Why is my car not showing on the DVLA database?
- What is the DVLA?
- Who is responsible for registering my car?
- Why is my car not showing on the DVLA database?
- What should I do if my car is not registered with the DVLA?
- Should I check if my car is on the DVLA when it’s delivered?
- How can I get my insurance if my car is not showing on the DVLA database?
- Where can I check if my car is on the DVLA database?
You’ve got your new car, and you want to check something on the DVLA database. Maybe you want to check when your car tax is due, or you just want to have a look to make sure it’s on there. But, it’s nowhere to be found.
Why is that?
There are a couple of reasons why your car is not showing on the DVLA database. We’ve advised people on this before so we’ve written an article explaining what the DVLA is, why your car might not be on it, and what you can do about it.
What is the DVLA?
Firstly, what is the DVLA? The DVLA is the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority. It’s a government body that is the national centre for issuing licenses and registering cars. It is also where points are added and where you register your car as off the road. It’s also where all new cars are registered.
The DVLA is the only place of its kind.
Who is responsible for registering my car on the DVLA database?
The dealership is the one responsible for registering the car. It’s completely down to them. However, sometimes the dealership will need extra information from you which you will need to provide. If they don’t have all the relevant information, they might not be able to register your car on the DVLA.
It should be noted here that a dealer should never release a car that has not been registered with the DVLA. This means it’s rare for your new vehicle NOT to be showing on the database.
Why is my car not showing on the DVLA?
Dealerships are allocated the registration number of a car about a week or two before it is due for delivery. However, they will not register the car with the DVLA until the day of delivery. The main reason for this is that they don’t want to tax and register a car, only for the order to be cancelled. It’s as simple as that.
So, one of the main reasons why your car is not showing on the DVLA database is that it hasn’t been registered yet.
Also, the DVLA is a national body. So, you can imagine how many thousands of cars are registered on it every day. This means that your car may not appear on the DVLA database until a few days after the delivery. This is because of the sheer volumes that are registered on a daily basis.
If you’ve just got your car and it’s not on there, then give it a couple of days and check again.
Still not there?
There is another reason why your car is not showing on the DVLA. It’s very rare, but we have seen it happen before. So, what is it? The wrong plate has been put on your car. An example of this is:
- Your car has been allocated the registration number ABC
- The plate on your car says ABD when it arrives
This is easily fixed if this is the case. Then the dealer will just issue the right plate to you. It’s very easily fixable.
What should I do if my car is not registered with the DVLA?
If you have noticed that your car is not on the DVLA database then this is what you do.
First off, don’t panic. It’s fixable and the process is very simple. It’s also worth remembering that this is not your fault so there’s nothing to worry about.
You need to contact your broker or supplying dealer immediately. If the dealership is in the wrong, then they’ll sort it with no problem. If the dealership says they have done everything right, then you have to contact the DVLA.
If you’re leasing a car, it’s at this point that you need to contact the finance house. This is because, on a contract hire, the finance house is the registered keeper of the car. Therefore, the dealership would have registered it to the finance house and they are the ones that need the DVLA to rectify the issue.
Should I check if my car is on the DVLA when it’s delivered?
You might be wondering ‘is it vital that I check my car is registered?’.
Not really, no. If your car is not showing on the DVLA then it will be flagged up pretty early on. Insurance companies use similar databases so they will alert you if they can’t find your car.
If they don’t, then the police will. The police use the same database as well. Again, it’s no big deal; they know that it’s not your fault.
Regardless of how or when it gets flagged up, you can get it sorted in no time.
How can I get insurance if my car is not showing on the DVLA?
Now, you might be thinking ‘well, how can I insure my car if it’s not even on the DVLA?’. And, you are right to ask that. These days, many insurance companies use automated systems. To get a quote, you simply put in your registration. But, how can you do that if it’s not registered?
We get asked this quite a lot. We recommend our customers to ring the insurance company, explain the situation and tell them why it’s not appearing on the database. They should be able to give you an insurance quote based on the specification and the P11d value.
Where can I check if my car on the DVLA database?
