Car spec check by reg.
See the make, model, engine size and fuel type from a registration, then check the history that matters before you buy in one £15 report.
Check by reg:
- Make & model
- Engine size (cc)
- Fuel type
- Year & colour
- CO₂ emissions
- Full history
What car specs can you check by reg?
Enter a registration and you can confirm the core specification held in official DVLA and DVSA records. It is the quickest way to check a car matches its advert before you go any further.
Make and model
Confirm the manufacturer and model recorded against the registration.
Engine size & fuel
See the engine capacity in cc and the fuel type held in DVLA records.
Year & colour
Check the year of manufacture and the recorded colour for a quick match.
CO₂ emissions
View CO₂ emissions where held, useful for tax bands and running costs.
Model, trim, engine and BHP explained.
Some specification figures are recorded against the registration, and some are not. Knowing the difference helps you check the right details before you buy.
Model and engine size
The make, model and engine size in cc are recorded and shown when you look the car up by reg.
BHP and power
BHP is not always held in DVLA data. The engine size and model give a strong guide, and you can confirm power against the manufacturer's figures for that engine.
Trim and options
The exact trim level and factory options are not always recorded. The V5C or the VIN can help confirm the precise variant.
Vehicle identity
Match the spec against the VIN and registration to make sure the car is what the seller claims. Run a VIN check for identity context.
Spec check vs full vehicle history check.
A spec check tells you what the car is. A full history check tells you what has happened to it — the part that protects your money.
The specification confirms the make, model, engine and fuel. It cannot tell you whether the car still has finance owing, has been written off or stolen, or has a mileage history that does not add up. Those checks come from lender, insurer, police and MOT records, and they sit in the full Carpeep report alongside the specification.
Start with a free car check or a reg check, then run the full report before you commit.
Check the spec and the history together.
Enter the registration to confirm the specification and check the full vehicle history before you buy.
- Instant results
- All checks included
- £30,000 data guarantee
Why spec alone is not enough before buying.
Two cars with the same specification can be worlds apart. One may be clear, the other may carry outstanding finance, a hidden write-off or a mileage that has been wound back.
Outstanding finance
Spec cannot show whether a lender still has a claim over the car. Run a finance check.
Write-off history
A car can match its spec and still have been written off. Run a write-off check.
Mileage discrepancies
The spec says nothing about the recorded mileage. Run a mileage check.
Car Spec Check FAQs
What is a car spec check?
A car spec check looks up a vehicle's specification from its registration. It confirms the make, model, engine size, fuel type, colour and year using DVLA and DVSA data, so you can match a car to its advert.
What specs can I check by registration?
By reg you can confirm the make, model, engine size in cc, fuel type, colour, year of manufacture and CO₂ emissions where held.
The exact trim level and BHP are not always recorded in DVLA data.
Can I find my car's BHP by reg?
DVLA records hold the engine size in cc, fuel type and CO₂ emissions, but not always the exact BHP.
The engine size and model give a strong guide, and you can confirm BHP against the manufacturer's figures for that engine and variant.
Does a spec check show the exact trim or model variant?
The make, model and engine size are recorded, but the precise trim level or factory options are not always held in DVLA data.
The V5C, the manufacturer's build records or the VIN can confirm the exact variant.
Can I check engine size by reg?
Yes. The engine size in cubic centimetres (cc) is held in DVLA records and is shown when you look the vehicle up by registration, alongside fuel type and CO₂ emissions.
Is a car spec check free?
You can see the basic specification when you look a vehicle up by reg.
A full Carpeep history check costs £15 and adds the checks that matter before buying, such as finance, write-off, stolen and mileage history.
What is the difference between a spec check and a history check?
A spec check confirms what the car is — make, model, engine and fuel. A full history check confirms what has happened to it, including outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, mileage and ownership history.
Why isn't the spec enough before buying a used car?
The specification tells you what the car should be, but not whether it has finance owing, has been written off or stolen, or has a mileage that does not add up.
A full history check covers those risks before you pay.
Know exactly what you're buying.
Enter the reg to confirm the specification and run the full vehicle history before you commit.
- Full vehicle history
- No account required
- £30,000 data guarantee