full DVLA vehicle data. Auto-populate a form, display vehicle details on a page, or trigger a basic workflow. Secure server-side proxy, full error handling. For dealer listing tools, part-exchange forms and any single-lookup use case.
- DVLA API authentication
- Registration lookup and response parsing
- Form auto-population or data display
- Error handling for all edge cases
- Technical handover document
- DVSA MOT history
- Fleet monitoring or scheduling
Platform Integration
£995
~1 week
DVLA lookup wired into your existing platform workflow. Results stored to your database, display built to your design, lookup triggered by your workflow events. Live status on public-facing pages. For dealer management systems, fleet platforms and part-exchange tools.
- Everything in Standard Lookup
- Results stored to your database or CRM
- Live status display on public pages
- Lookup triggered by workflow events
- Caching and rate limit management
- Technical handover document
DVLA + DVSA MOT
£1,495
~1–1.5 weeks
Combined DVLA vehicle data and DVSA MOT history in a single integration. Current vehicle status from DVLA, full test history with mileage and advisories from DVSA. OAuth 2.0 authentication for DVSA handled transparently. For dealer platforms and fleet systems needing the complete vehicle picture.
- Everything in Platform Integration
- DVSA OAuth 2.0 with token caching
- Full MOT history — results, mileage, advisories
- Mileage consistency checking
- Unified response from both APIs
- Technical handover document
Payment terms: 50% on agreement, balance on completion before handover. DVLA developer registration is free but requires your own application — approval typically takes 1–14 days.
See it in action
Try a live Vehicle Status Checker.
Enter any UK registration to see make, model, colour, fuel type, CO2 emissions, tax status and MOT expiry — live from the DVLA database. Free data, no login required.
Try the free demo →Common questions
DVLA API FAQ.
Is the DVLA VES API free?
Yes — the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service API is a free government API with no per-lookup charges. You register through the DVLA developer portal, your application is reviewed, and you receive an API key at no cost. The only charge is the development of the integration itself.
What data does the DVLA API return?
Make, model, primary colour, fuel type, engine capacity, year of manufacture, date of first registration, CO2 emissions, Eurostandard category, current tax status (taxed, SORN, untaxed, not licensed), tax due date, MOT status (valid or expired), and MOT expiry date. It does not return registered keeper name or address, service history, accident history, or any personal data about the vehicle’s owner.
What’s the difference between the DVLA API and the DVSA MOT API?
The DVLA VES API returns the vehicle’s current registration record — what it is and its current tax and MOT status. The DVSA MOT API returns the vehicle’s complete MOT test history — every test, with mileage, results, failure reasons and advisories. Many use cases need both. See the DVLA vs DVSA API guide for the full comparison.
Can it return registered keeper information?
No. The VES API does not return keeper or owner personal data. Keeper information from DVLA requires a formal application under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act and is only available to specific categories of applicant. It is not available through the VES API.
How long does DVLA API registration take?
Registration is through the DVLA developer portal. For legitimate business use cases — used car dealers, fleet operators, insurance platforms — approval is typically granted within a few days to two weeks. I advise on the application during scoping.
Can it work with any platform?
Yes — any platform with server-side code. WooCommerce, custom PHP, Laravel, Python, Node.js, bespoke OMS. The integration sits between your platform and the DVLA API. If your platform can make an HTTP request, the integration can be built for it.
Can I get MOT history as well as DVLA data?
Yes — the combined DVLA + DVSA MOT tier includes both. One registration lookup calls both APIs and returns a unified response: current vehicle status and test history together. This is the most common integration for used car dealer platforms and fleet systems.
How long does the build take?
The Standard Lookup takes 3–5 days. Platform Integration takes approximately one week. The combined DVLA + DVSA MOT build takes one to one-and-a-half weeks. Timeline starts once DVLA credentials are in hand, scope is agreed and the deposit is paid.
A DVLA lookup is the kind of feature I add to web design in Blackburn projects, and it pairs naturally with SEO support to bring motoring customers to your site.
Need DVLA API integration built?
Describe your platform, what triggers the lookup and what you need to do with the data — I’ll come back with a straight answer on what’s involved and what it costs. Fixed price, no obligation.