There are multiple sites that come up when you search on the internet for a vehicle checker. However, the best one to use is the DVLA vehicle checker.
You will need to know the vehicle’s make and registration. You can find out everything from:
- When the MOT expires
- When the current tax expires
- The date it was registered
- The year of manufacture
- CO2 emissions
And pretty much everything else you would want to know about your car. Including the colour.
There could be a few reasons as to why your car is not showing on the DVLA, but the chances of it happening are very slim. If it isn’t, then it’s down to either the dealership or the DVLA to rectify the problem. As we’ve said many times during this article, it’s a problem that is very easily resolved.
If you wish to find out more detail about a car registration – e.g. address of the registered owner – you will need to write to the DVLA as this information is not available via their online portal.
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81 Comments
I think my situation just like Qamar ayaz Raja| in the comments
I got new car Toyota voxy it a import from Japan the car has been registered with DVLA all most 3 weeks but I can’t get insured on it when I put my reg it comes as incorrect numberplate I just don’t understand what to do I have mot and the road tax is there anyone can help me what can I do or do I have to wait even longer
Hi Shamroz. It seems like there might be a discrepancy between the registration details provided to the DVLA and what is being recognised by insurance companies. This could be due to various reasons such as data entry errors or delays in updating records.
Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:
Double-check the registration details: Make sure the registration details you’re entering match exactly what is on your registration document (V5C).
Contact the DVLA: Reach out to the DVLA to confirm that your car’s registration details are correctly recorded in their database. They may be able to provide guidance on any discrepancies and help rectify the issue.
Contact your insurance provider: Inform your insurance company about the issue you’re facing with registering your car for insurance. They may be able to assist you in verifying the details or suggest alternative solutions.
Be patient: Sometimes, it can take time for databases to update and synchronise. While waiting for the issue to be resolved, ensure that you have all the necessary documents such as the V5C, MOT certificate, and road tax.
I hope this helps, and that you’re able to resolve the issue soon.
Hi i received my log book from dvla for my imported car but when i try to go through insurance it not comes on system even though car has road tax and pass mot
Hi there Qamar, it’s unfortunate that you’re facing issues with your imported car not showing on the DVLA database despite having road tax and passing the MOT. Here are some possible reasons and steps you can take:
Processing Time: Sometimes, it takes a bit of time for the DVLA database to get updated. It’s possible that your information is still in the process of being added.
Correct VIN/Chassis Number: Ensure that the VIN or chassis number provided to the DVLA matches the one on your log book. A small error can lead to discrepancies.
Contact DVLA: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to the DVLA directly. They can provide insights into the status of your vehicle registration.
Insurance Company: Keep your insurance company informed about the situation. They might have specific procedures or advice on dealing with such cases.
Remember, each case can be unique, and direct communication with the DVLA and your insurance provider will be crucial.
Hi – I’ve bought a 2nd hand car and have completed a HPI check which came back all good without issues. I’ve also checked DVLA website and the car has Road Tax for 5 months. Having sent the the V5c form back to DVLA, they have responded back to me with car not in their database and the VIN I sent them is not valid. what should I do next?
Hi there Ashfaq, we recommend reaching out to the DVLA directly to clarify the situation. Provide them with all the relevant details, including your HPI check results and road tax information. They should be able to guide you on the next steps to ensure your car’s proper registration.
I BOUGHT A PRIVATE PLATE FROM DVLA, BUT DVLA SAYS PLATE CANTBE FOUND ON DATABAS
Hi there Paul, thank you for your query. To address this, you might want to consider the following steps:
Double-check Information: Ensure that the details you entered are accurate. Sometimes, a small error can lead to discrepancies.
Contact DVLA: Reach out to DVLA customer support directly to inquire about the issue. They should be able to assist you in locating your plate and resolving any database-related problems.
Plate Transfer Status: If you recently purchased the private plate, it might be in the process of being transferred. Check the status of the transfer, and DVLA should provide information on its progress.
If the problem persists, DVLA customer support would be the best point of contact for a resolution. They can provide specific details about your case and guide you on the next steps.