If you're seeing an error when typing in a vehicle number plate on the FreeCarCheck website, then don't panic.
Firstly check all the following:
- The number plate that you've entered is 100% correct. You'd be surprised how many people enter one digit incorrectly. :)
- The number plate must be in the correct, legal UK format. We cannot check non-UK registered vehicles with foreign plates.
- If it's a non-standard but legal UK number plate, for example an "Irish style" plate like OIZ 2944, or if it's a cherished/private plates, occasionally these are not recognised by our system.
- If the number plate is on retention i.e. not assigned to any vehicle with the DVLA, these sometimes don't work.
NB: Spacing doesn't matter, our system will work with both "AB51 ABC" and "AB51ABC".
Other reasons
If you've checked all the above and it still fails, then it helps to understand how our vehicle number plate checker works: It doesn't check if the number plate is valid per se, it actually just checks it to see if it's possible to use it, to generate a vehicle check.
In other words, if the number plate you've entered cannot be used to generate a report (for whatever reason), then you will see an error. It doesn't necessarily mean that the number plate is invalid.
If you feel that your number plate (VRM) is not working outside of these reasons above please contact a member of the FreeCarCheck team and we'll be glad to look into it.