The Vehicle Enquiry Service enables a motorist to confirm the MOT/tax status of a car within seconds. This free online service has a wide range of uses. Firstly, a buyer can - from a mobile phone if necessary – confirm a seller's claim that an MOT expires (say) in June 2015. The seller might cite paperwork as evidence, but this should not be relied on as it can be replicated with minimal expertise. All that is required is a computer, printer, scanner, free software and a little time. The service also allows an existing owner to confirm when a certificate expires without rummaging for paperwork. Furthermore, confirming that a vehicle is taxed – and when this tax expires – helps the owner stay legal. This will be particularly beneficial when the tax disc is withdrawn as there will no longer be a reminder in the windscreen (from October 2014). The Vehicle Enquiry Service has the potential to help remove an unsafe vehicle from the road too. A motorist might, for example, have a neighbour that he/she suspects is putting fellow road users at risk by driving an unsafe car, e.g. no MOT. Confirmation now comes online and the authorities can be informed. Finally, MOT testers can more easily check when a car's certificate expires. This minimises the number of people that book the test too early, then withdraw.
How To Use Vehicle Enquiry Service
The Vehicle Enquiry Service is simple to operate. The motorist enters the car's registration and manufacturer into the system, then clicks “search”. The results confirm whether it is taxed and tested and the dates of expiry. This information complements a range of other facts that can be invaluable to a potential buyer. Highlights include the date of first registration, year of manufacturer, engine capacity, carbon emissions, fuel type, tax class, colour, etc. The motorist can also enter the V5C document reference number to reveal when the latest log book was issued (optional). However, he/she has to recognise that any changes within the past five days – e.g. if the vehicle has been subject to a SORN – might not be shown online. Such facts take time to filter through, after all. The motorist can also write to the DVLA if he/she believes the search results are incorrect. The address is shown. The Vehicle Enquiry Service is fully functional but in BETA. It is, therefore, an advanced prototype that might improve based on user feedback.
