Car History Check Northern Ireland: NI Reg & Car Check

Car checks for Northern Ireland registered vehicles

Northern Ireland plates look different, but the car behind them is on the same UK vehicle register. Since 2014 the DVLA has held the records for vehicles registered in Northern Ireland, so a CarCheckUp check works with an NI reg just as it does with one from Great Britain. Enter the registration above, with or without the space.

What you can check for an NI car

• Free car check: the DVLA record: make, model, colour, fuel type, engine size, year of first registration, and the tax and MOT status.
• Full car history check: outstanding finance, insurance write-offs (Cat S, N, C and D), police stolen markers, the high risk register, salvage auction records, previous keepers, plate changes, colour changes, the log book (V5C) dates and whether the car was imported. These come from UK-wide databases, so they cover cars on Northern Ireland plates too.

MOT history for Northern Ireland cars

In Northern Ireland, MOT tests are carried out by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) at its own test centres, not by garages. Results of tests done in Northern Ireland since December 2017 can be viewed on GOV.UK's Check MOT history service. If a car spent its life in Great Britain before it came to Northern Ireland, its GB MOT history, with the mileage at each test, is part of our free check. If an NI car shows little or no MOT history in your report, look it up on GOV.UK before you buy and compare the mileage with the dashboard.

How to recognise a Northern Ireland number plate

Northern Ireland registrations use three letters followed by up to four numbers, such as ABZ 1234. The letters always include an I or a Z. Because they show no age, these dateless plates are also popular as private plates on cars in Great Britain, so an NI-style plate doesn't always mean the car was registered in Northern Ireland: the check shows the vehicle's own details either way.

Buying a used car in Northern Ireland

• Cars from the Republic of Ireland: many used cars cross the border. A car registered in the Republic first shows up as imported, and its earlier history abroad isn't on UK records.
• Finance: a car with outstanding finance can still belong to the lender. The full report shows any agreement recorded against it.
• Cloned cars: compare the VIN on the car (base of the windscreen, door frame) and the V5C with the details in the report.

Read our guide: Buying a used car in Northern Ireland: the checks to do. You can also see what a full report looks like in our sample car history report.

Northern Ireland car check FAQs

Does a car check work with a Northern Ireland reg?

Yes. The DVLA holds Northern Ireland vehicle records, so the free check and the full car history check both work with an NI registration.

Can I check an NI car's MOT history?

Yes. Tests done in Northern Ireland since December 2017 are on GOV.UK's Check MOT history, and any MOTs the car had in Great Britain are in our free check.

Is there a free car check in Northern Ireland?

Yes. The free check shows the DVLA details, tax and MOT status and the MOT history we hold, at no cost and with no sign-up.

How do I check if an NI car has outstanding finance?

Run a full car history check with the registration. It shows any finance agreement recorded against the car, such as hire purchase or PCP.