VRM (vehicle registration mark)
Also known as: VRM, number plate, reg, vehicle registration, registration number
A VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark) is the unique alphanumeric code displayed on a UK vehicle's number plate, used by DVLA, insurers and ANPR cameras to identify the vehicle.
Modern UK VRMs follow the format AB12 CDE - two letters identifying the issuing DVLA office, two digits encoding the year, and three letters as a unique identifier. Plates issued before 2001 use older formats (the A-prefix, B-prefix, etc. cherished plates date back further).
VRMs stay with the vehicle for its lifetime unless the keeper applies for a cherished transfer (moving a "personalised" plate to a different vehicle). Cherished transfers show up on a provenance check as a "plate change" entry.
Every DealerPricing service starts with a VRM lookup. The platform decodes the VRM into the full vehicle record using DVLA records and proprietary vehicle data partners, then enriches with MOT history, market pricing and provenance data.
How-to guides
- How to find a car’s details from its registration numberLook up any UK car by number plate for free: make, year, colour, fuel, engine size, CO2, first registration date and when the V5C logbook was last issued.
- How to check a car’s factory spec and options by registrationSee the exact trim and standard equipment for a car, decoded from the registration, plus the optional extras and packs that were offered for it with list prices.
- How to look up a UK vehicle by registration with the DealerPricing APIDecode any UK registration into make, model, variant, engine and gearbox with one POST request. Test in the sandbox, then go live from £0.02 a call.
- How to tell if a car is cloned (UK)How to spot a cloned car before you buy: match the VIN and V5C, check the log book watermark and serial number, and read plate and colour changes.
Related terms
- V5C logbookThe V5C is the official UK vehicle registration document issued by DVLA, showing the registered keeper, vehicle technical details and ownership history.
- MOT historyMOT history is the record of every annual MOT test a UK vehicle has had since 2005, including pass/fail status, mileage at each test, expiry dates, advisories and recorded defects.
- Vehicle tax statusVehicle tax status is the current DVLA record of whether a UK vehicle has valid Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, commonly "road tax") in place - and if so, when it expires.