Lots of people put a private plate on their car, and that’s completely normal. But a change of registration can also make a car’s past harder to follow. A plate change check lists the previous registrations linked to the car, so its full history can be traced.
Why plate changes matter
Most plate changes are innocent: someone buys a personalised number or moves it to their next car. The thing to watch for is history that’s recorded under an old registration. A full check that follows every reg the car has had means nothing slips through the cracks.
What our plate change check shows
- Previous registration numbers recorded for the car
- The dates of each change, where available
Plate change history is included from our Premium HPI check upwards.
Plate changes vs cloned cars
A cloned car is different. That’s when criminals copy the number plates from a similar, legitimate car to disguise a stolen one. The plates look genuine, so a check on the reg alone could come back clean. That’s why it’s so important to:
- Check the VIN on the car matches the VIN on the V5C logbook
- Make sure the colour, engine size and model match our free vehicle details
- View the car at the address printed on the V5C
If our free details say the car is silver and the one in front of you is blue, ask why. A respray is possible, but it should be recorded on the logbook.
Plate change check questions
Does a plate change mean something is wrong?
Usually not. Most plate changes are simply private plates being added or moved. A check just makes sure any history recorded under an old registration isn't missed.
Will I see every previous number plate?
We show the previous registrations recorded for the car, along with the dates of each change where that information is available.
What's the difference between a plate change and a cloned car?
A plate change is a legitimate, recorded change of registration. A cloned car is wearing copied plates from another vehicle to hide its identity, so always check the VIN against the V5C.
New to vehicle checks? Start with our guide: What is an HPI check?
