How to Find a VIN from a Registration Number

The registration tells you which car it is, but not the VIN. Here is where to look.

1. Check the car itself

The VIN is usually visible at the bottom of the windscreen, on a sticker on the driver door pillar and stamped in the engine bay or floor. Our guide to where the VIN is on your car walks through each spot.

2. Look at the V5C logbook

The VIN is listed in section E of the V5C, labelled VIN, chassis or frame number.

Illustration of a logbook page with dummy data, section E for the VIN highlighted in yellow — Illustration with dummy data. Section E holds the VIN.

3. Check your paperwork

Service history, insurance documents and purchase invoices often carry the VIN.

4. Use a paid lookup

Enter the reg here, confirm the vehicle, pay £7 and we email the VIN.

Why gov.uk does not show the VIN

The DVLA free vehicle enquiry returns tax and MOT data only. It is a useful check, but it will not give you the VIN.