DVLA / Reg Plate registration sites... how?

[JMOT]

Hola,

How do sites like regtransfers and carreg etc connect to the DVLA to check plate availability and sell them?

There must be some API to access but I cant seem to find any info anywhere

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks, T

 

[wb]

Probably is an API of some sort for them to update regularly, but can't help you with that one. I might be remembering incorrectly but I'm pretty sure I've seen somewhere on the DVLA website about purchasing their number plate database records (not sure what format).

 

[markb]

I was looking in to this earlier in the week. I wanted to be able to enter a reg number and return the make, model, year etc... Theres loads of websites that do this.

I cam across the page below and sent an email to the address near the bottom, but never heard a reply. Let me know if you manage to find out.

I presume it will cost for every database query you perform.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motorin.../AdviceOnBuyingAndSellingAVehicle/DG_10014436

Mark

 

[retired_member21]

IMO it's probably similar to CAP data - where you buy the database every year / buy a package which updates from licensed resellers - I'd guess they don't have a public API as doesn't seem like something they'd release for free - they'd probably make more reselling the databases / api access through licenses

Just had a quick browse and found these:-

http://www.motordatasolutions.co.uk/dvla.htm
https://www.cdlvis.com/services/vehiclelookup/

or search google for 'dvla xml'

 

[Frog]

I was looking in to this earlier in the week. I wanted to be able to enter a reg number and return the make, model, year etc... Theres loads of websites that do this.

You could have someone write you a script that entered the number plate in one of the other sites using CURL and capture the data and display it on your own site. Nobody using your site would be aware that you were using another site to get the data.