Any idea where to get hold Regplate / Model database?

[rpguk]

Just doing the sums for a project which would be enhanced by having a make/model lookup based on reg plate feature. That is the user would enter their reg plate rather then Ford > Fiesta > 1.1 Poplar > 2001 model etc.

Is this something the DVLA supplies directly or do you have to go via one of their suppliers? Any ideas on costs?

[Troubleatmill]

here
dvla registration database
http://dvlasearch.co.uk

[CAPP0]

I found a website the other day (which sadly I closed before bookmarking and haven't got the address handy, but it came up in a search) which will tell you the make & model for any plate. Seemed to be f.o.c, maybe it'll get pouty if you run massive numbers of searches though.

I think it was on my home laptop, if I can find it in the history I'll let you know. I tried a few plates known to me and it found them all.

[marshalla]

Or go directly to DVLA and ask them, or one of their authorised customers, about the Bulk DataSet : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulk-da...

[CAPP0]

Here it is:

http://www.ukvehicle.com

[SluffMcDuff]

It really depends what you are then doing with the exact model when selected. If it's to drive something else you'll be using a set of model codes to link them, so any reg lookup service you use will need to return a model code you already have in your dataset and are licensed to use.

You'll likely want a live web service for this so it's constantly updated, rather than a fixed dataset.

[ModernAndy]

OP, are you a web developer?

[rpguk]

Thumbs up for the PH business forum again. Thanks everyone.

marshalla said:

Or go directly to DVLA and ask them, or one of their authorised customers, about the Bulk DataSet : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulk-da...

Thanks, last page of that doc had exactly the info I was looking for - seems third party is the way to go. I'd found a few potential sites but they gave the impression of being a bit far down the foodchain. Knowing that DVLA don't actually deal with many people is in some ways a relief.

ModernAndy said:

OP, are you a web developer?

Amongst other things yes and this is for a web application.

[ModernAndy]

rpguk said:

Thumbs up for the PH business forum again. Thanks everyone.

marshalla said:

Or go directly to DVLA and ask them, or one of their authorised customers, about the Bulk DataSet : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bulk-da...

Thanks, last page of that doc had exactly the info I was looking for - seems third party is the way to go. I'd found a few potential sites but they gave the impression of being a bit far down the foodchain. Knowing that DVLA don't actually deal with many people is in some ways a relief.

ModernAndy said:

OP, are you a web developer?

Amongst other things yes and this is for a web application.

In that case you're probably best with carweb.

[XLR8ED]

We use https://ukvehicledata.co.uk and had no problems. We integrated their API in 10 mins and it's just worked ever since.

[Jon39]

CAPP0 said:

Here it is:

http://www.ukvehicle.com

After you enter this URL, the website comes up as cazana.com

The vehicle that I tried seemed to be too tough for them, and they know very little about it.
I was amused though that they did try estimating the current mileage, stating 417,383 miles.

A long way out there. The true figure is only 36,000 miles.
The first registration area shown by them is wrong as well.

Accuracy always seems to be a problem with big databases.
The DVLA record one of my cars with a model name that was discontinued long before the car was even built.
When pointed out though, they were not interested in correcting their error.