Can the DVLA give me my VIN?

The short answer

The DVLA holds the VIN, but its free online vehicle check does not show it. The usual place to read it is the V5C logbook. If you have the V5C, you already have the VIN.

What the online check shows

You enter the registration number and get details such as vehicle tax, MOT expiry, date of first registration, year of manufacture, engine size, fuel type and emissions. It is free and worth using, but the VIN is not on the list.

If you have lost the V5C

A registered keeper can apply for a replacement online or by phone. GOV.UK says the online service usually costs £25, and the logbook usually arrives by post in 5 to 7 working days. Two things catch people out:

• The application asks for the VIN. You need the registration number, the VIN or chassis number, and the name and postcode on the V5C. Find a VIN without the V5C covers what to do.
• It goes to the address the DVLA holds. If your details have changed, or you do not have the vehicle, you will need to apply by post instead.

Writing to the DVLA

You can write to the DVLA for information about your own vehicle. To ask about someone else’s, you must show reasonable cause. Forms and any fees are listed on GOV.UK under requesting information from the DVLA. It is a route for records, not for getting a number today.

When you need it sooner

If you cannot get to the car or its paperwork, enter the reg here. It costs £2.50, the VIN shows on screen straight away, and you are not charged if we do not find it. We are not the DVLA, and we never return keeper details. The free ways to find a VIN are worth trying first.