Engine Number Lookup

C

CaptainB

Active Member

Posts

133

Location

Gloucestershire

• Dec 2, 2023

• #1

Does anyone know if it's possible to look up the registration number of a the car from an engine number?

I bought a used engine from a LR scrapper who seemed genuine enough on the face of it. The engine arrived and looked ok but I wanted to know more about it and check the mileage via the MOT website. However, when I asked the seller for the registration number of the donor car he now seems to be a bit evasive.

 

DanClarke

Well-Known Member

Full Member

Posts

16,224

Location

Benfleet, Essex

• Dec 2, 2023

• #2

DVLA V5 usually has the engine number against a VIN & Reg No.
So they should know.

 

C

CaptainB

Active Member

Posts

133

Location

Gloucestershire

• Dec 2, 2023

• #3

DanClarke said:

DVLA V5 usually has the engine number against a VIN & Reg No.
So they should know.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that idea. I just did a web chat with DVLA and they said they could only find vehicle details based on a registration number., they couldn't look the information up from an engine number . Back to the drawing board.

 

A

Anaconda

Well-Known Member

Posts

3,383

Location

Thames Valley

• Dec 2, 2023

• #4

Keep the receipt, so you can prove where it came from.
What would you do if you could find out its stolen?

 

C

CaptainB

Active Member

Posts

133

Location

Gloucestershire

• Dec 3, 2023

• #5

Anaconda said:

Keep the receipt, so you can prove where it came from.
What would you do if you could find out its stolen?

Click to expand...

it was bought through eBay so there's full traceability and they are usually pretty good at handling disputes. I've already sent one engine back because I found out the mileage was way higher than the seller claimed, I'll be kicking myself very hard if I find I've been bitten a second time.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

32,731

Location

Cornwall

• Dec 5, 2023

• #6

CaptainB said:

Thanks for that idea. I just did a web chat with DVLA and they said they could only find vehicle details based on a registration number., they couldn't look the information up from an engine number . Back to the drawing board.

Click to expand...

The DVLA can give vehicle registration and ownership details to the police if the police only have a VIN or engine number. Unfortunately this kind of information is only available to an organisation that would have a need for it, like the police who would need the information to trace an owner of a stolen vehicle for instance.