Number Plate Change & History Chec

A change in number plate isn’t always a red flag but there is a chance that these updates were made to hide the vehicle’s past. To stay safe and avoid potential fraud, use our number plate change check today to confirm a car’s status before you buy.

Protect yourself from fraud and get peace of mind in seconds

Check the number plate history using data from official DVLA records

Comprehensive, accurate data backed by our £30,000 guarantee

Support available from our friendly customer support team seven days a week

What's included in a number plate change check?

Get a number plate change check and find out the plate’s history with us and you’ll be given the information you need to help you make an informed purchase.

With hpi check®, you’ll receive:

✔ Accurate number plate history: Verify the history of the number plate on a car, van or motorbike for sale.

✔ DVLA data-backed details: Instantly find out if the vehicle has had a number plate change in the past, along with information on the number of changes made.

✔ Individual and combined checks: A number plate change check is available as part of the full individual package from hpi check®. You can also run a check on two other vehicles as part of a multi-check order.

✔ Full vehicle identification: Confirm the vehicle matches official records by cross-checking its VIN, engine number and V5C logbook date.

✔ Additional vehicle checks: If you choose a full hpi check®, you’ll also get details on outstanding finance, the number of previous owners, write-off information and more.

hpi check® - The car check trusted by millions

“Saw the car I wanted, checked the car through your website, and how relieved I was that I did check its history. It was an insurance write-off, and the mileage was incorrect. Saved me from a very bad situation, and having a conman making my life a misery. Money well spent. Thanks”

“We used HPI check because we trusted their information on a used car that we wanted to purchase. In the world of used cars this proved to be invaluable advice, we would recommend anyone thinking of buying a quality used car to use this service.”

“Using HPI Check is, for me, an essential part of buying a car. Unlike some other aspects of buying a car, this one is straightforward, quick, and given the potential should things not be in order, it is excellent value for money. It also means that I trust the many other offers that come through HPI Check. Excellent!”

“Informative and accurate. Good service.”

How much does it cost to get a number plate history check?

A number plate change check and history report are included as part of our full hpi check®. This single check costs £19.99 and includes a detailed report that covers more than 80 key data points about the vehicle’s past – including whether the number plate has ever been changed.

If you’ve found more than one car that you’d like to get information on, choose our MultiCheck package. This lets you check three vehicles for £29.97 – a saving of 50% compared to individual checks.

We also offer a basic vehicle check for £9.99. However, this does not include a full plate-change history. You also won’t benefit from our £30,000 data guarantee or additional details like a stolen logbook check or mileage discrepancies.

Why should I run a number plate change check?

A change in number plates in the past isn’t always a sign of something bad. But it can also be done to hide the car’s past. Purchasing a car with a number plate that’s been changed increases your risk of:

✔ Falling for fraud: New plates could be an indication of falsified ownership history, clocking or previous structural damage to the car.

✔ Legal issues: If you unknowingly buy a car that’s had its plates changed, it could be that the car is stolen and has been cloned, which is where the vehicle has been given a new identity, including false plates, along with a duplicate V5C logbook and new VIN.

✔ Financial loss: A changed number plate can hide the fact that the car is cloned and leave you, as the new owner, incurring financial penalties. It can also hide any outstanding finance on the car.

With hpi check®, you can get the number plate history to help you stay safe and avoid becoming a victim of vehicle fraud.

Many car reg check users discover that the vehicle they are hoping to buy has had at least one number plate change in the past. It's important to be aware of this, even though it's not always a sign of something sinister. After all, it could be that the previous owner simply wanted to personalise their car, van or motorbike. But if the seller does not point out number plate changes, then you will have reason to be suspicious. Getting an hpi check® will inform you of the plate history and give you the confidence to walk away if you're not happy.

Signs that a car for sale might have changed plates

If you’re considering buying a car, check for these warning signs that indicate the plates were changed at some point:

✔ Seller avoids answering questions about the vehicle’s past

✔ Differences between the vehicle’s logbook (V5C) details and the current number plate

✔ Physical signs of recent alterations, such as fresh screw marks or adhesive around the number plate

✔ A deal that seems too good to be true

✔ The VIN doesn’t match

✔ The engine number doesn’t match

If you notice any of these red flags, run a number plate change check before handing over any money.

Why choose hpi® number plate history check?

hpi check® offers industry-leading protection, whether you’re thinking of buying a car, motorbike or van.

✔ Direct access to DVLA data: We’re the only provider of accurate and authentic hpi check® and our number plate change check cross-references DVLA records.

✔ £30,000 data guarantee: We have a guarantee in place to protect you from financial loss.

✔ Full vehicle verification: With over 80 data points about millions of cars on UK roads, our reports are comprehensive and designed to make your car-buying decision easy. The number plate change check is just one of the checks we run. Take a look at a sample report to get an idea of how we set it out for you.

✔ Trusted by millions: We’ve been helping UK drivers avoid fraud, legal issues and vehicle scams for over 80 years.

✔ UK-based support team: Contact us to get expert assistance – we’re here for you seven days a week.

Every year, we help thousands of buyers avoid expensive mistakes and fight back against fraudsters. Make sure you’re one of them.

Check the number plate history today with hpi check®

Avoid buying a car with a dodgy history. With just a few clicks, you can access our number plate change check service to confirm if a vehicle has had different plates in the past. You can also find more information on how to spot vehicle fraud in our knowledge hub.

Enter a registration number below and get instant results today.