BHP check by registration
Enter a registration to see how much power the car left the factory with: BHP, PS and kW, plus torque, 0 to 60 and the engine behind it.
Free · No sign-up · Manufacturer figures
Where the BHP figure comes from
The DVLA does not record horsepower in a form you can look up, and the V5C only sometimes shows a net power figure in kW. So we match the registration to the exact model and variant in UK Vehicle Data's manufacturer data and show the power it was built with.
Where the DVLA does hold a net power figure for the vehicle, we show that too. The two come from different sources, so when they agree you can be confident you are looking at the right engine.
Want the full recorded specification and identity of a car, not just its power? The car spec check covers that.
BHP, PS and kW
Three ways of stating the same thing. Manufacturers in Europe usually quote PS or kW, UK adverts usually quote BHP.
| Unit | What it is | Converting |
|---|---|---|
| BHP | Brake horsepower, the imperial measure used in most UK adverts and reviews | 1 bhp = 0.746 kW |
| PS | Pferdestärke, the metric horsepower on most European spec sheets | 1 PS = 0.986 bhp |
| kW | Kilowatts, the official unit on type approval and the V5C | 1 kW = 1.341 bhp |
A 150 PS engine is about 148 bhp and 110 kW. The small gap between PS and BHP is why the same car can be advertised with two slightly different numbers.
Why people check a car's BHP
Checking the advert
Sellers get the variant wrong, by mistake or otherwise. If a car is sold as the 190 bhp version and the registration says 150, you know which one you are buying.
Getting insurance quotes
Insurers ask for the exact model, and power is part of how they tell variants apart. Knowing the figure helps you pick the right one from their list.
Comparing cars
Power alone says little. Torque, 0 to 60 and the gearbox tell you how a car actually drives, so the check shows them together.
What this check cannot tell you
- Remaps and modifications. The figures are the factory's. A remapped or modified car can make more or less power, and nothing in the records shows that.
- Power today. Wear, faults and a tired engine lose power over time. Only a rolling road measures the car in front of you.
- Rare and imported models. If the manufacturer data does not recognise the vehicle, we say so rather than guess, and show what the DVLA holds instead.
BHP check FAQs
How do I find out how much BHP my car has?
Enter the registration above. We match it to the model and variant in the manufacturer data and show its BHP, PS and kW, along with torque, 0 to 60 and engine details. It is free and takes a few seconds.
Does the V5C show BHP?
Not as BHP. Section P.2 of the V5C can show the maximum net power in kW, but it is often blank. Multiply kW by 1.341 to get BHP.
Is BHP the same as horsepower?
Close, but not quite. BHP is imperial horsepower measured at the engine. PS is metric horsepower, and 1 PS is about 0.986 bhp, so a 100 PS engine is about 99 bhp.
Will this show if a car has been remapped?
No. The check shows the manufacturer's figures for the model as built. A remap is not recorded anywhere a registration lookup can see, so ask the seller and look for evidence such as invoices.
Why does the check show no BHP for some cars?
A small share of vehicles, mostly imports, rare models and very old vehicles, are not in the manufacturer data. We show what the DVLA holds instead rather than guess a figure.
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Manufacturer specification from UK Vehicle Data. Registration details from the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. Figures are the manufacturer's for the model and variant as built.