Check a motorbike by VIN or reg
Free: DVLA details and MOT history. Bike VINs are 17 characters; older and Japanese-market bikes may have a shorter frame number, so try the registration too.
Checking this vehicle…
- DVLA record
- MOT history & advisories
- Mileage readings
- Tax & MOT status
Full report
Full report ready to unlock: delivered in seconds
What a motorcycle VIN check shows
The VIN links the bike in front of you to its official record. The free check by VIN finds the UK registration the DVLA holds for it and shows:
| Check | Free check | Full report |
|---|---|---|
| Make, model, colour, engine size, year | Yes | Yes |
| MOT history and mileage at each test | Yes | Yes |
| Tax and MOT status | Yes | Yes |
| Outstanding finance | – | Yes |
| Insurance write-off (Cat A, B, S, N) | – | Yes |
| Police stolen marker and high-risk register | – | Yes |
| Previous keepers, plate and colour changes | – | Yes |
| VIN and engine number on record | – | Yes |
Motorbikes are covered like cars. Of 4,643 full reports run on CarCheckUp up to 17 October 2026, 128 were for motorbikes (2.8%), and every one of them came back with the finance, write-off, high-risk, keeper and plate change records. See what the report looks like in the sample report, or read more about checking a bike on our motorbike history check page.
How a motorcycle VIN differs from a car's
A motorbike built since 1981 has the same 17-character VIN format as a car (ISO 3779), with no letters I, O or Q:
- Characters 1 to 3 (the maker code, WMI): JYA is Yamaha in Japan, SMT is Triumph, ZDM is Ducati. The table below lists the motorbike makers.
- Characters 4 to 9: the maker's own model, frame and engine codes.
- Character 10: the model year on bikes built for North America; many bikes built for Europe leave it out, so trust the year on the DVLA record.
- Characters 11 to 17: the factory and the serial number.
Two things are particular to bikes: the VIN is usually called the frame number, because it is stamped into the frame rather than shown behind a windscreen, and bikes imported from Japan's home market often have a short frame number (the model code and a serial, such as NC30-1000123) instead of a 17-character VIN. The DVLA records the number as it is, so search by registration if a short frame number isn't found.
To see what each character of a 17-character VIN means (maker, country, factory and model year), use our VIN decoder.
Where is the VIN on a motorbike?
| Steering head | Stamped into the frame on the steering head (the headstock), usually on the right-hand side; turn the bars to full lock to see it. This is the most common place. |
|---|---|
| Frame plate | A riveted plate or sticker on the frame near the headstock or on a frame rail, often with the type approval details. |
| Frame rails or swingarm area | On some scooters and off-road bikes, stamped on a frame rail under the seat or the floor panel. |
| V5C log book | In the vehicle identification number box of the registration certificate. It must match the frame. |
| Engine number (separate) | The engine number is stamped on the crankcase. It isn't part of the VIN, but the full report shows the engine number on record so you can compare it. |
The VIN on the frame, the frame plate and the V5C log book must all match. Ground-down or re-stamped characters, fresh paint or welding around the headstock, or a loose frame plate are reasons to walk away.
Motorbike maker codes our VIN check recognises
| Make | VIN starts with | Built in |
|---|---|---|
| Honda | JH2 MLH RLH ZDC VTM LWB | Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Spain, China |
| Yamaha | JYA JY4 VG5 MH3 LBP VTL MLE | Japan, France, Indonesia, China, Spain, Thailand |
| Kawasaki | JKA JKB MH4 ML5 | Japan, Indonesia, Thailand |
| Suzuki | JS1 MLC | Japan, Thailand |
| Triumph | SMT | United Kingdom (and Thailand, under the same code) |
| BMW Motorrad | WB1 WB3 | Germany, India |
| Ducati | ZDM ML0 | Italy, Thailand |
| KTM and Husqvarna | VBK ZKH MD2 | Austria, Italy, India (built by Bajaj) |
| Harley-Davidson | 1HD 5HD | United States |
| Royal Enfield | ME3 | India |
| Aprilia, Piaggio, Vespa and Moto Guzzi | ZD4 ZAP ZGU LBM | Italy, China |
| MV Agusta and Benelli | ZCG ZBN | Italy |
| Indian Motorcycle | 56K | United States |
| CFMOTO, Zongshen, SYM, Keeway and Sinnis | LCE LZS LXM LBB LDU | China |
Maker codes checked against the NHTSA vPIC database and the DVLA make on motorbike reports run on CarCheckUp (17 October 2026).
Buying a used motorbike: checks before you pay
- Match the VIN on the steering head, the frame plate and the V5C, and the engine number on the crankcase with the one on record.
- Read the MOT history (free above): mileage that goes down, long gaps or repeated brake and suspension failures need an explanation.
- Check finance, write-off and theft with the full report: a bike with outstanding finance can be taken back by the lender, and a Cat S or Cat N bike is worth less.
- See the seller at the address on the V5C and pay by bank transfer, not cash.
More checks: stolen vehicle check, outstanding finance check, write-off check, MOT history check and VIN check for cars.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a motorcycle by VIN?
Enter the bike's 17-character VIN (frame number) in the box above. The free check by VIN shows the DVLA details and MOT history of the UK registration it belongs to; the full report adds outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers and keeper changes. You can also check by number plate.
Where is the VIN on a motorbike?
Most motorbikes have the VIN stamped into the frame on the steering head (the headstock): turn the handlebars to full lock and look on the right-hand side. It is also on the frame plate and in the V5C log book, and the three must match.
Is a motorcycle VIN the same as the frame number?
Yes. On bikes built since 1981 the frame number is the 17-character VIN. Older and some low-volume bikes have shorter frame numbers, which the DVLA records as they are.
Can I check if a motorbike is stolen by VIN?
Yes. The full report checks the police stolen marker and the high-risk register by VIN or registration. Before you pay, also check that the VIN on the frame matches the log book before you pay.
Does a motorcycle VIN show finance or write-offs?
The VIN itself only says how the bike was built. Outstanding finance and insurance write-off records (Cat A, B, S and N) are in the full history report, which looks them up by the VIN's registration.
Is a motorbike VIN check free?
The check by VIN is free: the DVLA details and the MOT history with mileage. The full report is paid. Decoding what each character of a VIN means (maker, factory, model year) is a separate tool, our VIN decoder.
Why does my bike's VIN have no model year?
Character 10 is the model year on bikes built for North America. Many European and Japanese makers leave it out or use their own code on bikes built for Europe, so the year from the DVLA record is the one to trust.
What if the VIN on the frame looks tampered with?
Walk away and tell the police. Ground-down, re-stamped or uneven characters, a loose or re-riveted frame plate, or a VIN that doesn't match the V5C are signs of a stolen or rebuilt bike.