UK Vehicle Data Ltd is a top level licenced DVLA UK data company - Is your supplier on the list?

Our VRM lookup data API

All about our data API, who supplies us, it's update frequency and Data bandits

Who supplies our data API?

Here at UK Vehicle Data Ltd we are a fully licensed reseller of all the data we provide via our API's, this means we pay a fee to the data owner each time the data is used whether it be direct with other data companies such as Experian Automotive, Jato or Royal Mail or individuals who own a dataset. We also have our own datasets that we have created internally directly from manufacturer data and continue to improve & building upon. We are always releasing new datasets and API packages dependent on customer requirements, so if you don't see something you need, drop us a line.

Beware of data bandits

Unfortunately there are some people / companies who steal DVLA and other data with methods such as screen scraping, incorrectly protected API's or deconstruction applications for profit and somehow believe it is a victimless crime - unfortunately this is wrong and in most cases against the law.

Someone ultimately pays the bill for the stolen data these people and companies take while leaving their 'customers' using a stolen data feed with no form of SLA or continuity guarantee. We are aware of 2 such companies operating in the UK and are moving to take steps with the DVLA, Experian, ADS and AGD as well as exposing them in the printed media to ensure these people are shut down and quickly prosecuted.

Theft is theft and data isn't free - but it is really cheap here at UKVD!

How often are our data feeds updated?

Here are some common, but not all our fields

Below is a list of all the data points our API can deliver and their update schedule. While we make every effort to ensure all our internal and external data is as live as possible, however there may be some situations where data is delayed getting live, but this is not normally more than 24 hours.

NB. This is not the API Metadata and documentation, if you are looking for that please find it here.
Name
Description
Source
Owner
Frequency

Coding schemas

ABI
Association of British Insurers
Thatcham
Thatcham
Weekly
DRD
Driveright vehicle coding
UKVD
Driveright
Monthly
DVLA
DVLA coding system
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Engine code
The code of the engine in that vehicle
UKVD
UKVD
Daily
Fleetnet
Fleetned EDi code
UKVD
Fleetnet
Daily
MVRIS
MVRIS industry coding system
Experian
SMMT
Daily
TVI
Thatcham coding system
Thatcham
Thatcham
Weekly
UVID
UK Vehicle Data coding system
UKVD
UKVD
Daily
VIN / Chassis
VIN / chassis number of the vehicle
Experian
DVLA
Monthly

Full Vehicle Data

Aspiration
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Axels
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Body style
The type of body, Estate, Saloon etc
Experian
SMMT
Monthly
Bore
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Co2 Emissions
CO2 emissions figure for vehicle.
Experian
UKVD
Monthly
Colour
The Curent colour of the vehicle
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Cylinder type
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Door plan
DVLA door plan code for this vehicle
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Engine Number
The serial number of the engine block.
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
EuroStatus
The Euro emissions status of the vehicle
UKVD
UKVD
Daily
Exported
If the vehicle has been exported
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
First Registered
Date vehicle was first registered
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Fuel
The type of fuel the vhicle uses
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Gearbox
The type of gearbox in the vehicle
Experian
DVLA & SMMT
Monthly
Height
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Irish import
If the Vehicle was originally registered in Ireland
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Keeper change
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Keeper count
The toal number of keepers
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Length
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Make
The make of the vehicle, or Marque
Experian
DVLA & SMMT
Weekly
Model
The model designation of the vehicle eg 'Fiesta'
Experian
DVLA & SMMT
Weekly
Model Setup date
The date the model varient was first released
Experian
SMMT
Monthly
Model variant
The derivative of the model, eg 'Fiesta Zetec s'
Experian
SMMT
Monthly
MPG
MIles per gallon
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Plate change
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Scrapped
If the vehicle is scrapped
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Seating
The number of seats available
Experian
UKVD
Monthly
Stroke
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Towing weight
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
TypeApproval
DVLA Type approval system
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
V5 Certificate count
Number of V5 certificates issued for teh vehicle
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
ValveGear
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Valves
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
VED rate
VED rate for 6 and 12 months
UKVD
UKVD
Weekly
VED year 1
VED rate for first year
UKVD
UKVD
Weekly
VIC Status
If it has had a VIC test
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
VRM
The Vehicle Registration Mark, if searched by VIN
Experian
DVLA & SMMT
Weekly
Weight
The weight of the vehicle
Experian
UKVD
Monthly
Wheelbase
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Width
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly
Year
The year the car was made
Experian
DVLA
Monthly

MOT & Tax

MOT Advisories
List of advisory notices issued with the test.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Days left
The number of days from now until the date by which the next MOT is due.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Expiry date
Date on which the test will expire.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Failures
List of reasons for the test resulting as a failure.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Next due
The date by which the next MOT is due.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Status
Has current Valid MOT
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Test date
Date on which the MOT test occurred.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Test No
Unique official MOT test number issued for this test.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
MOT Test result
Result of the test. Pass / Fail
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
Odometer
Odometer reading taken at time of the test.
DVSA
MOT & UKVD
Hourly
SORN
If there is a Sorn in place
DVLA
DVLA
Daily
SORN Date
The start date of teh SORN
DVLA
DVLA
Daily
Tax Expiry
When the current tax will expire, or when it expired
DVLA
DVLA
Daily
Tax Valid
If the vehicle is currently taxed
DVLA
DVLA
Daily
VED Rate
The current rate for 6 and 12 months VED
UKVD
UKVD
Monthly

VDI Check

Colour change
Vehicle has changed colour
Experian
DVLA
Monthly
Exported
If the vehicle is marked as being exported
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Finance
Outstanding finance and debt data.
Experian
Experian
Daily
Imported
If the vehicle has been imported after registration
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Mileage
Mileage data from various industry sources
Experian
Experian
Daily
Plate change
Having had a cherrished transfer
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Scrapped
Marked as vehicle scrapped.
Experian
DVLA
Weekly
Stolen
If a vehicle appears on the Police National Computer as stolen
Experian
Experian
Daily
Writeoff
If a vehicle has been involved in an accident
Experian
Experian
Daily

Our licensing

The bulk of our vehicle data comes from the DVLA through our bulk licence, Experian, Glass, ABI and other industry bodies. We are a fully licensed reseller of all our data. Some of our API's data contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 such as the MOT, Tax and other DVSA data.

UK Vehicle Data Ltd
Princess House, Princess Way
Swansea, SA1 3LW
+44 1792 722 720

Come and see us

UK Company Number 09756191 - VAT Registration Number GB 222 0470 60